Sullivan Barrera is a Cuban professional boxer who has competed in the light heavyweight division. Barrera had a successful amateur career before turning professional in 2009. He has challenged for the WBA light heavyweight title and has been a notable contender in the 175-pound weight class.
You can follow Sullivan Barrera’s biography, personal details, career details, net worth, fight purses, career records, achievements, and more here.
Sullivan Barrera’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Sullivan Barrera Favier |
| Birth Date | February 25, 1982 |
| Height | 6′ 2″ (188 cm) |
| Weight | Light Heavyweight (175 lbs) |
| Birthplace | Guantanamo Bay, Cuba |
| Nationality | Cuban |
| Turned Professional | 2009 |
| Current Net Worth | $5 million |
| Instagram Profile | @sullivanbarrera |
Sullivan Barrera was born in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on February 25, 1982. In 2009, Sullivan made the difficult decision to defect from Cuba to the United States, leaving his entire family behind.
This separation lasted for 8 years until 2017 when his father was finally able to obtain a visa to enter the U.S. and watch his son fight professionally for the first time. Sadly, Barrera’s mother passed away 4 years before this reunion.
Early Career
Barrera had an impressive amateur career in Cuba, amassing a record of 285 wins and 27 losses.
His most notable achievement as an amateur was winning the gold medal at the 2000 AIBA Junior World Championships in the middleweight division. During this tournament, he defeated future world champion Chad Dawson in the semi-finals.
Professional Career
Sullivan Barrera began his professional boxing career on August 21, 2009, after defecting from Cuba to the United States. He quickly built an impressive record, winning his first 17 professional fights, with 11 of those victories coming by knockout.
Barrera’s first major test came on March 26, 2016, when he faced Andre Ward, losing by unanimous decision. On July 15, 2017, Barrera secured a notable win against Joe Smith Jr. by unanimous decision, earning him the WBC International light heavyweight title.
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His first and only world title shot came on March 3, 2018, when he challenged Dmitry Bivol for the WBA light heavyweight title, but lost via 12th round TKO.
Throughout his career, Barrera has faced several other notable opponents, including Vyacheslav Shabranskyy, Sean Monaghan, and Jesse Hart. His last recorded fight was a loss to Gilberto Ramírez on July 9, 2021, at the age of 39.
Sullivan Barrera’s Net Worth Details
Sullivan Barrera’s net worth is estimated to be $5 million as of 2025. This figure is based on his career earnings from fight purses and potential endorsements.
Fight Purses
| Date | Opponent | Purse |
| Jan 2020 | Joe Smith Jr. | $300,000 |
| Dec 2018 | Gilberto Ramirez | $200,000 |
| Sep 2017 | Gilberto Ramirez | $150,000 |
Career Records
| Statistic | Value |
| Total Fights | 27 |
| Wins | 22 |
| Losses | 5 |
| Draws | 0 |
| Wins by KO | 14 |
| KO Percentage | 64% |
Achievements
- Gold medal at the 2000 AIBA Junior World Championships (Middleweight)
- WBC International light heavyweight title (2017)
- Challenged for WBA light heavyweight title (2018)
FAQs
1. Who is Sullivan Barrera?
Sullivan Barrera is a Cuban professional boxer born on February 25, 1982, in Guantanamo, Cuba. He competes in the light heavyweight division and has a professional record of 22 wins (14 by knockout) and 5 losses. He is known for his orthodox stance and impressive amateur career with 285 wins.
2. What are Sullivan Barrera’s major achievements?
Barrera won the gold medal at the 2000 AIBA Junior World Championships as an amateur. As a professional, he won the WBC International light heavyweight title in 2017 and challenged Dmitry Bivol for the WBA light heavyweight title in 2018, although he lost.
3. How did Sullivan Barrera start his professional career?
Barrera turned professional in 2009 after defecting from Cuba to the United States. He started his career with a strong winning streak, going 17-0 before facing top-level competition like Andre Ward and Dmitry Bivol.
4. What notable opponents has Sullivan Barrera faced?
Barrera has fought several high-profile boxers, including Andre Ward, Dmitry Bivol, Joe Smith Jr., Vyacheslav Shabranskyy, and Gilberto Ramirez. His victory over Joe Smith Jr. in 2017 is considered one of his most significant wins.
5. What is Sullivan Barrera’s fighting style and physical attributes?
Barrera fights in an orthodox stance and stands at 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) tall with a reach of 73 inches (185 cm). His style combines technical skill with power, as evidenced by his 64% knockout ratio.
6. What was Sullivan Barrera’s amateur boxing record?
As an amateur, Barrera achieved an outstanding record of 285 wins and 27 losses. His most notable accomplishment was winning the middleweight gold medal at the 2000 AIBA Junior World Championships.
7. Has Sullivan Barrera ever won a world title?
Sullivan Barrera has not won a world title. He challenged for the WBA light heavyweight title in March 2018 but lost to Dmitry Bivol via a 12th-round technical knockout.
8. What is Sullivan Barrera’s current status in boxing?
As of February 2025, Barrera does not have any scheduled fights. His last fight was on March 13, 2024, against Radivoje Kalajdzic, where he lost by technical knockout in the 10th round.
9. What is Sullivan Barrera’s net worth?
Sullivan Barrera’s net worth is estimated to be $5 million as of 2025. This includes earnings from fight purses and potential endorsements throughout his boxing career.
10. Why did Sullivan Barrera defect to the United States?
Barrera defected from Cuba to the United States in 2009 to pursue a professional boxing career. This decision separated him from his family for eight years until his father joined him in 2017 to watch him fight professionally for the first time.
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