Super-lightweight contender Ismael Barroso wants another opportunity to fight for a world title, but first, he must take care of business on Saturday, January 6th, as he is set to take on Ohara Davies (25-2, 18 KOs) at The Theater in the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Barroso-Davies clash will serve as the chief support for the Vergil Ortiz Jr-Fredrick Lawson event which is being presented by Golden Boy and broadcast worldwide on DAZN.
The British boxer Ohara Davies will be making his debut in the United States, and he plans on bringing the WBA Interim title back to England.
The bout between Barroso and Davies was originally scheduled to take place on December 2nd, but unfortunately, it had to be postponed due to Davies not being able to secure a visa to enter the U.S. Now everything is set, as both boxers are ready to fight for the WBA Interim title.
After losing to Batyr Akhmedov back in August 2018, Ismael Barroso went on a four-fight win streak. On the strength of the streak, Barroso earned the opportunity to face Rolando “Rolly” Romero for the vacant WBA super-lightweight world title back in May 2023.
With 26 seconds left to go in the third round, the southpaw Barroso landed a sharp left hand that sent Romero down to the canvas. As the fight continued, Barroso was able to consistently change levels with the left hand and land solid shots to the body and head.
In the 9th round, Romero landed a combination followed by an aggressive right-hand push that resulted in Ismael Barroso falling to the canvas. Unfortunately for Barroso, the referee counted the push as a knockdown.
As the round progressed, Rolly Romero was able to press forward and force Ismael Barroso into a corner. Romero proceeded to throw a flurry of shots, but only a few of them hit the target.
Despite the lack of accuracy in regards to punches landed, referee Tony Weeks stepped in and put a halt to the contest.
At the time of the controversial ninth round stoppage, Barroso was ahead on all three judges’ scorecards, with scores of 76-75, 77-74, and 78-73. With the questionable victory, Rolly Romero was able to claim his first world title.
Ismael Barroso (24-4-2, 22 KOs) was left wanting a rematch, but Ohara Davies was the next man in line to get a shot at the WBA strap. The WBA ordered a match between Romero and Davies, but the fight never happened due to Romero’s claim of being injured.
Now, both Ohara Davies and the 40-year-old Venezuelan boxer Barroso could be one step away from earning a shot at the world title. The two have been paired together in what will serve as a WBA interim title/world title eliminator type of bout.
“I’m very excited to have another opportunity to show that I’m at the world championship level,” Barroso said. “I proved it in my last fight, and this time I’m going to make sure there’s no doubt whatsoever.
My team has stuck by me through everything, and it has motivated me to get back in the ring and make all of our hard work pay off.”
Ismael Barroso is confident that on the night of January 6th, he will have his hand raised and he will leave the ring with the WBA Interim title.
If that does happen, hopefully, the WBA will do the right thing by immediately ordering a return bout between Barroso and the current WBA 140-pound champion in recess, Rolly Romero.