Rolando “Rolly” Romero (14-1, 12 KOs) is set to fight with Ismael Barroso (24-3-2, 22 KOs) for the WBA interim super lightweight title at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Initially, WBA Junior Welterweight Champion Alberto Puello (21-0, 10 KOs) was set to defend his title against Rolando Romero, but this fight got canceled after Alberto Puello failed a VADA drug test.
This bout is part of a Showtime tripleheader that also features two other junior welterweight clashes: Gary Antuanne Russell (16-0, 16 KOs) is taking on undefeated Kent Cruz (16-0-3, 10 KOs), and former two-division world champion Rances Barthelemy (29-2-1, 15 KOs) squaring off against Omar Juarez (14-1, 5 KOs) in the co-main event.
Venezuela’s Barroso holds the position of a mandatory challenger for the WBA’s 140-pound title. Originally set to participate in the non-broadcast segment of the Puello-Romero event, the 40-year-old contender would have faced the winner of the Puello-Romero bout if he emerged victorious in his own fight.
His opponent, Romero, began his professional career in 2016 and made a name for himself in Las Vegas club shows promoted by Floyd Mayweather. His contentious victory over Jackson Marinez in 2020 brought him notoriety.
Main card: (9 pm ET)
▪️Rolando Romero vs. Ismael Barroso, 12 rounds, for vacant WBA junior welterweight title ▪️Rances Barthelemy vs. Omar Juarez, 10 rounds, junior welterweights ▪️Batyr Akhmedov vs. Kenneth Sims Jr., 12 rounds, for WBA super lightweight title eliminator
Prelims: (6:30 pm ET)
▪️Esteuri Metiver Suero vs. Starling Castillo, 10 rounds, junior welterweight ▪️Michael Angeletti vs. Michell Banquez, 8 rounds, bantamweight ▪️Justin Viloria vs. Pedro Pinillo, 6 rounds, junior lightweight
Undercard: (non-televised)
▪️Chavez Barrientes vs. Juan Centeno, 6 rounds, junior featherweight ▪️Angel Barrientes vs. Sharone Carter, 6 rounds, junior featherweight ▪️Yojanler Martinez vs. Dario Guerrero-Meneses, 4 rounds, super middleweight ▪️David Whitmire vs. Javier Vargas, 4 rounds, junior middleweight
Watch Prelims live on YouTube: Watch
