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Rolando Romero Battles Ismael Barroso For Vacant WBA
140-Pound World Title This Sat., May 13
Hard-hitting Rolando “Rolly’’ Romero will battle No. 1
contender Ismael Barroso for the vacant WBA Super
Lightweight World Title this Saturday, May 13 live on
SHOWTIME from The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las
Vegas headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event. The
matchup between come-forward fighters with power in both
hands shapes up to be another entertaining title tilt at
140-pounds, a division brimming with talent.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins at 9 p.m.
ET/6 p.m. PT and features two additional super lightweight
bouts with former two-division world champion Rances
Barthelemy dueling the all-action Omar “El Relámpago” Juarez
in the 10-round super lightweight co-main event, and top
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.
Alberto Puello, who previously held the WBA 140-pound title
that will be fought for on Saturday night, has been dropped
from the main event because of a failed VADA test.
Part of the Mayweather Promotions stable, Romero (14-1, 12
KOs) is known for his brash talk that he backs up with power
in both hands as well as an exciting, unique style that
makes him must-see whenever he steps between the ropes.
Romero returns to the ring for the first time since a May
2022 defeat against three-division champion Gervonta Davis.
Prior to the Davis fight, Romero won an interim title in
August 2020 by earning a close but unanimous decision over
then unbeaten Jackson Marinez. The 27-year-old followed that
victory up with a pair of impressive knockout triumphs,
dominating slick contender Avery Sparrow with a
seventh-round stoppage in January 2021 before dropping
former title challenger Anthony Yigit three times on his way
to another seventh-round stoppage in July 2021.
“It doesn’t matter who I fight on May 13,” said Romero. “I’m
a star and I’m gonna shine no matter what. I can’t wait to
put on a show in my hometown of Las Vegas and for everyone
watching on SHOWTIME. I’m leaving the ring with that belt.”
Barroso (24-3-2, 22 KOs) is a battle-tested veteran seeking
to capture a WBA title for the second time in his career. He
came up short in his world title quest when he lost to
Anthony Crolla for a lightweight championship in 2016.
Barroso, who was born in Tigre, Venezuela and now lives in
Miami, Fla., has won four consecutive fights – three by
knockout – since suffering back-to-back losses in 2018. In
his most recent match, he scored a fourth-round knockout
victory over Fernando David Saucedo last August to climb
into the No. 1 contender spot for the WBA 140-pound title.
“I’m very happy about this opportunity and I’m not going to
waste it,” said Barroso. “On May 13 you will see an
extremely hungry fighter going all out for the victory. I’m
very thankful to my team for getting me this opportunity and
for standing by my side throughout everything. On May 13 I’m
winning that title!”
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