We're only in the early days of 2024, and the world of boxing has already been surprised by a massive upset. Ohara Davies was knocked out in the first round by Ismail Barroso in what was a boxing shocker.
On paper, Ohara Davies of the United Kingdom was an unbeaten fighter.
Even though his "victory" versus Miguel Vazquez that year was dubious to say the least, it is not conclusive. According to Vasquez, Davies even told him as much in the locker room following the altercation.
Nevertheless, Davies(25-3, 18 KOs) had not loss since 2018. We are providing the United Kingdom with an opportunity to participate in an extremely intriguing elite 140-pound environment. Those expectations were shattered, when Ismail Barroso knocked him out in the first round.
“I said in an interview earlier that when I started boxing that I had a lot of power, and I’m showing that power now that God is on my side. I have that power,” said Barroso in media reports.
"After that first punch, I knew that I had him. I knew that it was a good punch,” he added.
Rolando Romero(15-1, 13KOs) of North Las Vegas was scheduled to defend his WBA title against Davies last May 13 at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, 120 days after his contentious ninth-round stoppage of Barroso. Romero was given an injury exemption by the WBA ,nevertheless, and the Davies-Barroso match was mandated for its interim title. Romero was also mandated by the WBA to defend his first title against the winner of Davies-Barroso before March 20.
Barroso(25-4-2, 23 KOs) entered this bout as a 5 to 1 underdog because he had lost his previous four fights, including one in which he was stopped by Roland Romero in the ninth round. But at the moment of the stoppage, Barroso was leading.
Due to a visa issue that would have prevented Davies from traveling from London to Houston until three days prior to his scheduled fight with Barroso on December 2 at Houston's Toyota Center as part of the Garcia-Oscar Duarte undercard, their fight was postponed for five weeks.
There is no doubting his dominance over the former welterweight champion, as 23 of his victories have come via knockout. Shawn Porter teased in this exclusive Sports Illustrated video.
More must-reads: