Iran Barkley was born May 9, 1960. A 3 time world boxing champion who boxed professionally from 1982 to 1999. The champ was made famous by knocking out boxing legend Thomas "The Hitman" Hearns in the 3rd round of their 1988 world championship fight in Las Vegas. Famed HBO commentator Harold Lederman said that Iran was only expected to last a round or two with Hearns in their first fight but someone forgot to tell Iran that he had no shot at winning because in Iran’s words, “I knocked Tommy flat” !  The Champ had 63 professional fights but him beating Hearns a second time for another championship belt was the icing on the cake. The only fighter in history to defeat Thomas Hearns twice !  His war in 1989 with Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran was voted the greatest fight of that year by Ring Magazine.

 

Iran Barkley was the youngest of eight children born to Frank Sr. and Georgia Barkley and raised in the Patterson Houses of the south Bronx. His sister Yvonne who boxed professionally in the late 1970s convinced him to start boxing at age 13, eventually training under Bobby Miles and Connie Bryant. Known as the Blade, Iran turned professional in 1982 and first challenged for a world title against the highly skilled Sumbu Kalambay, losing on points. Then the fights with Hearns and Duran placed him in the boxing history books. His last professional fight was in 1999 but like so many fighters, he fills he has one last fight in him.

 

Today in 2022 the champ is married to Pamela Graham. They live in The Bronx, he has 4 daughters and grandchildren. Most recently has been in the news with his great nephew, NY Giants star running back, Saquon Barkley who is his late brother, Alibay’s grandson.

 

Years ago Iran Barkley became homeless. A former student of Michael Bernard who is a Physical Education teacher at Villa Maria Academy in the Bronx (Mr. B as Iran calls him) called him one evening, this caller was an NYPD officer  and former student of Bernard’s patrolling the subway areas near The Patterson projects, in the Bronx. “Mr. Bernard, I am here near The Patterson Projects and the champ is sleeping on a Bench, he looks sick”.

 

Bernard immediately knew the champ was in trouble so he went with retired FDNY friend John Marano, retired NYPD friend John Zervos and friend boxing coach and Golden Glove champion Mike Trapani and picked him up. Indeed the champ was homeless. Trapani introduced Barkley to Bernard nearly 30 years ago. Together these 4 men organized the very first FRIENDS OF THE CHAMP fundraiser in the early 2000s  to raise money for the champ. While organizing this fundraiser Bernard and his family invited the champ to live with them until a permanent living situation could be organized for the champ. John Marano was instrumental in finding housing for the champ. The organization that took the champ in was called: The Bronx Works, a NYC run men’s homeless shelter in the south Bronx. Iran was admitted to this shelter with the stipulation that if he stayed in this shelter with no trouble for one year, The Bronx Works would assist the champ in finding an apartment for himself at a low rent price. The champ stayed for one year and The Bronx Works kept their promise.  So the first Friends of the Champ fundraiser was a success, many friends attended including NYPD Detective Steven McDonald who shared the stage at Villa Maria Academy,  Bernard’s catholic school in the Bronx many times with Iran both of them speaking to the children about the importance of being a good citizen.

 

In 2019 he and those same friends that “saved me” Iran’s words, organized the new Friends of The Champ a NYS 501c3 Non Profit charity boxing organization. Zervos, Dr. Cliff Hotte, Virginia Hotte, Stefani Belloise, Attorneys John Decolator, Stephen Kaufman, Dr. Ray Purcell, Tommy Scopac, and Andy Williams collectively manage F.O.T.C's registered 501c3 charitable organization.

They work hard to host fundraisers that will assist former boxers who now struggle "Outside The Ropes."