Shabranskyy (17-0, 14 KO), twenty-nine, has been a bit stagnant recently. After a four-fight 2015 campaign that included a majority decision over Yunieski Gonzalez, he’s spent 2016 beating up the likes of Derrick Findley and Oscar Riojas in eight-rounders. Cuba's Barrera (17-1, 12 KO), meanwhile, hasn’t fought since losing to Andre Ward in March but represents, at the very least, a moderate step up.
It’s a very solid matchup, one which should put the winner in title contention. Good stuff.
Elsewhere on the card, Eddie Gomez (19-1, 11 KO) faces Rashidi Ellis (16-0, 11 KO) for a fringe IBF welterweight title and Ronny Rios (26-1, 11 KO) returns against that old warhorse, TBA, at featherweight.