Ohara Davies vs Ismael Barroso is off after visa issues
A delay in the Brit's visa paperwork has forced the Ohara Davies (25-2) to withdraw from this weekend’s planned interim WBA su[er-lightweight title fight against Venezuela’s Ismael Barroso (24-4-2).
The championship contest was due to serve as the chief supporting fight to the Ryan Garcia vs Oscar Duarte 140-pound clash this Saturday, December 2, at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Hackney's Davies was unfortunately not able to get his paperwork settled in time to travel to the U.S.
Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya confirmed Wednesday, “Due to Visa delays, the fight between Ohara Davies and Ismael Barroso scheduled for this Saturday, December 2 will be postponed to a later date. More information will be made available in the coming weeks.
“[Floyd Schofield] will now be the co-main event on the stacked card Dec.2.”
Austin’s Schofield (15-0, 11KOs) faces Tijuana’s Ricardo Lopez (17-7-3, 12KOs) in the new chief support bout in a 10-round lightweight contest.
Londoner Davies is the mandatory challenger to full WBA super-lightweight champion, Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero (15-1, 13KOs), who is presently injured and unable to honour the ordered bout.
South American Barroso was already at Houston for this weekend’s show, but will be stay back to be a ringside spectator instead.
Davies was eventually approved for his visa, but will have to reapply for the rescheduled bout sometime in the first quarter of 2024.
“Slight delay, thanks to the USA embassy for working quickly and efficiently to issue me a Visa to travel to [the U.S.] to box,” Davies stated Wednesday evening. “I'll be collecting the passport this week and the rescheduled fight with Barroso will be announced within the next few days. Big up the U.S.”
It was Davies ninth-round knockout of Lewis Ritson in their March 4 title eliminator in Newcastle, England, that earned him his mandatory shot.
Barroso was the long overdue mandatory challenger in waiting but landed his title shot by chance. Romero was previously due to challenge unbeaten titlist Alberto Puello, who was stripped of the belt after he tested positive for Clomiphene ahead of their cancelled May 13 main event in Las Vegas. Barroso instead faced Romero for the vacant title and was in control for the first eight rounds before he suffered a highly controversial ninth-round stoppage.
Golden Boy have shows scheduled for December 14 in California and on January 6 headlined by Vergil Ortiz in Las Vegas. An announcement will be made shortly.
Article sponsored by HÖRFA