Crolla blasts out Barroso to retain world title

WBA lightweight champion Anthony Crolla (31-4-3, 13 KOs) stopped previously unbeaten Ismael Barroso (19-1-2, 18 KOs) in the 7th round on Saturday night at the Manchester Arena.

Crolla claimed the WBA belt when he stopped Darleys Perez with a body shot at the same venue in November, and he retained the title for the first time by a KO victory with the same punch.

Barroso threw a lot of punches in the early rounds and cut Crolla by his right eye in the 4th round.

The home fighter came back with some good shots of his own and caught the challenger with a right uppercut in the fifth.

Crolla staggered Barroso with a series of rights in the 6th as the Venezuelan faded dramatically and at one point he fell to the canvas in exhaustion.

In the 7th, Crolla continued to land hard shots, and dropped Barroso with a right hand to the body. Barroso was then counted out at 1:31 of the round.