Sullivan Barrera: Parker Fight is Another Step To a World Title

By Francisco Salazar

A few weeks after withdrawing from a light heavyweight elimination bout, Sullivan Barrera has a fight lined up.

Barrera will face Paul Parker on Apr. 15, Main Events announced Tuesday afternoon.

The 10 round bout will take place at the Mohegun Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut and will air on HBO Latino (11 p.m. ET/ tape-delayed PT).

Barrera (18-1, with 13 knockouts) was victorious in his last bout on Dec. 16, knocking out previously-unbeaten Vyacheslav Shabranskyy in round seven in Indio, California.

Barrera was penciled to face unbeaten Artur Beterbiev in an IBF elimination bout on Apr. 21 in Miami (his hometown), but withdrew from the fight. Barrera announced on social media he was withdrawing from the Beterbiev fight on Mar. 9, but did not gave a reason why.

“I’m excited to be back on HBO,” said Barrera, who is promoted by Main Events. “It has been a tough start to the year for me, but I’ve been in the gym working and ready for this opportunity. It is another step towards the ultimate goal of contending for a world title.”

“My opponent (Paul Parker) is a very good opponent. We have studied him in the gym and ready for everything he will bring come April 15th.

Parker (8-1, 4 KOs) also faced Shabranskyy, dropping the Ukraine fighter twice before being stopped in round three. In his last bout in February of 2016, Parker won an eight round split decision over Lionell Thompson.

“Everyone thinks it’s a risky fight,” said Parker, who hails from Toledo, Ohio. “Where others see risk, I see opportunity and I plan to capitalize on that opportunity.”

In the televised co-feature, middleweight Arif Magomedov (18-1, 11 KOs) squares off against Elias Espadas (13-3, 8 KOs) of Mexico in a 10 round bout.
Magomedov suffered a shocking upset loss to Andrew Hernandez on May 21. He stopped journeyman Chris Herrmann in his last bout on November 25.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper, RingTV.com, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing