Rolando Romero punches Ismael Barroso in a brilliant light-weight title boxing match Saturday, May 13, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Referee Tony Weeks gave Rolando Romero a present Saturday with inexplicably poor officiating within the ninth spherical of Romero’s bout for the WBA tremendous light-weight title in opposition to Ismael Barroso at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.
With Barroso properly forward on the playing cards of all three judges on the finish of eight rounds — Tim Cheatham had it 76-75, David Sutherland had it 77-74 and Steve Weisfeld had it 78-73 — Weeks made two egregious errors within the ninth.
The first didn’t actually matter within the grand scheme of issues due to the second error. But Romero damage Barroso early within the ninth and as he was going for the end, he shoved Barroso to the canvas. It was plainly apparent that Barroso went down not from the power of the punch, however from Romero slinging him, however Weeks known as it a knockdown.
That might have been an element had been it not for Weeks’ second mistake.
Romero landed a proper hand and Barroso backed into the nook. Romero threw a number of punches, most of which Barroso dodged, when Weeks jumped in and stopped it at 2:41.
The solely punch in that sequence within the nook that landed was one thrown by Barroso, however Weeks apparently didn’t see it. The stoppage made Romero a world champion, although there are few individuals on the planet aside from his closest relations who will regard him as a champion.
The 40-year-old Barroso, who was clearly tiring, had scored a knockdown on Romero within the third. It was largely a meh battle with little vital or sustained motion, however Barroso was doing what he needed to do to win. He outlanded Romero, 57-40, in response to Showtime, and he threw extra punches, 297-230.
Predictably, he was perplexed and offended by the referee’s intervention.
“I’m nice,” Barroso stated. “I believe it was an injustice to cease this battle. I used to be giving the most effective pictures.”
WBA championships have extraordinarily low worth due to the way in which the WBA has managed them over time, giving out a number of in a single class, sanctioning fights between unworthy contenders and extra. But the one method Romero’s new belt can carry any significance is that if the sanctioning physique forces a rematch. It wasn’t an incredible battle, so promoters in all probability received’t be keen to place it on once more, nevertheless it’s the one truthful option to make amends. And if Romero declines the rematch, he needs to be stripped.
I’ve recognized Tony Weeks for at the very least 20 years and I do know him to be a good, honorable man I’d belief with something I maintain expensive. Weeks has lengthy been a top quality referee and his work in 2005 permitting the late, nice Diego Corrales to proceed to battle after he was dropped by Jose Luis Castillo within the tenth spherical of their epic battle in Las Vegas has been broadly praised.
Weeks deserved each little bit of reward he bought that night time and he labored a near-perfect battle.
Likewise, he deserves each little bit of scorn he receives this time after primarily handing Romero a world title. This was about as unhealthy because it will get.
