The postponed bout between Ohara Davies and Ismael Barroso will be featured in the first boxing weekend of the new year as the two super lightweights are set to compete for the vacant WBA interim super lightweight title. Their match was originally scheduled for December 2nd but was removed from the card due to VISA issues pertaining to one of the fighters. The fight will now feature on the undercard of the main event between Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Fredrick Lawson.
The WBA, who had first decided to make the WBA interim super lightweight title available for their postponed match on December 2nd, has again put the vacant interim title on the line for this upcoming January 6 bout. The winner between Ohara Davies (25-2, 18 KO’s) and Ismael Barroso (24-4-2, 22 KO’s) will be expected to face Rolando Romero (15-1, 13 KO’s)―the current WBA champion-in-recess―for the full WBA 140 lbs title, once Romero recovers from his injury.
Oddsmakers depict Davies as the clear favorite for this match-up, indicating that Barroso’s age of 40 years old has played a factor in him being regarded as the underdog on paper. Barroso boasts more experience on the world stage than Davies―who has never fought for a world title, having competed in two world title fights prior with both matches ending up to be losing efforts.
Barroso will be looking for a victory against Davies to set up an eventual rematch with Rolly Romero after their last match in May of 2023 resulted in Romero winning controversially by technical knockout. According to the official scorecards of the judges, Ismael Barroso was ahead on points [76-75, 77-74 and 78-73] and appeared to be heading to a unanimous decision win before an untimely stoppage by referee Tony Weeks prevented him from claiming a pivotal world title victory.
Davies’ first real opportunity to fight for a world title is extremely close, but Barroso―who boasts a KO ratio of more than 91%―may be the toughest obstacle he has ever faced in his path towards world title glory. While the British contender does have age on his side, Barroso has proven to have both the power and experience to stop Davies’ ascent to the top following his last match against Romero.
Additionally, the Venezuelan’s disappointment at being arguably robbed of winning a world title in his last fight might serve as extra motivation that Davies will have to look out for―despite the betting odds suggesting he should record an easy, or even a knockout/stoppage, victory.
The two super lightweights will be featured in the co-main event of the Ortiz-Lawson Golden Boy-promoted card on January 6. DAZN will be the broadcaster for this event with Vergil Ortiz Jr. (19-0, 19 KO’s) set to be highlighted as the former welterweight contender makes his debut at 154 lbs where he intends to contend for a world title.
Plenty of eyes will fall upon this event as Ortiz will be looking to maintain his 100% KO ratio as he dives into a new division against Ghanaian contender Fredrick Lawson (30-3, 22 KO’s).
