Sullivan Barrera agrees to face Beterbiev in IBF eliminator

By Allan Fox:

#9 IBF Sullivan Barrera (18-1, 13 KOs) has agreed to fight unbeaten #2 Artur Beterbiev (11-0, 11 KOs) in an IBF light heavyweight title eliminator. Barrera’s promoters at Main Event announced the news on Friday, along with Beterbiev. The winner of the Beterbiev vs. Barrera fight will be the mandatory challenger to IBF 175lb champion Andre Ward. Beterbiev has had problems getting one of the contenders in the IBF’s ratings to agree to fight him in the eliminator.

Beterbiev sent a tweet earlier today saying that Barrera wasn’t going to take the fight. He was then going to see if #10 IBF Oleksandr Gvozdyk would agree the fight. Beterbiev said he didn’t think he would agree to it. Beterbiev would have needed to keep working down the list if not for the 34-year-old Barrera agreeing to fight him.