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WBA featherweight monarch Johnathan Victor Barros survived a few tough moments to retain his title after 12 rounds against challenger Miguel Roman at Polideportivo Colonia in Junin, Argentina.
In what was supposed to be a hometown coronation of Barros, who was making the first defense of his belt, the 27 year old from Mendoza was shaken in the second round by Mexico’s hard-nosed Roman, after the champion had elected to stand and trade with the challenger.
Barros was again hurt at the end of the third round but the frame ended before Roman could improve upon his work. By the fourth the champion wisely decided to box his hard-brawling opponent and from that point on, Roman found himself outboxed.
The champion showed a definite skill advantage as piled up the points but Roman never stopped going forward and Barros was forced to expend much energy avoiding the kind of firefights that highlighted the early rounds, clinching whenever the action came inside.
Roman’s strategy almost paid off in the tenth when he finally caught up with the tiring champion and Barros was hurt but managed to hold on until his head cleared.
Barros got back on his toes for the final two frames, winning a 118-109, 118-110 and 117-111 unanimous decision.
Barros improves to 32-1-1 (18), while Roman drops to 33-8 (25).
