By Mark Eisner: In a controversial ending, Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero (15-1, 13 KOs) defeated Ismael Barroro (24-4-2, 22 KOs) by a ninth round knockout to claim the vacant WBA light welterweight title on Saturday night at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Romero pushed the 40-year-old Barroso to the canvas, which shockingly, referee Tony Weeks ruled a knockdown. When the action resumed.
Rolly cornered Barroso, who was fighting back hard, but then the referee Weeks inexplicably stepped in and halted the fight. All of it was very, very odd from the referee.
Earlier in the fight, Barroso dropped Rolly hard in round three. Barroso then hurt Rolly in rounds four, five, six, and seven.
Undercard results.
- Light welterweight Rances Barthelemy (30-2-1, 15 KOs) defeated Omar Juarez (14-2, 5 KOs) in a ten round majority decision. The scores were 97-93, 98-92, and 95-95. The victory for the 37-year-old former two-division world champion Barthelemy showed that he still has a lot left in the tank.
- Light welterweight fringe contender Kenneth Sims Jr (20-2-1, 7 KOs) rallied to defeat Batyr Akhmedov (9-3, 8 KOs) by a 12 round majority decision. The scores were 115-113, 116-112 for Sims Jr, and 114-114.
- Bantamweight Michael Angeletti (8-0, 7 KOs) stopped Michell Banquez (20-4, 14 KOs) in the eighth round. Angeletti knocked the 32-year-old Banquez down in the eighth round. When Banquez got back up, Angeletti teed off until the contest was halted.
- Light welterweight Starling Castillo (18-1-1, 13 KOs) defeated previously unbeaten Esteuri Suero (12-1, 9 KOs) by a ten round unanimous decision. The scores were 95-92, 95-92, and 94-93.
Preview: Rolly-Barroso event will be shown live on Showtime, beginning at 9 pm ET for the card. Preliminary action will start at 6:30 p.m. ET. The event will occur at The Cosmopolitan, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
What’s interesting is how Rolly has held back from the normal trash-talking he does toward his opponent, but it’s obvious why he’s chosen not to insult Barroso.
With boxing fans remarking about how old Barroso looks, Rolly would make himself look bad if he joined in because it reflects on him that his management chose to match him against this fighter rather than pitting him against a younger, far more dangerous guy like WBC light welterweight champion Regis Prograis or IBF champ Subriel Matias.
For Mayweather Promotions to have put Rolly in with Barroso suggests they don’t believe he can defeat Prograis or Matias. Rolly wasn’t going to turn down a golden chance to become a world champion for the first and perhaps the only time in his career, but it’s got to be bittersweet for him that he’s facing a guy that looks like he’s in his early 60s.
If Rolly loses this fight, it’s impossible to see him maneuvered into another world title match by Mayweather Promotions. Sadly, Rolly didn’t even have to fight once at 140 to be given this opportunity to fight for the vacant WBA 140-lb title.
Additionally, Rolly is coming off of a 12-month layoff and a loss to WBA ‘regular’ lightweight champion Gervonta Davis last year. It sends the wrong message that Rolly was given this opportunity, so it’s unlikely to happen again unless he earns it by beating a quality top contender.
“He’s a little more patient now, and he’s learning some manners,” said Rolly Romero’s mom to Fighthype, talking about his personality change for tonight’s contest against Ismael Barroso on Showtime in Las Vegas.
“He is maturing, yes. I don’t know what to do. What do I expect? A victory, of course. Most definitely,” said Rolly’s mom when asked if she expects a knockout win over Barroso.
“It’s going to happen. I don’t want to see none of it, honestly, but it’s going to happen,” Rolando’s mom said when asked if she sees Rolly fighting Ryan Garcia soon. “Because it makes me nervous. Yeah, it’s well worth his time [to make a lot of money].
“He’s going to take care of business. He knows what he’s doing. I don’t know where he got it from. I’m not stupid. We’re pretty quiet. He’s outspoken.”
Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero is being given a dream opportunity to fight for the WBA light welterweight title tonight against a fighter made to order for him in Ismael Barroro. This could be it for Rolly (14-1, 12 KOs) if he fails to win this contest against the well-seasoned veteran Barroso (24-3-2, KOs). A loss here for Rolly will signal the end of the line for him.