On the Top Rank card that featured Naoya Inoue vs TJ Doheny, Andy Hiraoka defeated Ismael Barroso (25-5-2, 23 KOs) as he scored a ninth round TKO victory and won the Interim WBA super-lightweight title.
The 41-year-old Barroso had a difficult time establishing his offense against his younger opposition. The 28-year-old Hiraoka was able to stay sharp and disciplined throughout the course of the match.
Ismael Barroso gained notoriety back in May 2023 when he fought Rolando “Rolly” Romero for the vacant WBA super-lightweight world title. Barroso was ahead on all, three judges scorecards when in the ninth round, Romero delivered a push that referee Tony Weeks counted as a knockdown.
Later in the same round, Tony Weeks stepped in and made a controversial stoppage of the fight. After being robbed in his bout against Romero, eight months later, Barroso bounced back by scoring a first round knockout win over Ohara Davies.
With the victory, Ismael Barroso won the interim WBA super-lightweight title. On September 3rd, Ismael Barroso was in Japan as he was set to defend his title against the undefeated Andy Hiraoka.
In the opening round of the southpaw vs southpaw matchup, Hiraoka was able to land a sharp, accurate jab. Andy Hiraoka continued to dictate the pace of the fight in the second round by using feints, the jab, and fluid footwork.
The third round was a carbon copy of the first two as Hiraoka controlled the distance while efficiently landing his offense. In the final minute of round number 3, Barroso attempted to close the distance, but Hiraoka hit him with a counter right hook.
After struggling to generate offense through the first four rounds, Barroso finally had a moment in the 5th when he landed a solid left hand shot. In the 6th round Barroso impatiently lunged in and Hiraoka landed a counter right hand shot that sent Barroso down to the canvas.
Barroso went down again in round 9 when Hiraoka landed a big left followed by a flurry of heavy shots. With 20 seconds remaining in the 9th, Barroso went down for a third time. Once again Barroso was able to rise to his feet, but his corner stopped the fight.
With the victory, Andy Hiraoka (24-0, 19 KOs) won the interim WBA super-lightweight title. After defeating Barroso in dominant fashion, the Japanese fighter Andy Hiraoka called out the current WBA 140-pound world champion Jose “Rayo” Venezuela.
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