MONTREAL - Montreal's Artur Beterbiev (# 2 IBF - 11-0, 11 KO) is now officially scheduled to take on his most important bout of his career against the Cuban-born Sullivan Barrera (# 7 IBF - 18-1, 13 KOs) for the mandatory IBF position.
The winner is guaranteed a shot at the title currently held by Olympic gold medal winner Andre Ward (31-0, 15 KO). The head-to-head match between these two talented boxers will take place on April 21 in Miami, Florida.
"It is with great pride and confidence that we see the fight in Miami. In order to allow maximum visibility for Beterbiev, to demonstrate that he can perform anywhere in the world and also as the only aspirant who agreed to face Artur, Sullivan Barrera, could not cross the Canadian border, we had promised that this fight would take place in the United States, "said GYM president Yvon Michel.
"We are convinced that many Quebeckers, who are still in Florida at this time, will come to support the person who has made Quebec a land of adoption for him and his young family," Michel added.
Note that the winner of the Beterbiev-Barrera eliminator be in line for the winner of the Ward vs. Sergey Kovalev rematch, and the winner will have until September at the latest to make that defense.