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LOS ANGELES: American Rolando Romero defeated Venezuelas Ismael Barroso on a controversial ninth-round stoppage to win the vacant World Boxing Association super lightweight title on Saturday.

Referee Tony Weeks stopped the bout at 2:41 of the ninth round in Las Vegas, Nevada, with Romero swinging but not landing against Barroso in the corner.

He was a warrior. He wanted to keep going. He should have been able to keep going, Romero said after the victory. I wanted to keep going. He wanted to keep going. We both wanted to keep going.

Instead, Romero improved to 15-1 with his 13th victory inside the distance, capturing a world crown in his debut at the 140-pound division.

Barroso, a 40-year-old southpaw, fell to 24-4 with two drawn, missing a chance to become only the 10th boxer to win a world title past his 40th birthday.

I think it was an injustice to stop this fight, Barroso said through a translator. I was giving the best shots.

Romero, 28, was knocked down for only the second time in his career by a punishing left to the head from Barroso late in the third round.

I boxed the entire time, Romero said. I came in a little cold, I got cracked and I finished the round like a champion and I kept going and I got the victory.

Romero was somewhat inactive for several rounds, being careful to avoid more punishing shots, the South American landing another hard left to Romeros head in the sixth.

I took my time, moved around. The man is strong. I had to be careful with him, Romero said. You think I wanted to get caught by one of those? I knew he could crack.

At the finish, Romero knocked down Barroso in the opening seconds of the ninth round, although Barroso called it more of a push down.

The first punch is where I had him hurt, Romero said.

Romero began swinging wildly in the corner without success late in the round before Weeks stepped in to end matters.

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He just stopped the fight. He didnt tell me anything, Barroso said. You could see it clearly. I was hitting him. There was nothing he was hitting me with clearly. I dont understand.

Romero had not fought since being knocked out a year ago by unbeaten he wanted a rematch with Davis or to US southpaw Gervonta Davis, but said fight Ryan Garcia, who lost to Davis last month.

Unbeaten Dominican Alberto Puello, 21-0 with 10 knockouts, was to have defended the title against Romero but he had an A-sample test positive for a performance-enhancing substance last month and was made a champion in recess on Wednesday.

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Romero wins on controversial stoppage but wanted more - Business Recorder