Daniel Geale decked Darren Barker in the sixth round with a body punch, with Barker just beating the count. Geale also appared to have Barker hurt in the 12th round of their fight Saturday at Revel Resort in Atlantic City. But Barker did enough in between to come away with a split-decision victory and Geale’s middleweight world championship.

Two judges seemed to be in the ballpark. Alan Rubenstein had Geale ahead 114-113, and Carlos Ortiz Jr. gave it to Barker by that same 114-113 count. Barbara Perez also had Barker winning, but her 116-111 score for him seemed a bit out of whack as this appeared to be a rather close fight.

One thing’s certain, there can be no question as to the courage of Barker, who just did rise at the count of 9 after absorbing that wicked body punch to the liver. It was the type of punch from which many have not risen, or even tried.

Geale (29-2), of Australia, loses his title in his fifth defense. Barker, of London, is 26-1.He is a world champion for the first time.