Andy Hiraoka scored a big victory when he ended the problem of the Florida-based Venezuelan cult hero Ismael Barroso after 2:58 of the ninth spherical.
Yokohama’s Hiraoka improved to 24-0 (19 KOs) after a battle he managed by way of distance, tempo and even energy. Barroso was restricted to some optimistic swings as he tried to trigger the momentum to vary, however he repeatedly got here up brief and he had been dropped thrice when the top got here.
Barroso, allegedly 41 years of age and at all times gutsy, is now 25-5-2 (23 KOs), however he soaked up jabs all through.
Hiraoka was utilizing his velocity and vary whereas the crab-like Barroso aimed to time the Japanese fighter’s pictures with counters.
The opening spherical was sluggish, and in some ways the dye was solid early. Hiraoka was taller, longer, sooner – and had the ability to negate Barroso’s rushes.
Barroso tried to make issues occur extra within the third, however Hiraoka’s potential to take a half step again and prod Barroso with a jab meant the Venezuelan customer couldn’t sufficiently shut the hole to change the sample of the battle.
Barroso’s heralded energy – which secured the stoppage of Ohara Davies in a spherical in January – meant he remained a menace, however Barroso was usually out of vary and Hiraoka, dropping his lead hand to his waist, picked away along with his jab to manage the gap and tempo of the competition.
Barroso was cracked by a proper within the fifth – he regardless flashed a left off Hiraoka’s chin close to the top of the session – however within the sixth Hiraoka caught a lunging Barroso with a cuffing proper hook that ensured Barroso hit the canvas for the primary time and prompted him to fall additional adrift on the playing cards.
On the finish of the subsequent, Hiraoka crashed in a left-right as Barroso started to sluggish additional nonetheless.
Hiraoka bled from a small lower beneath his proper eye within the seventh and Barroso, within the eighth, did a few of his higher work as he managed to shut the gap and join with each gloves.
However with a minute left within the ninth, Hiraoka landed a booming left hand and it modified every thing. Barroso retreated however wilted beneath stress and, though he made it again to his ft, he was down once more moments later and the referee known as it off earlier than the top of the session.
Barroso’s face was swollen and lumpy and he had been properly overwhelmed. The pumped-up Hiraoka, 28, known as out WBA junior-welterweight champion Jose Valenzuela.
“I’m coming for you, bro,” stated the winner.
