Ismael Barroso (25-4-2, 23 KOs) is ready for his title shot against WBA light welterweight champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero after destroying Ohara Davies (25-3, 18 KOs) in the first round on Saturday night to win the interim WBA 140-lb title on Saturday night at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
Barroso says he upset the plans for Davies to take on Rolly next, so now he wants his title shot and rematch. He feels he should be the WBA champion now after losing to Rolly by a controversial ninth round knockout last year in May in a fight that was stopped prematurely by referee Tony Weeks.
This is the same referee who prematurely stopped the main event fight tonight in the first round in the Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Fredrick Lawson fight.
When Barroso was asked if he would be willing to step aside so that Ryan Garcia can challenge Rolly for his WBA title next, he said that he needed to speak with his team.
Ready for Rolly
“I ruined their party, so I’m ready for the rematch if it happen, but I ruined their plans,” said Ismael Barroso to the media about ruining the fight plans for Ohara Davies to challenge WBA light welterweight champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero.
“I will if the public wants it. I’ll go after him a little bit more. I hit him hard, he’s going to go down,” said Barroso about Rolly. “I prepare for twelve rounds. If the knockout comes, I’m welcome to it,” said Barroso on whether he can win only by knockout.
“I don’t think anything is against me. Ryan Garcia, I’ll fight him, too. It’s injustice that he stopped the fight so soon,” said Barroso about referee Tony Weeks halting the main event fight between Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Fredrick Lawson in the first round.
“That’ll be a team decision. We won’t answer that question,” said Barroso on whether he’ll agree to a step aside to allow Rolly to defend his WBA title against Ryan Garcia next. “The strength comes from God, and age is nothing.
“It was a very important fight coming off a loss. I should have never lost. A loss hurts at this age. It was an opportunity after four years to finally fight for a title, and it finally came. I should have been a champion,” said Barroso about his over Ohara Davies, coming after his controversial stoppage loss to Rolly Romero last year.
“My last fight with Rolly, they stopped the fight, but I didn’t get hit,” said Barroso.
