Connect with us

Featured Articles

Super Lightweights Take Center Stage at the Cosmo on Saturday

Published

on

Super-Lightweights-Take-Center-Stage-at-the-Cosmo-on-Saturday

Super Lightweights Take Center Stage at the Cosmo on Saturday

Premier Boxing Champions returns to the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 13, with a SHOWTIME tripleheader. All six combatants in the featured bouts compete in the super lightweight (140-pound) division.

It’s a very deep division that will spawn two very attractive pairings on back-to-back Saturdays in June when Josh Taylor rumbles with Teofimo Lopez on a Top Rank promotion at Madison Square Garden and Regis Prograis squares off against Liam Paro on a Matchroom show in New Orleans. But that’s getting ahead of ourselves.

Saturday’s featured bout at the Cosmo pits Rolly Romero (14-1, 12 KOs) against Ismael Barroso (24-3-2, 22 KOs). Romero, who will have home field advantage, is looking to rebound after suffering a sixth-round stoppage at the hands of the formidable Gervonta “Tank” Davis. Romero was competitive in that fight before the roof fell in and was actually ahead on one of the scorecards through the five completed rounds.

Barroso, from Miami by way of Venezuela, is riding a four-fight winning streak but has been relatively inactive, fighting only once in 2021 and in 2022 after missing all of 2020. A former world title challenger at 135 pounds, he’s 40 years old and looks it.

Romero, 27, is known for being one of the sport’s best trash-talkers, but he has been nothing but respectful toward Barroso who salvaged this fight, stepping up on less than one month’s notice after Alberto Puello got scratched for flunking his VADA test.

The co-feature between Rances Barthelemy (29-2-1, 15 KOs) and Omar Juarez (14-1, 5 KOs) is far more intriguing. Barthelemy turns 37 next month and looks younger. There isn’t an ounce of superfluous flesh on his body. But the calendar doesn’t lie and Juarez, 23, will have youth on his side.

Before he leaves the sport, Barthelemy aims to become the first fighter from Cuba to win world titles in three weight classes. He previously held world title belts at 130 and 135.

In his last start, Barthelemy was stopped for the first time in his career, losing on a TKO in round six to Gary Antuanne Russell. Although he was behind on all three cards, Barthelemy had been more than holding his own when referee Shada Murdaugh waived the fight off in a stoppage that struck almost everyone as premature. That was a fan-friendly fight for as long as it lasted, redemption of sorts for Barthelemy who fought a real stinker here at the Cosmo with Robert Easter Jr in April of 2019.

Both Barthelemy and Juarez (pictured) come from athletic families. Barthelemy’s older brother Yan won a gold medal in boxing at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Rances’ younger brother Leduan, who defected with him from Cuba, sports a 16-2-1 record in the fight-for-pay ranks.

Omar Juarez, a handsome, well-spoken young man from Brownsville, Texas, who has been recognized for giving back to his community, acknowledges that he may not be the most gifted boxer in his family. His younger brother Sebastian is a three-time national amateur champion who is on the verge of turning pro. Another brother, Rudy Juarez Jr., is currently playing pro football in Norway, of all places. An outstanding running back at Bethel College in Kansas, Rudy purportedly ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 for NFL scouts.

Juarez’s hometown, Brownsville, has been in the news a lot lately. In recent days, the border city in the Rio Grande Valley has been overwhelmed with asylum-seekers from Mexico and Central America.

Juarez, who has toured some of the migrant camps with local politicians, acknowledges that it is a thorny problem while noting that the surge hasn’t directly impacted him or members of his family. “The United States is and should always remain the land of opportunity,” he says, “but it’s important to know who these people are.”

Juarez will put all those thoughts on the backburner on Saturday night when he steps up in class to fight Rances Barthelemy.

In the opening bout of the telecast, Batyr Akhmedov (9-2, 8 KOs) meets Kenneth Sims Jr (19-2-1, 7 KOs).

A native Kazakh who represented Turkey in the 2016 Olympics, Akhmedov, 32, is a two-time world title challenger who went the distance with Mario Barrios and the aforementioned Puello. He hits harder and has fought stiffer competition than Sims, a 29-year-old Chicagoan, but the oddsmakers were more impressed with Sims’ current form — he’s won his last six — and installed him a small favorite.

Photo credit: Esther Lin / SHOWTIME

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Advertisement
Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles7 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Angelo-Leo-Retains-His-Featherweight-Title-Before-a-Hostile-Crowd-in-Osaka
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Angelo Leo Retains His Featherweight Title Before a Hostile Crowd in Osaka

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

Local-Fan-Favorites-Terri-Harpet-and-Maxi-Hughes-Victorious-in-Doncaster
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Local Fan Favorites Terri Harper and Maxi Hughes Victorious in Doncaster

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles5 days ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles1 week ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles6 days ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 days ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles1 day ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles1 day ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 days ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles5 days ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles6 days ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles7 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles1 week ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Angelo-Leo-Retains-His-Featherweight-Title-Before-a-Hostile-Crowd-in-Osaka
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Angelo Leo Retains His Featherweight Title Before a Hostile Crowd in Osaka

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

Local-Fan-Favorites-Terri-Harpet-and-Maxi-Hughes-Victorious-in-Doncaster
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Local Fan Favorites Terri Harper and Maxi Hughes Victorious in Doncaster

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending