GBP: Yves Ulysse, Jr. vs. Ismael José Barroso Bernay & D'Mitrius Ballard vs. Yamaguchi Falcão RBR

Yves Ulysse, Jr. vs. Ismael José Barroso Bernay, 12 rounds @ light welterweight

 

This is for the WBA Gold super lightweight title, 1st defense of Ulysse. Interestingly, the fight in which he claimed the vacant Gold belt (Claggett II) was a 10-rounder, but this is scheduled for 12.

 

Oh man, you don't want the first lefty you ever face in the pros to be a monstrous puncher like Barroso..

 

In case you're wondering if you hallucinated that, yes, the back of Ulysse's t-shirt does read:

"Do you only love me for my juicy breast?"

...I believe that is a chicken advert.

 

I'd say you needn't worry because Ulysse, while skilled, only has a 47% stoppage rate, but...Million Dolla Crolla stopped him with a body shot and only has 28%.

 

Round 1

Ulysse is feeding out the left glove to intercept Barroso's right jab. Ulysse drives in and slams down with a right forearm into the face, parried with Barroso's right arm interlocking with it as he shoots a high counter left, narrowly missing as they step wide around each other. Ulysse is turning Barroso in the middle of the ring now, tossing quick lead rights between his eyes while faking a jab straight out at the chest in a hypnotic rhythm. Barroso is slicing out backhanded right jabs without much intent behind them, and body-feinting with his far left shoulder dipping in towards Ulysse, to gauge his reactions and see if he flinches.

10-9 Ulysse, nothing round

 

Round 2

Ulysse is giving Barroso plenty of respect, circling wide. Barroso rows out the right jab casually, and then dives in with a right hook on the body and thumps a left in for good measure just below the guard. Ulysse double-taps into Barroso's gloves with a left jab and then sallies in with a flush right cross on the nose. Barroso quickly blinks it off and continues to duck in and peck at the body, while tossing diversionary southpaw jabs up top into Ulysse's line of vision. Slow left hand leads from Barroso, winding them up from outside and causing Ulysse to back straight up while dodging them, arms up, giving Barroso a clear target for underhanded combos into the middle.

10-9 Barroso, nice body work.

19-19

 

Best single punch was Ulysse's right hand, but he did far too little to counteract Barroso's multitude chipping away downstairs.

 

Stats after two:

Ulysse 7 of 38, 18%
Barroso 11 of 108, 10%

 

Round 3

Ulysse is starting to dial in a stone-skipping overhand right, floating it over Barroso's jab and brushing his eye socket with it. Barroso is timing his slower punches, catching Ulysse with a few heavy left hands down the pipe in exchanges. Barroso still lumping in body shots as well. Ulysse darting in and out and scoring flashily with a showy right hand lead into the forehead, but getting outworked.

10-9 Barroso

29-28 Barroso

 

Yeah, we don't want you back in New England anyway, Coach. Good riddance.

...also @ "I spent about ten years in Connecticut, you know, working for ESPN. "

Yup. That job is the only reason you were based in CT, huh? Nothing else in your past that might sound a bit less cool than "I worked at ESPN", hmm?