By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda
Unbeaten southpaw Andy Hiraoka (24-0, 19 KOs), 140, impressively acquired the right of the WBA 140-pound mandatory challenge against Jose Valenzuela, as he kept outjabbing WBA interim champ Ismael Barroso (25-5-2, 23 KOs), 140, from Venezuela, floored him three times and halted him at 2:58 of the ninth round on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. The younger, taller and faster Andy kept sticking and moving to frustrate the older Venezuelan, 41, who kept stalking the Fancy Dan. Andy, thirteen years his junior at 28, sent him to the deck with a countering southpaw right hook in the sixth, and finally accelerated his attack to deck him twice more in the fatal ninth. For Andy it was an impressive victory over the dangerous hard-puncher Barroso, whose interim belt wasn’t at stake. The referee was Christopher Young.
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I was rooting for Ismael Barroso, especially after getting robbed in the Rolly fight, but congrats to Andy who didn’t take his opponent lightly.
Hiraoka is really good. It isn’t a healthy division in Japan, but he’s been their best at 140 for awhile now. Supposedly, Valenzuela is headed towards Tank, but if he isn’t, I think Hiraoka beats him.
One time for O.G. barroso, for giving all he had against a strong hungry lion! Would definately like to see old man vs rolly the clown romero! Old man deserves a rematch before he hangs the old leather!
I like the way Andy fought, his jab was the beginning to the end for Barroso.