Rolando Romero and Ismael Barroso squared off in the main event live on Showtime from The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Saturday, May 13. The contest featured Las Vegas native up against fellow former world title challenger and interim titleholder from Venezuela. The pair battled it out for the vacant WBA super lightweight title.
The scheduled for 12 rounds world championship bout didn’t go the full distance. Barroso dropped Romero in the third round and scored a knockout. Romero secured an eight count in Round 9, after he punched/pushed Barroso to the canvas.
Referee Tony Weeks stepped in and waved the fight off at 2 minutes and 41 seconds into the ninth round. A few considered it was a premature stoppage.
Ultimately, Rolando Romero improved to 15-1, 13 KOs and took the WBA super lightweight belt. In his previous bout a year ago, the 27-year-old was stopped by Gervonta Davis in the first round.
El Tigre, Venezuela-born, Miami, Florida-based Ismael Barroso dropped to 24-4-2, 22 KOs. The 40-year-old took the fight on a fairly short notice, replacing former champion Alberto Puello.
Post-fight both fighters said the fight souldn’t have been stopped.
Check out Rolando Romero vs Ismael Barroso full fight video highlights below.
Romero vs Barroso full fight video highlights
Ismael Barroso makes his ring walk.
Ismael Barroso is dreamin in Sin City ?
He heads to ring for his shot at title glory ?#RomeroBarroso pic.twitter.com/hLsbt0VpiA
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) May 14, 2023
Here comes Rolando Romero.
New division, Same @SignUp4KOs ?#RomeroBarroso starts NOW on @Showtime. pic.twitter.com/WU8eKAR8AL
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) May 14, 2023
Barroso dominates and drops Romero in round 3.
Ismael Barroso DROPS Romero in round 3 with a left ?#RomeroBarroso pic.twitter.com/ThKJcoUU6C
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) May 14, 2023
.@SignUp4KOs gets pressed by Barroso at the end of RD3 after getting KNOCKED DOWN! #RomeroBarroso pic.twitter.com/psmUTOIeX4
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) May 14, 2023
Romero pays back in Round 9.
.@SignUp4KOs comes back with a knockdown of his own in round 9 ??#RomeroBarroso pic.twitter.com/YHwjkkvyd6
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) May 14, 2023
Referee stops the fight.
WOW ?
Referee Tony Weeks stops the fight and @SignUp4KOs scores a TKO victory over Barroso to become the new WBA Super Lightweight champ ? #RomeroBarroso pic.twitter.com/SseQxDNoQu
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) May 14, 2023
Post-fight.
“I think it was an injustice to stop this fight.”
Ismael Barroso with strong feelings on the stoppage.#RomeroBarroso pic.twitter.com/ew9NoukLtC
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) May 14, 2023
.@SignUp4KOs says the fight shouldn’t have been stopped ?#RomeroBarroso pic.twitter.com/v09Uj5fT9P
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) May 14, 2023
In Australia, the event aired live on Sunday, May 14.
Get Romero vs Barroso full fight card results.
The post Rolando Romero vs Ismael Barroso full fight video highlights appeared first on FIGHTMAG.