By Elisinio Castillo
Artur Beterbiev (9-0, 9KOs) may have found his man. The undefeated Russia fighter has been searching for a dancing partner for an ordered IBF light heavyweight eliminator.
After several opponents dropped out or refused to take part, Sullivan Barrera (16-0, 11 KOs) seems to be ready to take on the challenge.
The International Boxing Federation ordered Beterbiev and Barrera to battle each other and they have until August 26th to agree.
So far Bernard Hopkins, Jean Pascal and Isaac Chilemba passed on the fight.
Barrera is trained by Big Bear's Abel Sanchez, who is currently best known for training middleweight king Gennady Golovkin.
The winner of the bout would become the mandatory challenger to IBF/WBO/WBA champion Sergey Kovalev.
"This is the opportunity we had been looking for for a while. He is a very strong, very confident fighter, but also very stiff. I know that I can fight better than him and I am smarter than him. Not for nothing, but I do not know his talent. I have to get in my best shape [for this fight],'' Barrera told George Ebro.
"Yes, it was very hard to reach this point, but we're here now and no excuses. All those problems of the past will drive me to win this fight. As mentioned before, it's now or never."
Barrera's manager, Luis Molina, says his fighter is ready for the match.
"Sullivan is aware of the strength of Beterbiev, but he is at a key time in his career and it is now or never,'' said Molina." It's the perfect time to seize the opportunity to claim the possibility of facing Kovalev."