Crolla knocks out Barroso

sportinglife.com

Anthony Crolla made a successful first defence of his WBA lightweight title by knocking out Ismael Barroso in Manchester on Saturday.

Crolla's pre-match assertion he would be the underdog for this fight did not look far-fetched in the early stages.

But the Manchester-born fighter hit back strongly and the end came when his opponent was counted out midway through the seventh round.

The big-punching Venezuelan was quickly into his stride and Crolla was showing signs of wear and tear at the end of the fourth round.

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Anthony Crolla stops Ismael Barroso to retain WBA lightweight title

By Alan Jewell  BBC Sport

Anthony Crolla stopped Ismael Barroso in the seventh round to retain his WBA lightweight title in Manchester.

In his first defence, home favourite Crolla absorbed a fast start from the previously unbeaten Venezuelan before taking control once his opponent tired.

An exhausted Barroso, 33, was counted out after sinking to the canvas following a right to the body.

"This is my house and nobody comes into my house and takes what I've got," said 29-year-old Crolla.

"I knew I could beat him. I told promoter Eddie Hearn that I'd beat him. It got my back up that people thought I'd avoid this fight."

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Anthony Crolla stops Ismael Barroso to retain WBA lightweight title

Nick Parkinson -  espn.go.com

Anthony Crolla (right) ended Ismael Barroso's challenge with a fierce body shot in the seventh round in Manchester. Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Anthony Crolla is doing a good impersonation of Ricky Hatton after winning his second successive fight with a body shot in front of a packed house at Manchester Arena.

Hatton, who won world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight, finished off many of his opponents with rib-bending body shots. Now Crolla (31-4-3, 13 KOs) is doing the same after stopping Ismael Barroso in the seventh round with a right to the body in a first defence of his WBA world lightweight title on Saturday.

It was an intelligent performance from Crolla, who was under fierce pressure in rounds three and four and then took control after Barroso had punched himself out.

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Anthony Crolla sensational in stoppage of Ismael Barroso

Tom Gray - ringtv.craveonline.com

In November he became a world titleholder. He has now proven himself to be a potential superstar.

British hero Anthony Crolla continued a sparkling run of form by scoring a dramatic seventh-round knockout over power-punching southpaw Ismael Barroso to retain the WBA lightweight title in Manchester, England, on Saturday. The official time was 1:31 seconds.

Crolla, who is rated No. 4 by THE RING at 135 pounds, claimed his second body-punch knockout in succession when a perfectly-placed right hand to the solar plexus dropped the visitor to his knees. Blood flowed freely from Barroso’s nose and he showed little interest in beating Howard Foster’s 10 count.

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