Sullivan Barrera vs. Jesse Hart - June 15, 2019

[Ruthless-RKO]

Light heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera had planned to make his debut under Top Rank on June 8 against Michael Seals, but now the Cuban boxer has already sent a signed contract to be measured a week later against the more dangerous Jesse Hart, who will move up in weight from 168-pounds.

The contest takes place on the undercard of Tyson Fury's Las Vegas debut, against Tom Schwarz, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The card will be carried by ESPN.

Undoubtedly, Hart represents a challenge well above Seals. Hart is coming back from a majority decision loss in his rematch with then WBO 168-pound champion Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez.

Although the details of the deal have not been revealed, the fight against Hart (25-2, 21 KO) will certainly represent more money for Barrera.

"I could have taken an easier fight, but I took the harder one, because I just want to face the best," Barrera wrote (22-2, 14 KO) stated. "See you on June 15."

Barrera replaces the injured Eleider Alvarez, who withdrew from the contest with Hart a week ago.

The June 8th event, which Barrera has now left, was going to happen in Reno, Nevada and also carried by ESPN - with WBO featherweight champion Oscar Valdez in the top spot. The June 15th card has much more profile, due to Fury making his ESPN debut and taking part in his first bout under Top Rank.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Arum/ESPN has all the goods at LHW. Shame Bivol will be stuck fighting Matchroom LHW domestic levellers.

[Cent0089]

Interresting and evenly matched fight. Winner can be on the way to title shot again

[gilgamesh]

Good matchup. I like it. Two solid contenders who are just shy of World Championship level, but it should be a well matched bout with some good action.

[KiwiRider]

Good on Jessie Hart
It's a lot more of a risky toe in the water at LHW than Zurdo was allowed to take.
Respect to him. I would like to see how he does with less draining to make SMW.

[brilo33]

going Hart - Decision, i like look of hart he good fighter , he impressed against gilberto. think Barrera has had his day, though he will swing to take your head off,

[Onetimeonly]

Where did you see this, ruthless? I thought Hart was going to fight Alvarez. (Sorry, I missed he pulled out)Not sure fury on ESPN+ is higher profile than Valdez on ESPN. Well see, good fight if it happens. Nice style mesh.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Where did you see this, ruthless? I thought Hart was going to fight Alvarez. (Sorry, I missed he pulled out)Not sure fury on ESPN+ is higher profile than Valdez on ESPN. Well see, good fight if it happens. Nice style mesh.

I didn’t mind Alvarez-Hart, unfortunately Alvarez is out. Barrera only just signed with Top Rank.

ESPN is more exposure I agree.

Like most cards, prelims start on the app, then move over to ESPN.

Fury shouldn’t be on the app.

[Onetimeonly]

I didn’t mind Alvarez-Hart, unfortunately Alvarez is out. Barrera only just signed with Top Rank.

ESPN is more exposure I agree.

Like most cards, prelims start on the app, then move over to ESPN.

Fury shouldn’t be on the app.

Fury is on the app. A lot of the cards are.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fury is on the app. A lot of the cards are.

Talk about exposure.

TBF, the app ain’t too bad tho is it?

[Onetimeonly]

Talk about exposure.

TBF, the app ain’t too bad tho is it?

No, I love it. $5 a month. But a buddy of mine that used to watch all the time us taping the ESPN show tonight, hell never watch the app. I imagine they'll run some fury ads during the UFC ppv tonight and the cards up until then. That won't hurt.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Jesse "Hollywood" Hart and Sullivan Barrera understand high stakes and are coming to Las Vegas, intent on cashing in with a potential world title shot on the line. Hart and Barrera will square off in a 10-round light heavyweight bout Saturday, June 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Hart-Barrera will serve as the co-feature to lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury’s title defense against unbeaten German challenger Tom Schwarz.

Fury-Schwarz and Hart-Barrera will stream live in the United States exclusively on ESPN+ — beginning at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST.

The undercard will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes beginning at 7:00 p.m. EST/4:00 p.m. PST and will showcase undefeated 2016 Olympian Mikaela Mayer (10-0, 4 KOs), who will fight former world title challenger Lizbeth Crespo (13-4, 3 KOs) in a 10-round super featherweight bout.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with allegedly’s Queensberry Promotions and SES Boxing, tickets priced at $500, $300, $100 and $50 are on sale now can be purchased online through axs.com, charge by phone at 866-740-7711 or in person at any MGM Resorts box office.

“On June 15, I’m coming to knock him out,” Hart said. “I refuse to lose. This is a legacy fight. I want the big names. I need a big name, and Barrera is the name. I don’t want to just win and coast to some boring decision. I’m coming to prove to the world that I can fight with these bigger guys. After I knock Barrera out, I’m coming for all the champions. The light heavyweights better watch out because ‘Hollywood’ Hart is here.”

“I am excited to face Jesse Hart, a great fighter who has also been in there with world champions,” Barrera said. “This is a must-win fight. Simple as that. Camp has been great for me, and I am looking forward to June 15. It’s going to be a great card, and I am going to show everyone in Las Vegas and watching on ESPN+ what I’m truly made of.”

Hart (25-2, 21 KOs) had two cracks at the WBO super middleweight world title, losing a pair of close decisions to longtime champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez. The Ramirez rematch, which took place last December in Corpus Christi, Texas, was a bruising affair that saw Hart rally in the second half before losing a majority decision. Eleven of Hart’s last 12 victories have come via knockout, and he hopes to carry that power up to the light heavyweight ranks. The Philadelphia native fought on the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao undercard in 2015 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, knocking out Mike Jimenez in six rounds.

Barrera (22-2, 14 KOs), from Cuba, defected to the United States in 2009 and turned pro later that year. The Miami-based bruiser won the first 17 bouts of his career before dropping a decision to pound-for-pound great Andre Ward. A perennial contender, Barrera holds victories over Joe Smith Jr., Vyacheslav Shabranskyy, Karo Murat and former super middleweight world champion Jeff Lacy. He challenged Dmitry Bivol for a light heavyweight world title last year and fought valiantly before being stopped in the 12th and final round.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Evenly matched 50-50 fight on the Fury-Schwarz card.

Fight week.

[ironbeard]

High quality week.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[HD79]

Anyone doing RBR

[IrishGuy]

Any links?

[HD79]

Yes me too

[oogiebe]

It's all I could find.

[Duran1970]

Pretty close Goin into 10
Hart got credited for a knockdown which was reviewed and stood..
I got Hart slightly ahead

[Ruthless-RKO]

Jesse Hart (26-2, 21 KOs) won a ten round unanimous decision over Sullivan Barrera (22-3, 14 KOs).

The scores were 99-90, 96-93 and 97-92.
Hart was making his debut in the light heavyweight division, after losing a twelve round decision to then WBO world champion Gilberto Ramirez at super middleweight.

The action was close in the early going, but was Hart landing the much harder punches. In the second round, both were landing some heavy punches at close range. Hart appeared to be doing more damage, but Barrera was holding his own.

[sturm vogel]

Hart is not much, but Barrera is completely worn out. Barrera needs a long rest or another line of work.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Hart is not much, but Barrera is completely worn out. Barrera needs a long rest or another line of work.

Hart is a very decent contender. Who knows, he might finally beat Zurdo at LHW.

[sturm vogel]

Hart is a very decent contender. Who knows, he might finally beat Zurdo at LHW.

Maybe. But the LHW division is a meat grinder. The division has run Barrera into the ground. Hart didn't look too comfortable when Barrera connected; how will he handle the four big guns Kovalev, Gvozdyk, Bivol, and Beterbiev?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Maybe. But the LHW division is a meat grinder. The division has run Barrera into the ground. Hart didn't look too comfortable when Barrera connected; how will he handle the four big guns Kovalev, Gvozdyk, Bivol, and Beterbiev?

Yup! The LHW division belongs to the Europeans!’