By Brian Webber: Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero (14-1, 12 KOs) and #1 ranked Ismael Barroso (24-3-2, 22 KOs) will fight for the WBA Super lightweight title this Saturday night on May 13th in a 12-round bout at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Chelsea Ballroom, Las Vegas.
The former WBA 140-lb champ Alberto Puello, who tested positive for a banned substance, has been given the ‘Champion in recess’ tag until he attends a hearing with the World Boxing Association or his B-sample comes up negative in a VADA test.
Romero and Barroso now have an excellent opportunity to become the new WBA light welterweight champion this Saturday night, May 13th, in a fight that will be shown live on Showtime.
The winner will be in an excellent position to face one of the other world champions at 140 in a unification clash or perhaps battle the superstar Ryan Garcia or even Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis.
That would be an ideal situation, of course. The Romero vs. Barroso winner will likely go after one of the other champions at light welterweight, possibly the Josh Taylor vs. Teofimo Lopez winner or Regis Prograis.
“The World Boxing Association declared the Dominican Alberto Puello as 140 lbs. champion in recess after he tested positive for a banned substance…The fight between Rolando Romero and Ismael Barroso will be for the WBA Super Lightweight vacant Championship,” per WBA.
On social media, boxing fans are hopping mad about Rolly Romero getting an opportunity to fight for a world title with the WBA, as he was knocked out in the sixth round by Gervonta Davis last year in May 2022, and he’s not fought since that time.
Rolly’s popularity is hard to ignore, so it’s not a shock that he’s being given this second chance by the WBA. Also, he gave Tank Davis one of the most challenging fights of his career, showing a lot of power and talent in that defeat.
As Rolly points out, he would have gone better if the fight had occurred at 140 because he was drained, coming down to 135 for that fight. He wanted the contest with Tank to take place at 140, but he rejected that idea, wanting it at lightweight.
Barroso has past defeats against these fighters: Botirzhon Akhmedov, Isa Chaniev, and Anthony Crolla.
In Barroso’s recent fights, he’s beaten Yves Ulysse Jr, Fernando Saucedo, Fidel Maldonado, and Nestor Hugo Paniagua.
Rolly on why Tank Davis should fight him again
“It sold beyond hell the first time, and he’s had a belt at 140, so he’s a 140,” said Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero to Showtime Boxing on why he believes Gervonta Davis will want to give him a rematch.
“So you will make a lot of money against a guy you already beat, and you already had a belt in that division. So isn’t that a good enough reason to fight me again, and this dude is going to sell the hell out of your fight? Ain’t that it?
“Now, if he doesn’t fight me, we know the reason because that last fight was very difficult for him, and I know by far I’ve been the most difficult fight in his career, and he said himself that I’m the hardest puncher than anyone he’s ever faced,” said Rolly about Gervonta.
