In Terms of Public Esteem, Ismael Barroso is Boxing’s Quintessential Late Bloomer

It’s absurd on the face of it, but the early favorite for the Breakthrough Fighter of the Year is a 40-year-old man who looks old enough to qualify for Medicare. Last night, on a five-fight Golden Boy Promotions card in Las Vegas that produced three first-round knockouts, Ismael Barroso’s 113-second demolition of Ohara Davies caused the most buzz as measured by post-fight chatter.

Barroso vs. Davies wasn’t the main event. That distinction went to Vergil Ortiz Jr’s match with Fredrick Lawson. However, Ortiz, who had knocked out all 19 of his previous opponents, was a massive favorite, so his first-round TKO of Lawson (marred by outrage over what was deemed a premature stoppage) was just another day at the office for him. By contrast, Barroso was the underdog against Davies, an Englishman making his U.S. debut and his debut as a fighter under the Golden Boy umbrella.

Barroso, who lives and trains in Miami, had his early fights in his native Venezuela, Panama, Costa Rica, and Mexico. In 2015 he journeyed to London where he upset Kevin Mitchell. That earned him a match with WBA world lightweight title-holder Anthony Crolla. Fighting in Manchester, Crolla’s hometown, Barroso set a fast face and dominated the first four rounds, but gassed out and was stopped by a body punch in the seventh.

Seven years would elapse before Barroso got another crack at a title. It came in May of last year in Las Vegas where he met Rolly Romero for the WBA 140-pound belt stripped from Josh Taylor when Taylor refused to fulfill his mandatory against Alberto Puello.

Romero vs. Puello collapsed when Puello tested positive for a PED. Ismael Barroso, who was purportedly working construction in Miami, filled the breach. Akin to his previous title match in England, Barroso would be fighting in his opponent’s backyard.

Referee Tony Weeks stopped the contest in the ninth frame with Barroso backed against the ropes as Rolly Romero flailed away with none of his punches landing cleanly. It was a bad stoppage. Barroso was ahead on all three cards through the completed rounds (by 5, 3, and 1 point) and, per CompuBox, had thrown and landed more punches.

(In a talk with fight writer Michael Woods, referee Weeks rationalized his actions: “What was in my mind was a 40-year-old boxer in a young man’s game. Any official will tell you, you get a fight, and a fighter is at an advanced age, you’re going to look at him a little harder than the other fighter.” In a touch of irony, Weeks also worked last night’s card, working the main event, and would be excoriated once again for having a quick trigger.)

Against Ohara Davies, Barroso was a whirlwind. He went for the kill after buckling the Britain’s knees with a counter left hook and sent him to the canvas with a fusillade of punches. Davies beat the count, only to be greeted by another rampage that put him on the deck once again. He was upright when the fight was stopped with referee Celestino Ruiz giving him a long look-over before waving it off.

Logically, Barroso’s next fight will be a rematch with Rolly Romero who hasn’t fought since their first encounter, citing an injury, the exact nature of which was never revealed, save to the infamous WBA which hasn’t shared the details with the media. With his win last night, the Venezuelan copped an interim belt which made Romero-Barroso II a done deal, at least in theory.

However, boxers are constantly spurning their mandatory to take a more lucrative fight and it is generally assumed that Rolly Romero will nix a do-over with Barroso (it will cost him some step-aside money) to touch gloves with Ryan Garcia who apparently has had second thoughts about fighting Devin Haney.

If Barroso (25-4-2, 23 KOs) does get another title shot, he will have plenty of people rooting for him. To finally capture a world title at his advanced age after the “injustice” of the Romero fight would be a heartwarming story. “I can’t wait to see this wrinkled prune of an old man in the ring again,” wrote someone on social media after witnessing Barroso’s destruction of Ohara Davies on DAZN last night.

For the record, Ismael Barroso turns 41 later this month. That’s assuming that the record book is accurate. There will always be folks who believe that he is older than his listed age and, if that be true, it wouldn’t surprise us one bit.

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy Promotions

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