By Elisinio Castillo
Cuban light heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera (18-1, 13 KOs) is returning in the month of April, but not against the fighter he was initially scheduled to face.
There were discussions that Barrera would face Artur Beterbiev in an IBF final eliminator, but the contest never happened when Barrera walked away from the bout citing financial concerns.
Barrera is going to return on April 15 at the Mohegan Casino in Connecticut as part of an HBO Latino broadcast. He will battle Felix Valera (14-1, 12 KO), a man who once owned an interim-title under the World Boxing Association (WBA).
"I'm happy to be back on HBO and would like to thank my promoter Main Events and the TV station for organizing this event," Barrera said to George Ebro. "It's been a difficult start to the year, but I've stayed in the gym waiting for an opportunity like this that brings me closer to my goal of fighting for a world title.''
Yvon Michel, promoter of Beterbiev, accused Barrera of playing games and running away from the contest.
"He never had a real interest in the fight," Barrera said of Michel. "At heart I wanted to get out of the horizon to say that I had been afraid of Beterbiev. He's playing dirty to take his fighter to a world title fight."
Valera was a silver medalist at the 2010 Central American Games, and has developed his career almost entirely in the Dominican Republic, except for a couple of presentations in Russia.
"My opponent is a good fighter and we have studied him in the gym," added the Cuban, who trains under the guidance of coach Derrick Santos. "We will be ready for anything he can bring on April 15."
Valera's sole defeat came last May, when he lost a decision to hot prospect Dmitry Bivol, who was only 6-0 at the time.
