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Vyacheslav Shabranskyy versus Sullivan Barrera on Dec. 16

Undefeated light heavyweight Vyacheslav Shabranskyy. Photo credit: Naoki Fukuda
Fighters Network
20
Oct

A pivotal matchup between two light heavyweights could also produce a lot of explosive action.

Vyacheslav Shabranskyy will face Sullivan Barrera on Dec. 16 at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California, Golden Boy Promotions announced Wednesday afternoon.

The 10-round bout will air on HBO Latino, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/ PT.

The showdown between Shabranskyy and Barrera has been discussed for some time and could be a potential “Fight of the Year” candidate between two hard-hitting fighters.



Shabranskyy (17-0, 14 knockouts), who is originally from Ukraine and now resides in Los Angeles, knocked Oscar Riojas out in his last bout on Aug. 19.

Shabranskyy, who has stopped seven of his last eight opponents, is ranked No. 5 by the WBC and No. 9 by the IBF. He is ranked No. 7 by THE RING magazine.

“My goal is to win a world championship in the light heavyweight division,” said Shabranskyy, who is promoted by Golden Boy. “Barrera is just another steppingstone on that path.”

“Anyone who has heard me talk about ‘Slava’ over the last few years knows that I’m extremely bullish on him winning a world championship in his next few fights,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “He moves incredibly well for a tall fighter and he has an incredible capacity to learn from his mistakes. With a win against Barrera, Slava will position himself for some very big things in 2017.”

Barrera (17-1, 12 KOs) last appeared in the ring on March 26, when he lost a 12-round unanimous decision to unbeaten former RING super middleweight champion Andre Ward.

The loss snapped a streak of six consecutive stoppage victories for Barrera, who was born in Cuba but currently resides in Miami, Florida.

“I’m looking forward to Dec. 16,” said Barrera. “My respect to Shabranskyy for agreeing to fight me. This will be a great fight for the fans.”

Barrera, who is ranked number four by the WBA and number eight by the IBF, is promoted by Main Events.

“Sullivan gave Andre Ward the toughest fight Ward has had in years,” said Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events. “I think Sullivan has everything he needs to become a world champion.”

Also on the HBO Latino broadcast will be a 10-round welterweight bout between Eddie Gomez (19-1, 11 KOs) and unbeaten Rashidi Ellis (16-0, 11 KOs).

Featherweight Ronny Rios (26-1, 11 KOs) will also appear in a 10-rounder against an opponent to be determined.

 

Information courtesy of a Golden Boy Promotions press release.

 

 

Francisco A. Salazar has written for RingTV since October of 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper, BoxingScene.com and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing.

 

 

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