Ismael Barroso vs Andy Hiraoka Preview September 3rd, 2024
Veteran Ismael Barroso of Venezuela travels to Tokyo, Japan this Tuesday September 3rd to take on hometown hero and fellow southpaw Andy Hiraoka. The 12-rounder is being billed as a WBA junior welterweight eliminator and can be seen live in America on ESPN+ while fans in the UK and Ireland can catch it on Sky Sports Plus. The action gets underway at 2:30 am in America and 7:30 am in the British Isles. Barroso last fought in January when he stopped Ohara Davies in just 113 seconds. The undefeated Hiraoka halted Sebastian Diaz Maldonado in the fifth round in December in his last outing.
Barroso vs Hiraoka Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Ismael Barroso +400
- Andy Hiraoka -650
My Pick
Barroso is now 41 years old and climbs through the ropes with a record of 25-4-2 with 23 Ko’s. He fights out of Miami, Florida and is a power puncher who has recorded 92 per cent of his wins by stoppage including four of his past five. He’s boxed just 126 rounds since turning pro back in 2005 as 23 of his 25 wins and three of his four defeats have come by way of stoppage. He stands just over 5-feet-8-inches tall with a 69-inch reach.
Since turning pro he’s won the vacant WBA Fedebol, WBA Interim Lightweight Titles as well as the and WBA Gold Super Lightweight Titles. He also fought for the WBA Lightweight Crown in 2016 but was stopped by Anthony Crolla in the seventh round in England. His other defeats came at the hands of Isa Chaniev by 12-round unanimous decision in May, 2018; by ninth-round stoppage by Batyr Akhemdov in his next contest three months later and by Rolando Romero in the ninth round in May, 2023 when he was the victim of a premature stoppage in a shot at the vacant WBA Super Lightweight Belt.
Barroso fought to a draw in his pro debut against Carlos Cardenas over four rounds and also drew his sixth pro fight when he went four even rounds with Wilson Silva in 2010. Barroso didn’t fight again for almost three years after making his debut. His biggest wins have been over Davies, Kevin Mitchell, Wiston Campos, Issouf Kinda, Fidel Maldonado Jr and Yves Ulysse Jr.
The 28-year-old Hiraoka makes the ring walk with a perfect mark of 23-0 with 18 Ko’s and has 114 rounds of pro experience under his belt since making his pro debut in 2013 as a teenager. He measures just over 5-feet-11-inches tall with a 74-inch reach for a three-inch height advantage over Barroso as well as a five-inch edge in reach. As far as power is concerned, Hiraoka is also well above average as his current knockout ratio comes in at 78.3 per cent and he’s stopped his last nine opponents.
Since turning pro Hiraoka has captured the Japanese Youth Super Lightweight Title, the vacant WBO Asia Pacific and Japanese Super Lightweight Belts and has defended the WBO Crown four times. There’s no doubt Hiraoka possesses a lot of skill and power but he’s never really been tested and will be taking a step up in class this Tuesday. He’s fought outside of Japan just twice and has faced mainly domestic level opponents.
Prediction…
Hiraoka is the favourite here because he’s 13 years younger than Barroso, is unbeaten, is bigger, has a lot of power and is fighting at home. However, Barroso is definitely a live underdog here even though he’s been stopped three times before before. This is because he has the potential of changing a fight with just one punch even though he’s in the twilight of his career. Hiraoka can’t afford to take him lightly or he’ll come out on the short end of the stick. Barroso has far more experience against upper-level opponents and this could be a close fight. I’ll still go with Hiraoka but don’t be surprised if Barroso manages to pull out a stoppage win.
The unbeaten Hiraoka is 13 years younger and fighting at home.
Play: Hiraoka -650 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Andy Hiroaka betting • Ismael Barroso betting