US Broadcaster AWE To Televise Crolla vs. Barroso WBA Title Fight

On Saturday afternoon, May 7, Anthony Crolla will make the first defense of the WBA Lightweight Championship when he takes on hard punching and undefeated challenger Ismael Barroso at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England in a bout that will headline a full afternoon of boxing on AWE – A Wealth of Entertainment.

“We are very excited about this great fight coming to AWE,” said AWE President Charles Herring.

“Crolla won his title on AWE in November with a stunning knockout over Darleys Perez and now we are happy to bring the fans in the United States his first defense. Barroso has a great style and it should make for an action packed fight.”

Crolla of Manchester, England, has a record of 30-4-3 with 12 knockouts. He turned professional on October 14, 2006 with a win over Abdul Rashid (1-0).

The 29 year-old has amassed wins over four-time world title challenger Michael Brodie (36-3-1), Andy Morris (19-3), John Watson (13-1), Willie Limond (34-3), Stephen Jennings (5-1-1), Kieran Farrell (14-0), former Junior Welterweight world champion Gavis Rees (37-2-1), Stephen Foster (31-4-1) and former world title challenger John Murray (33-2).

On November 21, he won the WBA Lightweight title with a one-punch body shot knockout over reigning champion Darleys Perez (32-1-1) in the same venue where he will make his first defense.

Barroso, of El Tigre, Venezuela, has an undefeated mark of 19-0-2 with 18 big knockouts.

The 33 year-old is an 11-year veteran who has victories over Alfonso Perez (4-1), Addir Sanchez (7-1), Abraham Gomez (16-3-1), Oscar Arena (22-3), Winston Campos (17-2-4), Issouf Kinda (17-2) and in his last bout, captured the WBA Interim championship with a fifth-round stoppage over Kevin Mitchell (39-3) on December 12 in London.

A full undercard and start time will be announced shortly.