Sullivan Barrera Looking To Shine On HBO Latino Card
By: Sean Crose
The Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut is home to Main Events Boxing’s Rising Stars Series, which offers glimpses at some possible future stars in regularly presented fight cards.
With the likes of Sergey Kovalev on its roster, it’s clear Main Events knows how to build up a talent, so the matches offer up and coming fighters the possibility to truly make their marks. On this Saturday, however, Main Events and Mohegan Sun will present a showdown with one of the light heavyweight division’s top ranked fighters. For Sullivan Barrera (18-1) will be facing Paul Parker (8-1) in a ten round battle.
Barrera, a Cuban slugger who now resides in Miami, was a rising star who was given the opportunity to face Andre Ward just over a year ago on Ward’s home turf of Oakland. Ward pulled away with a unanimous decision win, but Barrerea was able to come back with a knockout victory against the undefeated Vyacheslav Shabranskyy. Barrera was then lined up to face acclaimed contender Artur Beterbiev in a title eliminator, but the fight fell through. Enter Parker, who was last seen winning a split decision over Lionell Thompson on the PBC back in February of 2016. Before that, Parker had been stopped by Shabranskyy in Philadelphia.
Although not well known, it has to be noted that Parker possesses an awkward style which accompanies his lanky frame.
Furthermore, Parker has been in the spotlight before (there was that PBC fight), which may well help him, as his bout with Barrera will be aired live on HBO Latino. Still, it might be hard to imagine the Toledo, Ohio native getting past his more well known foe on Saturday.
Barerra, simply put, may just be too sharp and disciplined in the ring for Parker to take real advantage of him.
Still, one never knows what will happen if Parker is able to land solidly with that overhand right he likes to throw.
This weekend’s card will also feature a crop of up and coming fighters, hoping to establish themselves in the business (this is a Rising Stars card, after all). Notable among undercard fighters is Vaughn Alexander, a 7-0 middleweight who has knocked out all but two of his opponents. He’ll be facing the 14-3-9 Andres Calixto Rey on the televised portion of the card, as a fight between Arif Magomedev and Elias Espadas had to be called off due to a sickness. Needless to say, it’s an enormous opportunity for St. Louis native Alexander.