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25-year-old Cuban Barthelemy is currently
undefeated at 17-0 (11), while Usmanee (30), born
in Afghanistan, brings a 20-0 (10) professional
ledger. The fight is scheduled for twelve rounds,
and will be televised live on ESPN’s Friday Night
Fights.
Bathelemy won the UBO title in July 2011 by
outpointing Gerardo Robles in Las Vegas, and made
his first defense this past February with a
unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Hylon
Williams Jr., also in Las Vegas. He has since
defeated tough opponents Robert Osiobe and
Alejandro Rodriguez.
In fighting Usmanee, the lanky boxer-puncher will
take another step up in class and towards a shot
at a world title, but Richard Dobal, president of
Bad Dog Boxing and co-promoter of Barthelemy along
with Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing, feels his
boxer is ready for the job:
“Whenever we’ve put an opponent in front of him
where he had to step up, such as Hylon Williams,
Rances proved he was ready”, Dobal told
Fightnews.com. “I think he’s one of those fighters
that the better the opponent, the more inspired he
gets in training and in his performance.”
“What I like about Usmanee is that we know him”,
continued Dobal. “They had an opportunity to spar
a couple years ago and Arash is a guy who comes to
fight. Rances won’t have to find him and those are
the type of opponents that showcase Rances at his
best. |
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