Anthony Crolla vs. Ismael Barroso: Winner, Recap and Reaction
Anthony "Million Dollar" Crolla is no stranger to dealing with adversity, and his experience fighting back from the brink proved handy on Saturday night at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England, as he earned a seventh-round knockout over the dangerous Ismael Barroso in his first defense of the WBA World lightweight title.
The hard-hitting Barroso (19-1-2, 18 KOs) laid siege on Crolla (31-4-3, 13 KOs) right from the start, opening up a cut early and making it difficult for the local boxer to get in a return punch. However, the wait appeared all part of a brilliant plan, as Crolla took advantage of a fatigued Barroso and finally dispatched him with a right-handed body blow in the seventh.
Football commentator Ian Darke was impressed with the 29-year-old Crolla:
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Manchester United star Michael Carrick was overjoyed with the win:
It was a memorable night for Crolla, who has fought his way back from career-threatening injuries suffered while trying to prevent a burglary in late 2014. The Manchester crowd gave him huge support, roaring along with every landed punch even when it looked like Barroso might punch him out of the building.
At the outset, English lightweight boxer Ohara Davies noted Barroso had a dangerous look about him:
In his last match, Barroso earned a fifth-round knockout win over Kevin Mitchell in London, becoming the mandatory challenger for Crolla's title in the process. Mitchell subsequently retired from the sport. Despite Barroso's burgeoning reputation, Crolla had no intention of ducking him.
"He's been swerved and avoided, but when you are the champion it's your responsibility to fight the best opponents out there and he fits the bill," he said, per the Press Association (via the Daily Mail).
The El Tigre, Venezuela native shot out of the gate in the first round throwing hard punches at Crolla's high guard. Crolla absorbed the pressure well but didn't do much to answer Barroso's barrages.
Bad Left Hook felt letting Barroso punch himself out was a perilous strategy:
Crolla punched out of his tight defensive shell a bit more in the third and fourth rounds. He jolted Barroso with a left hook to the body midway through the third, but the latter scored more impressively with heavy-handed combinations in the fourth round. Barroso seemed content to pound away at Crolla's guard until he found the cracks and smashed through punches to the forehead.
A cut above Crolla's right eye was visual proof of the beating he was taking. After four rounds, Bad Left Hook could find little to be happy about for the Mancunian boxer:
The tenor of the fight changed in the fifth. Barroso was suddenly sputtering, with his punches lacking bite and his stance getting ragged. His effort was still there in the fifth, but English boxer Paul Butler could see the end coming for the challenger:
Crolla kept his posture and shape well, making inroads in the fifth before unloading with some snappy counterpunches in the sixth. A hard right hand from Crolla visibly staggered Barroso, and Saturday Night Boxing's Adam Abramowitz saw Barroso had nothing left:
The 33-year-old Barroso's form was all gone, and his low hands allowed Crolla to work both the chin and the body. Barroso wouldn't make it past the seventh round, as Crolla finished the job with a beautiful body-shot knockout.
Bad Left Hook's Tom Craze noted Crolla might be changing the perception of him as a light puncher:
As for Barroso, Boxing Monthly's Shaun Brown had a career prescription:
Barroso indeed appears to have the power and style to fight at 140 pounds. Despite the loss, his pleasing style could make him an attractive draw in the future.
Crolla should continue to take on the best in the lightweight division. A bout with Terry Flanagan would be the dream matchup for British boxing fans.
Crolla showed off his tactical acumen on Saturday. If his power and timing are here to stay, he could have a successful run as lightweight champion.
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