Wednesday 6 December 2017 10:46, UK
Sullivan Barrera climbed off the canvas to beat Felix Valera in New York to set up a shot at WBA 'regular' light-heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol.
The skillful Cuban was forced into a dogfight by Valera as both men were knocked down in a pulsating and somewhat bizarre contest, but it was Barrera who earned a unanimous decision via scores of 98-88, 97-90 and 97-89 at the Madison Square Garden Theater.
The victory re-establishes Barrera's position as mandatory challenger to WBA belt-holder Bivol and the 35-year-old - whose only career loss came at the hands of Andre Ward back in 2016 - now hopes to take on the Russian in his next outing.
Both fighters demonstrated their aggression from the opening bell, Valera, 29, flooring his 35-year-old opponent with a clubbing left hand.
Barrera returned to his feet and clearly intent on settling the score went on the hunt and soon had the Dominican light-heavyweight down after a swift combination sent 'Mangu' stumbling across the floor.
There was no let up as the action continued in the next, both heavy hitters happy to stand in the centre of the ring and wildly swing away at each other before a head clash caused a cut under the left eye of the Cuban.
A clear low blow then left Barrera in clear discomfort in the third and a point was rightfully taken away from Valera.
As the pace then started to ease up slightly, Barrera, the more technically astute of the pair, began to take control of the ten-round bout, landing some swift, eye-catching hooks.
Things went from bad to worse for Valera in the sixth as again he was, perhaps harshly, deducted a point for another low blow and from then on, it was very much an uphill struggle.
Barrera remained the man in charge down the stretch and although both fighters were deducted points late on in an action-packed encounter, the Cuban marched towards the victory.
