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 in a position 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 within the ninth round, Romero delivered a push that referee Tony Weeks counted as a knockdown.
Later in the identical 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 primary round knockout win over Ohara Davies.
With the victory, Ismael Barroso won the interim WBA super-lightweight title. On September third, Ismael Barroso was in Japan as he was set to defend his title against the undefeated Andy Hiraoka.
Within the opening round of the southpaw vs southpaw matchup, Hiraoka was in a position to land a pointy, accurate jab. Andy Hiraoka continued to dictate the pace of the fight within the second round through the use of feints, the jab, and fluid footwork.
The third round was a carbon copy of the primary two as Hiraoka controlled the gap while efficiently landing his offense. In the ultimate minute of round number 3, Barroso attempted to shut the gap, but Hiraoka hit him with a counter right hook.
After struggling to generate offense through the primary 4 rounds, Barroso finally had a moment within the fifth when he landed a solid left hand shot. Within the sixth round Barroso impatiently lunged in and Hiraoka landed a counter right hand shot that sent Barroso right down to the canvas.
Barroso went down again in round 9 when Hiraoka landed a giant left followed by a flurry of heavy shots. With 20 seconds remaining within the ninth, Barroso went down for a 3rd time. Once more Barroso was in a position 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 present WBA 140-pound world champion Jose “Rayo” Venezuela.
