Comments Thread For: Beterbiev, Barrera Accept IBF Offer To Begin Negotiations

[JakeNDaBox]

It looks a fight between top light heavyweights could be in our future after all.

Following the lead of Sullivan Barrera, who late last week publicly stated his willingness for such a fight, fellow unbeaten contender Artur Beterbiev is now prepared to enter negotiations for their ordered title eliminator.

The fight was ordered by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) on August 21, looking to establish a future mandatory challenger for unbeaten unified light heavyweight champ Sergey Kovalev. Barrera accepted terms no sooner than he was offered the fight; Beterbiev's promoter, Yvon Michel confirmed over the weekend that his fighter is now also on board.

"Artur Beterbiev and the Cuban Sullvan Barrera have both accepted the invitation of the IBF (to begin negoations for a title eliminator)," Michel announced through his social media account. "The winner will become mandatory challenger to Sergey Kovalev." [Click Here To Read More]

[mike1010011]

Huh,decent fight. Let's see if Artur can walk the walk when he's in there with a live body.

[bigdunny1]

This is all because Haymon is a short period of time has created too many enemies. He beefing with Main Events, Golden Boy, Top Rank and Roc Nation. Not to mention HBO. But what I don't get is why aint he putting Beterbiev in the ring with Stevenson since they both are in house Haymon fighters? Instead he got Beterbiev turning down a direct title shot for this charade one fight eliminator to force a purse bid. Who chooses a eliminator over a title shot? It's a ploy to force Kovalev to vacate his belt.

Kovalev offered him a career payday. He get more money fighting either Kovalev or Stevenson then he will get for a eliminator and vacate title fight combined. Shady move by Haymon. He want's to gift Beterbiev a paper belt rather then a direct fight with either Kovalev or Stevenson right now to EARN a title.

[itsanewday]

Beterbiev perhaps gets cold feet on this fight, I don't think it happens. Way too much for beterbiev to risk. IMO he only has 9 pro fights while the cuban isn't anything special he is definitely not a shot fighter like the fighters beterbiev has faced. GREAT fight I hope it happens but not getting my hopes up for this one someone has to have a trick up there sleeve on this one just doesn't make sense

[Jloro]

This is actually a really good fight

[Sweet Pea 50]

I remember Barrera from his fight with Lacy on FNF.

I'm aboard the Beterbeast train.

Fight gets made, Beterbiev by TKO, mid-rounds.

[youbeight]

This is all because Haymon is a short period of time has created too many enemies. He beefing with Main Events, Golden Boy, Top Rank and Roc Nation. Not to mention HBO. But what I don't get is why aint he putting Beterbiev in the ring with Stevenson since they both are in house Haymon fighters? Instead he got Beterbiev turning down a direct title shot for this charade one fight eliminator to force a purse bid. Who chooses a eliminator over a title shot? It's a ploy to force Kovalev to vacate his belt.

Kovalev offered him a career payday. He get more money fighting either Kovalev or Stevenson then he will get for a eliminator and vacate title fight combined. Shady move by Haymon. He want's to gift Beterbiev a paper belt rather then a direct fight with either Kovalev or Stevenson right now to EARN a title.

why put all your fighters in one sanction instead of spreading them out. if you look at the LHW picture, he's got 3 guys in the wbc, fonfara in the wba who can get a shot for that belt soon, and beterbiev in the ibf. its all to force purse bids, the bids make more money than what duva offered. 500k plus 20-30% ppv isn't better than a russian purse bid considering for example the canadian fight with pascal was a total 6mill purse split that went 3.5mill for kovalev and 2.5 mill for pascal. that number would easily be matched on the open market for a fight in moscow while beterbiev as the mandatory would get 25% of the total purse = 1.5 million and thats without ppv being included. GYM said it had 0 to do with purse bids, but it is, as a mandatory beterbiev has a higher chance of making more than as a voluntary, especially with the russian investors willing to overpay to have this fights in russia (wlad vs povetkin at 23mill, and was ready to bid 15-18mill for wlad vs fury). haymon is gonna try to bleed duva dry in the purse bids hoping she loses or anyone other than her wins it in order to either make kovalev drop his belts much like he did for the wbc silver title, or fight off hbo vs his guys. this is all just payback for that lawsuit she filed that killed the stevenson hopkins fight after hbo chose not to match stevenson showtime offer when stevenson kovalev was being negotiated. politics everywhere

[youbeight]

still a good fight, contrasting styles and winner would be a better test for kovalev than mohammedi

[Weebler I]

Can Duva put this fight on the Kovalev undercard?

that would set up Kovalev-Beterbiev nicely for next year.

[shoog]

As long as Beterbiev is with Haymon he will never fight kovalev, or adonis stevenson. This fight wont happen either expect more crap and more shot fighters and guys youve never heard of. Just look at the top 100 light heavyweights, look around the 50s and youll see beterbievs next fight.