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Barroso Predictions Come True: New WBA Lightweight Champ is Now THE Puncher to Watch in Boxing

As he predicted in the week leading up to the fight, lightweight powerhouse Ismael Barroso cemented himself as THE puncher to watch in the lightweight division by scoring an impressive knockout over England’s Kevin Mitchell on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London. A new star in boxing, Barroso is now the Interim WBA World Champion.

Barroso dropped Mitchell three times en-route to a TKO 5. At the time of the stoppage he was up 40-35 on one card and 39-36 on the other two.

Barroso’s promoter, Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions, couldn’t be happier.

“Kevin Mitchell was very close to winning a world title in his last fight and was universally recognized as a world-class lightweight and Ismael was a nearly 4 to 1 underdog. But from the opening bell, my guy dominated. Not only did Ismael show off his world-class power, he showed excellent boxing ability, speed and defense as well.”

Such an impressive display was Barroro’s, he dropped the normally durable Mitchell hard with a jab, that Cohen says his fighter is on the fast track to becoming the world’s best.

“Ismael’s power is uncanny for a lightweight and he is one of those rare fighters, like a vintage Mike Tyson, or Edwin Valero, where his opponents are already beaten before they get in the ring due to fear,” continued Cohen. “Now that he has a WBA World Title, he will have the platform to showcase his crushing power and enormous talent on a large stage.”

Next for Barroso will be another Englishman, Antony Crolla, by way of WBA resolution which called for the winner of Perez V. Crolla to face the winner of Barroso V. Mitchell within 120 days.

“We can only hope that Anthony Crolla, who was sitting ringside Saturday night, doesn’t get gun-shy and embraces the challenge,” said Cohen. “We look forward to returning to England and Ismael having another opportunity to display his talents.”

Ismael Barroso fights under the Greg Cohen Promotions banner, in association with David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions.
About Greg Cohen Promotions
One of boxing’s premier promotional outfits, Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) is a well-respected name for staging world-class professional boxing events and promoting elite professional fighters throughout the world.

Founder and CEO Greg Cohen has been involved with professional boxing in various capacities since the late 1980s, honing his craft and establishing himself as a shrewd international boxing businessman.

Distinguished by his ability to spot and develop raw talent, Cohen first made promotional headlines for his expert guidance of, among many others, former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout, who Cohen helped guide from unknown New Mexico prospect to elite pay-per-view level superstar.

In addition to Trout, Greg Cohen Promotions has worked with established names such as former unified and two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman and all-time-great multiple-weight class world champion James “Lights Out” Toney.

Cohen currently promotes multiple world champion and boxing superstar Zab Judah and former world champion Kendall Holt, as well as current world-rated contenders including top undefeated cruiserweight Lateef Kayode, long-time elite middleweight “Mean” Joe Greene, lightweight KO artist Ismael Barroso, top super featherweight Arash Usmanee, Canadian lightweight and TV action hero Tony Luis; WBA and five-time Irish National Amateur Champion, Dennis Hogan; and Australian lightweight prospect Josh King.

Greg Cohen Promotions has hosted world-class boxing events in the finest venues throughout the United States and the world and has also proudly provided talent and/or content for several television networks including CBS Sports Network, HBO, Showtime, ESPN, NBC Sports Network, CBS Sports Network, MSG and FOX Sports Net.

For more information, visit gcpboxing.com. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GCPBoxing. Twitter: @GCPBoxing.

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