Barroso: "I think it was unfair"

Ismael Barroso. Getty Images
Ismael Barroso. Getty Images

“I think that the stoppage of the fight was very unfair,” said Ismael Barroso after a controversial defeat by Rollie Romero in the fight for the WBA super lightweight title on Saturday in Las Vegas. - I landed the best shots. The knockdown was counted out for me after the push of the opponent. It wasn't a missed shot or anything. The referee just stopped the fight and didn't say anything. You yourself could see everything. It was I who delivered the blows, not him. He did not hit me with a single accurate blow. I don't understand why they stopped the fight."

Barroso came on as a replacement for former WBA title holder Albert Puello, who was stripped of his title due to a positive VADA test. In the end, Barroso landed more hits than Romero 57-40 and threw 297 to Romero's 230. At the time of the stoppage, he was ahead on all three scorecards: 78-73, 77-74, 76-75.