By Brian Webber: Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero (15-1, 13 KOs) is convinced that he deserved his ninth round knockout victory over Ismael Barroso (24-4-2, 22 KO) on Saturday night, no matter what some fans think about the out of this world ending that came.
(Photo credit: Esther Lin}
The referee, Tony Weeks, looked like he didn’t know what he was doing when he stepped in, abruptly stopped the fight in the ninth, and gave Rolly a knockout win.
Barroso was throwing punches back and didn’t look hurt. If anything, he looked energized and wanted to take Rolly’s head off.
Interestingly, Rolly didn’t mention wanting to give Barroso a rematch to clear up the controversy over the premature stoppage.
The only name Rolly mentioned afteer thee fight was Ryan Garcia, who he wants to fight next in an elimination-type bout with the winner to get the big prize, Gervonta Davis.
“I’m not going to say nothing to Ryan [Garcia]. We’re going to make this s**t happen. We got a bunch of press conferences to make all that s**t fun,” said Rolly Romero to the media after beating Barroso.
“I didn’t do a tune-up. This is a world title shot,” said Rolando when asked if Ryan Garcia might want to take a tune-up before fighting him for his newly won WBA light welterweight title.
“What do you mean? I went straight for a title. I tried to fight [former WBA 140-lb champion Alberto] Puello. Puello didn’t follow the rules or whatever, right? He kind of f***ked some s**t up.
“It’s not my fault that Puello did that because I was going in as a challenger. I didn’t do no tune-up. I went in straight for a champion, and that’s how we did it.
“Oscar [De La Hoya], let’s make this s**t happen. I know Oscar is excited to make this [Rolly vs. Ryan Garcia fight] happen. Why wouldn’t it be in Vegas? Ryan has developed a lot as a fighter, and I’ve developed a lot as a fighter. I’m still going to whoop that a**.
“I was winning the fight, but my output wasn’t high,” said Rolly about his fight with Barroso. “Like I said, I was landing. I was landing the better and cleaner shots, but he did throw more than me.
