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Rolando Romero vs. Ismael Barroso
Final Press Conference
Hard-hitting contender Rolando “Rolly” Romero and No. 1
contender Ismael Barroso previewed their showdown for the
vacant WBA Super Lightweight World Title at the final press
conference Thursday before they meet in the SHOWTIME main
event this Saturday, May 13 from The Chelsea inside The
Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas headlining a Premier Boxing
Champions event.
The press conference also featured fighters competing on the
undercard of the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast.
Action beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT will see former
two-division world champion Rances Barthelemy duel the
all-action Omar “El Relámpago” Juarez in the 10-round super
lightweight co-main event, and super lightweight contenders
Batyr Akhmedov and Kenneth Sims Jr., facing off in a
12-round WBA Super Lightweight World Title Eliminator in the
telecast opener.
Barroso stepped in on less than a month’s notice after
Alberto Puello, who previously held the WBA 140-pound title
that will be fought for on Saturday night, had been dropped
from the main event because of a failed VADA test.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather
Promotions and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and available
for purchase through Ticketmaster.com.
Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday from The
Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas:
ROLANDO ROMERO
“I think Barroso is actually a better fighter than Alberto
Puello, because he can actually crack. Any time you’re in a
fight with a puncher, you know it’s gonna be difficult.
“I’m not underestimating him. I know he can hit and he’s a
little tricky. He throws a good straight left that comes out
of nowhere that he’s been getting guys with. So I’m
definitely not underestimating him.
“I’m going to make 140-pounds the most popping division in
boxing. I see many pay-per-view events and I’m involved in
all of them.
“The only thing that I learned from the Gervonta Davis fight
is that I need to be patient. Patience is everything in
life.
“Everyone can expect to see ‘Rolly’ with the world title
around his waist Saturday night. Every fighter that boxes
dreams of becoming world champion, so it would be a dream
come true.
“I do like trash talking, but this isn’t a trash talking
fight. I have to respect this man next to me. Someone didn’t
want to follow all the rules, so I have to be grateful
Barroso is here.
“This is the beginning of the ‘Rolly’ show again. It’s gonna
be fireworks.
ISMAEL BARROSO
“I’m churning with the same intensity that I had 10 years
ago. You’re going to see that hunger and power in the ring.
I’m bringing my best.
“I’m the number one contender and I got the opportunity that
I deserve. I know some people thought they were left behind,
but that’s not for me to worry about. ‘Rolly’ is here to
take advantage of his opportunity, so good for him.
“People who know me, know that I’m a warrior. ‘Rolly’ is a
warrior too. So if you’re tuning into this fight on Saturday
night, you’re going to see a battle between two fighters who
are very eager to become world champion. That means
fireworks.
“Winning the title would be another blessing and a great
source of happiness. It’s something that I’ve strived for my
whole career and it would be the culmination of everything
that I’ve trained for my entire life.
“The lesson I’m here to show is that it doesn’t matter how
many times you fall down, you have to keep getting up and
battling every single moment. Because dreams can come true.
Keep striving for whatever you want, no matter how old you
are.”
RANCES BARTHELEMY
“I’m well aware that I’m fighting a hungry young lion, but I
had a great training camp with my team. We studied him
really well and you’re going to see me come out on top on
Saturday night.
“The goal is to be able to make history as the first Cuban
fighter to win titles in three divisions. That’s what
propels me to wake up in the morning and continue chasing
this dream I’ve had for years.
“I don’t feel on the decline at all. I feel renewed. I have
an outstanding team around me that’s allowed me to reach my
peak once again. I feel like I’m more dangerous than ever. I
have to prove it on Saturday.
“If you gave me a choice between fighting for a title or a
rematch with Gary Antuanne Russell, I think I would take the
rematch with Russell.
“Styles make fights and our styles mesh up perfectly. Tune
in to this fight because it’s going to be fireworks in the
ring.”
OMAR JUAREZ
“I’m ready. I had the best training camp of my career so
far. I’m excited to display all my dedication on Saturday
night.
“I have experience too, but at the end of the day, we’re
both putting it all on the line. We’ll see who’s tougher
when the bell rings.
“Everyone is going to see that I’m the hardest worker in the
room. It’s been like that ever since I started fighting, and
I’m ready to display it on Saturday night.
“At the end of the day, I want to be great. I have a lot of
respect for Rances, but he’s just in my way. I have to fight
the best in order to be the best. This is a big win that I’m
looking forward to getting.
“We’re fighters and we adapt. I’m ready for whatever my
opponent brings to the table. No matter what Rances does,
I’m going to be ready.
“This is gonna be an action packed fight with two amazing
fighters and hard workers. Make sure you tune in, because
all of these fights are going to be awesome.”
BATYR AKHMEDOV
“I’m very happy to be back with this fight. It definitely
bothers me what happened since my fight against Alberto
Puello. Of course, I want to be fighting for the title, but
it is what it is. I took this fight one month after that
Puello fight, and now we’re here fighting a tough contender.
“This is a tough fight and I’m happy to be here. I have big
opportunities in front of me, and it’s up to me to go get
them.
“It’s hard to know what will happen, but I do believe the
winner of this fight should face the winner of the main
event. We’re two top ranked contenders and the winner should
be next. All I can control is doing my best to become the
mandatory.
“I feel like I’m a two-time world champion already, but I
haven’t got the belt. I know the people appreciate my style
and what I do in the ring. I know that I’ve earned being in
the main event. But now I do believe that I have a tougher
fight in front of me and all I can do is prove what I
deserve on Saturday.
“I have to do my best to leave no doubt. I’m going to do my
best every single round to win as brightly as possible and
make sure there are zero doubts."
KENNETH SIMS JR.
“This fight is super important to me. Everyone here knows
that a couple of years ago, I wasn’t in this conversation. I
don’t ever want to leave this conversation again. In order
for that to happen, I have to take care of business on
Saturday.
“I’ve been extremely focused for the last two years. I’m not
a young pup anymore. I’ve got more that I’m fighting for.
I’m not just fighting for myself. I’m prepared to do
whatever I have to do in the ring to get the win and keep my
train rolling.
“There have been a lot of things that have changed with me
over the last couple of years. Honestly, I didn’t know what
I was doing in the first phase of my career. I was just in
there and fighting off straight athletic ability. I never
applied what I actually know.
“Now I’ve got a great team around me and I’ve learned a lot
about myself. Whether it’s nutrition or strength and
conditioning, I didn’t really have that in the first phase
of my pro career. Now I have a real team around me and it’s
paying off.
“When I say I’m ready for whatever, I mean it. No matter
what I have to do. If boxing isn’t working, I can fight. I’m
not scared of a fight.
“I think Batyr should be world champion right now and I
believe that the winner of this fight should get to fight
for the title.”
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