
via Getty
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 13: Referee Tony Weeks sends Rolando Romero to a neutral corner after Romero knocked down Ismael Barroso in the ninth round of a fight for a vacant WBA super lightweight title at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on May 13, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Romero beat Barroso with a ninth-round TKO to win the vacant title. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

via Getty
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 13: Referee Tony Weeks sends Rolando Romero to a neutral corner after Romero knocked down Ismael Barroso in the ninth round of a fight for a vacant WBA super lightweight title at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on May 13, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Romero beat Barroso with a ninth-round TKO to win the vacant title. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
Only 20 seconds were left on the clock before the ninth round was to be concluded. Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero had Ismael Barrosso in the corner, and then it happened. The referee stopped the contest while Barroso took the blows with a tired look on his face, but not hurt. The controversial decision soon blew up on the internet and overshadowed ‘Rolly’s champion moment. Now, the American has opened up about what transpired that night.
Romero was trailing on all three judges’ scorecards, and on total punches and power punches landed. However, he had a perfect game plan. “To gas him out,” Romero said on CigarTalks.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Rolando Romero relives the Ismael Barroso fight
The WBA champion went down memory lane when he sat down with Naji. When asked about his last fight, Romero admitted, “I ain’t gonna lie, man. I went in there. My whole goal with him was to gas him out and take him after six. He diminishes after six, and that’s what I did.”
The super lightweight champion caught Barroso with jabs that worked wonders after the sixth. But there was one problem with the fight. The referee stopped it early. Romero believes a knockout would have soon followed otherwise.
“The only problem with that fight in reality, was that it was stopped a little prematurely. But Barroso didn’t contest it was badly stopped. He was in relief because he was about to get knocked out cold. If you look at Barroso’s face, he is like, ‘Thank you for f*king saving my life’,“ Romero continued.
Watch This Story: Teofimo Lopez Reveals Why He Declined The $1.5 Million Ryan Garcia Fight Offer
Following this, when asked about the controversial nature of the fight, Romero declared, “I’m a controversial person already. Anything I do, say, or anything is going to be controversial.” Since that title-clinching performance, the fans have been waiting to see how the Las Vegas native performs in his first title defense. While he was about to face Ryan Garcia, he opted out for Isaac Cruz for a showdown on March 30.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
‘Rolly Romero’ labels Isaac Cruz more exciting than Ryan Garcia
The 15-1 record holder believes ‘Pitbull’ is a more exciting opponent than ‘KingRy‘. Citing Cruz’s durability and punching power, he has called him a more difficult fight than Garcia. Aggression also tips the scales in Cruz’s favor.

via Getty
SAN ANTONIO, TX – JULY 17: Rolando Romero celebrates after defeating Anthony Yigit in their Interim WBA Lightweight fight at AT&T Center on July 17, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. Rolando Romero defeated Anthony Yigit by TKO (Photo by Edward A. Ornelas/Getty Images)
Despite being in talks with the Garcia camp, Romero had expressed that the fight was never close to materializing. The offer on the table was “bullsh*t” and the miscommunication in Garcia’s camp only worsened the situation. Is there a chance the two will meet in the future? Romero hopes so.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
What do you make of these comments by ‘Rolly’ Romero? Let us know in the comments below.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT