Ismael Barroso vs Andy Hiraoka Predictions: One more miracle for the veteran

WBA interim super lightweight champion Ismael Barroso defends his title against Andy Hiraoka this Tuesday, September 3. The 12-round bout takes place at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo. Sky Sports + will carry the fight live, with the card starting at 7:30am UK time.

Here are my Barroso vs Hiraoka predictions as experience meets youth in a tale as old as time.

Barroso resembles an amalgam of every single interpretation of a grizzled veteran boxer in popular media. Battle-scarred face, cauliflower ears, thousand-yard stare. The 41-year-old has the archetype down pat. 

But the Venezuelan is no cautionary tale. Barroso is not a statistic. He is a middle-aged man who continues to be an absolute nightmare for every opponent.

Not in a journeyman way. Barroso isn’t the dreaded “rounds under the belt” fight for up-and-coming prospects to feast on. This is a man who remains world-ranked and deserves it.

Ask Ohara Davies whether Barroso deserves to be in the ring. The talented Brit has only lost to the best in Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall. But Barroso wiped him out quicker than either of those men managed. The 41-year-old knocked the world-rated Davies out in a single round to win the WBA interim strap.

That victory was not his only success against a British fighter. Nine years ago, Barroso left top contender Kevin Mitchell needing oxygen after a brutal fifth-round knockout. The stunning win earned Barroso a shot at Anthony Crolla’s WBA lightweight championship. But the Manchester man was able to stop our subject in seven rounds.

Barroso was unbowed, though. While the likes of Crolla and Mitchell are now enjoying well-earned retirements, the old stager fights on. 

Last year, he gave Rolando Romero hell in a fight for the vacant WBA super lightweight title. Barroso had his man down in the third round and was leading on all three scorecards going into the ninth session. Then it all came undone. A push from Romero was ruled as a knockdown. Then the referee waved the fight off during an exchange where Barroso was giving as good as he got. Boxing fans will argue about anything, but the community was united in the belief that Barroso had been robbed. 

The interim title bout with Davies felt like a make-good from the WBA, though few expected Barroso to win that one. Now he defends his championship for the first time. If he can beat Hiraoka, perhaps a fight with full champion Jose Valenzuela awaits. 

Hiraoka will be hoping to halt the ageless wonder. ‘Da Blade’ packs a punch, having stopped 18 of his 23 victims. The 28-year-old is undefeated, though he hasn’t fought the level of elite competition that Barroso has been in the ring with. A dominant presence at domestic and regional level, Hiraoka is about to see how his skills match with someone accustomed to world class.

One thing is for sure, Hiraoka will not be allowed to pass through Barroso lightly. Only the very best have got one over on the veteran. ‘Da Blade’ has looked good so far and he will hope youthful exuberance can overcome grit and experience at the Ariake Arena this Tuesday.

Barroso vs Hiraoka Fight Odds

Barroso is a 9/2 underdog here, a position he has grown accustomed to over the course of a career spent defying the odds. Hiraoka is 1/6 to lift the belt in his homeland. The draw is available at 33/1. Barroso has two career draws, so it’s not out of the question.

Barroso vs Hiraoka Full Card

Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny; IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO super bantamweight titles 

Ismael Barroso vs. Andy Hiraoka; WBA interim super lightweight title

Yoshiki Takei vs. Daigo Higa for WBO bantamweight title 

Jin Sasaki vs. Qamil Balla; Welterweight 

Toshiki Shimomachi vs. Ryuya Tsugawa; Super-bantamweight

Barroso vs Hiraoka Prediction

I am going for the underdog here. Hiraoka is younger. He hits hard. He’s fresh. He’s on home soil. But I know better than to bet against Ismael Jose Barroso Bernay at this stage. If any fighter is equipped to turn a fight on its head and rattle yet another prospect, it’s the 41-year-old champion.

My pick is Barroso to find a way to win this fight at odds of 9/2.

You can find all our latest boxing betting tips and analysis at our Betfred Insights Boxing page and our latest boxing odds here.