Duva: Barrera Was Right on Beterbiev, Smith Deal Easy To Make

By Steve Kim

A couple of months ago, Sullivan Barrera and Artur Beterbiev looked to be on a collision course in what would be an IBF elimination bout.

A purse bid was held and eventually won by GYM (which is headed up by Yvon Michel and represents Beterbiev) but that fight never materialized as Barrera had concerns about everything from the fight contract to the date and venue of the fight.

Eventually that fight was scrapped and while Beterbiev is now in litigation and attempting to leave his promoter, Barrera faced Paul Parker on April 15th, where he scored a fifth-round stoppage at the Mohegun Sun.

Now, Barrera is lined up to face Joe Smith on July 15th at the Forum in Los Angeles as part of an HBO 'Boxing After Dark' broadcast.

Kathy Duva of Main Events, who promotes Barrera, stated to BoxingScene.com:

"The fact is Artur Beterbiev still doesn't have a fight scheduled, OK? So it turns out Sullivan's fears were not completely unfounded - they were well-founded. And this was a genuine offer that came (against Smith) and it took us a few minutes to make the deal. That was it. It took no time. There was more time negotiating with us and Sullivan, then us and the other promoter. It was just a matter of being happy with where we ended up.

"The only time that has elapsed is the time to get contracts reviewed and signed by everybody. There wasn't one moment where we haven't been moving forward since the day it was discussed."

Barrera-Smith is a pivotal match-up, one that could land the winner a shot at the title.

"It certainly makes an attractive opponent for the winner of June 17th,'' said Duva, referring to the rematch between Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev. "Obviously if it's Sergey. If it's Ward, I don't know if Barrera becomes his first choice of opponent."

Last year, Ward defeated Barrera over twelve rounds at the Oracle in Oakland.

"I don't know that Ward defends that title if he wins the rematch. He's already fought Barrera. But arguably it gets him back in the mix. So it's a logical thing to do, it makes a lot of sense and it's a terrific promotion," Duva said.

Also on the HBO broadcast on July 15th is WBA 130-pound belt-holder, Jezreel Corrales, who faces Robinson Castellanos and the nights main event between WBC super featherweight champion, Miguel Bechelt, and Takashi Miura.

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.