By Rick Reeno
Rances Barthelemy (23-0, 13KOs) vs. Denis Shafikov (36-1-1, 19KOs) was initially being discussed to appear as the co-feature to the November return of junior middleweight champion Erislandy Lara on Premier Boxing Champions.
According to information supplied to the International Boxing Federation - that fight has been moved to December 5th, as part of the anticipated middleweight fight between WBA 'regular' champion Danny Jacobs and former WBO beltholder Peter Quillin.
That card takes place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Showtime will televise.
Barthelemy-Shafikov is a rare occurrence where a Top Rank promoted fighter faces a boxer managed by Al Haymon. The IBF ordered the two boxers to face each other for the lightweight title that was vacated by Mickey Bey.
Shafikov gets his second shot at a world title. He beaten by then champion Miguel Vazquez over twelve rounds in February 2014. Vazquez lost the title later than year to Bey.
Barthelemy had moved up to junior welterweight in June and dominated former champion Antonio DeMarco over ten. When the IBF offered him the opportunity to fight for a world title, he returned to the lightweight ranks.
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