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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Beterbiev vs. Barrera Cancelled
By Daniel Cloutier
VERONA, New York - The promoter of the GYM group, Yvon
Michel, confirmed that the IBF light heavyweight elimination
bout opposing the Montrealer Russian Artur Beterbiev and the
Cuban Sullivan Barrera, has been officially cancelled.
Beterbiev (10-0-0) and Barrera (18-1-0) were supposed to
fight April 21st in Miami, but the Cuban, apparently,
mentioned to his manager he was not interested by
this bout anymore.
“I am sure Barrera was scared to face Beterbiev,” said Yvon
Michel. “He his preferring to resign instead take a chance
to lose against Artur. In the circumstances, we will be
obliged to re-schedule this IBF light heavyweight
elimination bout, with a new opponent for Artur, picked by
the IBF championship committee. At this point, we really
don’t know where and when this IBF elimination bout will
happen.”
Beterbiev is ranked second contender by the IBF in the 175
pounds division, and Barrera is ranked sixth. The IBF 175
pounds champion of the world is the Californian Andre Ward
(31-0-0). A fighter from Oakland, Ward, a former super
middleweight (168 pounds) champion of the world, became IBF,
WBA and WBO light heavyweight champion of the world last
November in Las Vegas, with a controversy win by unanimous
decision (114-113, 114-113 and 114-113) against the Russian
Sergey Kovalev (30-1-1). Most of the boxing writers who were
covering this event, had chosen Kovalev as winner by one,
two or three points.
Yvon Michel hopes to be able to announce a new opponent for
Beterbiev in the next two weeks. When the new opponent will
be found, Yvon Michel will confirm a new date and possibly a
new site for the fight.
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