Thursday, March 28, 2024  |

News

Negotiations for Michael Farenas-Jose Pedraza underway

Fighters Network
22
Sep

Negotiations are ongoing for an IBF junior lightweight eliminator bout between Michael Farenas and Jose Pedraza for the right to face RING No. 3-rated 130-pounder Rances Barthelemy, according to IBF Championships Chairman Lindsey Tucker.

The negotiation must be “over on Oct. 3,” stated Tucker in an email to RingTV.com. “We wont know if we need to call for a purse bid until after the negotiations period is over.”

A southpaw from the Philippines who is promoted by Gerry Penalosa, Farenas (39-4-4, 31 knockouts), 30, has scored five consecutive stoppage victories in his last five outings.

Coming off an eighth round knockout over previously unbeaten Mark Davis in July, Farenas last suffered defeat by unanimous against former titleholder Yuriorkis Gamboa in December 2012.



Promoted by Lou DiBella, Pedraza (18-0, 12 KOs), 25, will be after his third straight stoppage victory against Farenas, having last been in action for a sixth round stoppage of Juan Carlos Martinez in August.

Meanwhile, Barthelemy, 28, will face Fernando David Saucedo on Oct. 4 at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn.

A native of Cuba now living in Miami, Barthelemy is coming off a unanimous decision that dethroned Argenis Mendez in a rematch last July.

Barthelemy-Mendez II became necessary after Mendez’s controversial, second round knockout loss to Barthelemy in January was overturned and ruled a no-decision by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, restoring Mendez as the IBF’s junior lightweight titleholder.

Saucedo, 32, has won his last 14 fights, seven by knockout, and is coming off a third round technical knockout of Luis Armando Juarez in June.

SIGN UP TO GET RING NEWS ALERTS