The light heavyweight division is one of the most most talent rich division in the sport and it’s also becoming one of the most exciting with some of the potential matches that can be made in 2015. Sullivan Barrera is 15-0 (10KOs) and is rising up the ranks, now being ranked in the top 15 by 3 of the 4 belts. In this “On The Ropes” boxing radio interview with Sullivan Barrera, I talk with him about his career and some of the fights he would like to have in the division. Barrera also speaks on the champions of the weight class and working in camp with Gennady Golovkin. Additionally Barrera gives his views and prediction on Mayweather-Pacquiao. Here is what Sullivan Barrera had to say.
Jenna J: The last time we saw you in the ring you had a fight at the Foxwoods casino with former champ Jeff Lacy. You beat him in four rounds, how do you feel about your performance?
Sullivan Barrera: I think that it was a great fight. I think it was another step forward in my career and I’m very happy of having accomplished that victory over Lacy.
Jenna J: You’re 33 years old, you got a late start in the professional ranks even though you have an extensive amateur background. Do you worry about the clock catching up with you?
Sullivan Barrera: I do feel that we need a good fight with a good opponent to demonstrate the talents that I have. It’s tough because I’m willing to risk everything and some guys aren’t willing to risk their record to fight me, so some of the fights are tough to come by. I think that in this year we can accomplish that. This year we can take some steps to make up for the time.
Jenna J: You work with Abel Sanchez, who also trains Gennady Golovkin. How do you feel about having such an accomplished trainer?
Sullivan Barrera: I feel very happy. Sharing training camp with Golovkin and having Abel Sanchez as my trainer I think has been one of the most important things that has happened in my career. I’m very proud to be in the gym with them.
Jenna J: There’s a lot of talent in the light heavyweight division and right now the top champion in many peoples eyes is Sergey Kovalev and there’s also Adonis Stevenson who holds a belt. What do you think of the champs in the weight class?
Sullivan Barrera: I think they’re great boxers. I’m not sure if they will unify the belt but I think there’s potential to have one unified champ at this moment. I think that we can be ready to fight with either one of them by the end of this year.
Jenna J: Do you have any upcoming fight lined up at the moment?
Sullivan Barrera: I think my job is to train and focus on my training. My team is in charge of finding me an opponent, but I am ready for whichever opponent. I want someone in the top ten to take the next step in my career. My job is to train and I’m ready. I’m willing on risking my record, I’m willing to put it all on the line to get to fight for a title.
Jenna J: Is there any particular fighter that you’re eager to get in the ring with?
Sullivan Barrera: I would like to fight with Isaac Chilemba, Gabriel Campillo, even Jean Pascal. Beating someone like that will give me the respect that I need to be amongst the best in the world.
Jenna J: I’d like to get your opinion on the big upcoming fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. As a boxer, what do you think of that fight?
Sullivan Barrera: I think that Mayweather will win this fight. I think that with the defense that Mayweather has, he’s going to make Pacquiao miss. Pacquiao is a fighter that throws a lot of punches and when Mayweather makes him miss, he will get tired. I think that’s the key to victory for Mayweather.
Jenna J: Back to you Sullivan. How soon do you expect to see yourself back in the ring?
Sullivan Barrera: I’m waiting for my team to get me a date but I’m doing my job and staying ready for when they tell me.
Luis Molina(Manager): We’re working with Main Events, trying to get someone in the ring but it’s tough because we have the issue with the promoters that won’t work with certain promoters, we have certain fighters that aren’t willing to risk anything to get in the ring. He’s doing his part and staying ready for when the phone call comes but as of right now, the idea is to get him to fight within April and May.
Jenna J: You’ve been introduced to new fans because of your recent performances, is there any message you want to pass along to them?
Sullivan Barrera: I want to thank all the people that follow me and support me. This year will be a great year for me and I will always give my best so that the fans are happy.+
one or two punches to the head in every round would turn mayweather’s brain to switch to survival mode.. to him his health is the most important of all..ali is in his mind..
All I want to say is, I hope and pray that all Mywther fan will not bring the sore losser attitude so high because it could cause them more harm
Mayweather will win by cheating
You all psychics
He’s not going to miss , He’s gonna hit him on the shoulder the midsection and any other open target. Just like with Joshua Clottey he’s gonna beat the crap out of anything he can hit. I think Floyd will be shell shocked unless he grows a pair like Marquez and throws back in the heat of battle . If so it’s gonna hurt. he will be tested.
Pacman will get tired after throwing a lot of punches? WRONG!,, Ask Clottey, the great Oscar and many of his opponents. I think Floyd and his team will do everything even to cheat to win this fight. Just watch.
mayweather will be schooled,educated and humbled.
How can a bullet punches miss that short distance target? Mayweather can easily wave it to boxers he had before but damned! it’s MANNY PACQUIAO, dude! with his new style of punch called BULLET PUNCHES with volumes of it!
Floyd may be able to parry 90% of Manny’s very fast powerfull punches in bunches but the 10% that will land is more than enough so shatter Floyds brain. Theres no boxer that is unhittable. If Maidana was able to hit Floyd though much slower than Pacman, then how many punches can Manny will be able to land?
Floyd and his shoulder roll is effective only to slow puncher, but to Mannys caliber, it is so ineffective to use shoulder roll defense cause it will make you outbalanced when you are smothered in rapid succession.
USADA random blood testing should be fair to both fighter especially a week before the fight. If they insist to still conduct random blood test a week, day or an hour before the fight, then they have to do this simultaneous to both fighter being witnessed by both camp. If they will subject this test to one boxer only, then something fishy seems to be going on with USADA.
How come that only Pacquiao is being randomly tested by the USDA for this coming fight. I’ve never heard that Mayweather is also being tested every time that Pacquiao is. Is there a clause in the contract that only Manny will be subject for testing by the said USDA?? Hoping that these USDA people will do their job fair & square..
Who the F is this negro ?
Never seen or heard of him before !!!!
IF that relatively slow Maidana could hit the bum I see no reason Pacquiao won’t hit him ALOT !
I just hope Pacquiao knocks all the finish off the hoodrat SOB !
Assessment and ObservaTion like these made me laugh. This kind of point of views were totally hilarious. To say that Floyd would tire out Pacman was the same in sAying that Pacman has not been doing good on his training particularly on stamina which was a total joke. Mayweather Camp could say whatever they want, they knew that on fight night it will be a different story. If they thought that Pacman was just an ordinary fighter then we could expect this fight to end early!
Manny will KO Floyd “FuckFace” Gayweather..