by Ben Jacobs

Ismael Barroso and his team are in enemy territory in the United Kingdom for the challenge of Anthony Crolla’s WBA lightweight world title on May 7.

As preparations in camp begin to wind down, the Venezuelan’s trainer, Osmiri Fernández spoke to krikya360.com via telephone, assuring that his man is ready for another knockout victory on English soil.

“The training for this fight is above the 100% that it was for when we fought Kevin Mitchell,” the Cuban declared.

“I had already studied Anthony Crolla quite well because at one point there was a chance that he was going to fight my former world champion, Richar Abril.  So I had studied him quite a while ago.

“All I can say is Barroso is at a much higher level than Crolla.  I don’t even think that Crolla is the best lightweight in England!  Terry Flanagan is better than him and you’ve also got Luke Campbell there.  Even Derry Mathews.

“Crolla could be a bit more difficult than Mitchell at first.  Mitchell was one of the best lightweights ever from England, but he got hit with a hand made of iron.”

Osmiri is also of the belief that Crolla’s stunning knockout of Darleys Pérez to capture the world title last time out was flattering due to the Colombian’s poor preparation.

“Pérez was not at all prepared for that second fight.  That was the problem, it was a different Darleys Pérez.  The thing is I know his team and we knew all this beforehand.  I knew he wasn’t going to last many rounds, five surprised me.  He had problems with his promoter, his manager and he didn’t have money for the training camp so he didn’t train well for it.

“You’re going to see a different Barroso from the version you saw against Mitchell.  He’s more solid and he’s going to dominate from distance.  He has been knocking down sparring partners with jabs just like he did to Mitchell.”

Perhaps an element of Barroso’s game that was not expected by fans during his bout with Mitchell was his calmness in the ring and good use of a jab.  The picture that had been painted of the El Tigre native was that of a wild slugger.  Fernández explained more:

“When Barroso came to me he was somewhat crude.  He didn’t fight with the calmness that he has now.  He has learnt to think and be more intelligent in the ring.  He did that by working with fighters who are at a good level here in the gym, not only lightweights but junior welterweights and welterweights.  He is now a more complete boxer.  If this fight were 20 rounds he would be ready for that.”

The bout in Manchester will be Barroso’s second successive encounter in the United Kingdom and Fernández would love to make it a hat-trick against the WBO lightweight champion, also from Manchester.

“After we beat Crolla we’d like a fight with Flanagan to make it three fights in a row, let’s hope he would accept that fight.”