Crazy or crazy like a fox? Romero predicts he'll knock out Davis in the first round
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Lightweight contender Rolando “Rolly” Romero has never been one to mince words or shy away from a confrontation. He also has a tremendously high opinion of himself despite a thin resume.
But he can back it all up if he is able to score a career-making victory over WBA “regular” lightweight titlist and heavy favorite Gervonta “Tank” Davis.
Romero will challenge Davis for his belt in the main event of a pay-per-view card on Saturday (Showtime PPV and PPV.com, 9 p.m. ET, $74.99) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and goes into the fight either with genuine confidence or false bravado.
Check out his fight prediction.
“He’s going to get knocked out in one round,” Romero proclaimed at his media workout at famed Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn on Wednesday.
Romero has been calling for a KO1 victory throughout the promotion.
“He’s been knocked down in the gym a bunch of times,” Romero insisted. “He gets wobbled, knocked out and all sorts of hurt. I feel bad for him. I’m going to go in there and beat him up. That’s my only game plan. Make your money betting on me in this fight. We’re all going to get rich together.”
Romero is a hard hitter but his resume is devoid of a signature victory thus far. Many thought he received a gift from the judges when he was awarded a decision against Jackson Marinez in an August 2020 interim lightweight title bout.
In his most recent bout, Romero knocked out overweight former junior welterweight title challenger Anthony Yigit in the seventh round last July.
Still…
“I already think I’m pound-for-pound No. 1,” said Romero, who drops curse words about every other breath so they have been edited out. “So, I definitely should be in that spot after I win on Saturday.”
Despite his own resume, Romero (14-0, 12 KOs), 26, of Las Vegas, has taken shots at Davis’, which may not be overly impressive but boasts far more recognizable and accomplished opponents than Romero’s.
Davis, who will be defending his secondary belt for the third time, outpointed Isaac Cruz on Dec. 4 in a fight Romero was supposed to be in but was dropped due to a sexual assault charge that he has since been cleared of. Before that, Davis stepped up to junior welterweight and knocked out Mario Barrios in the 11th round to claim a secondary belt, and before that he knocked out the smaller but highly respected Leo Santa Cruz in the sixth round.
When Davis (26-0, 24 KOs), 27, a southpaw, won his first world title at junior lightweight, he knocked out then-undefeated Jose Pedraza in the seventh round, also at Barclays Center, and Pedraza, who went on to win a lightweight title, is still at it as a junior welterweight contender.
Still…
“Look at the resume of his fights,” Romero said. “He’s faced weight drained guys, U.K. fighters, 122- and 126-pounders, and guys past their prime. Mario Barrios was weight drained in a damn bathtub for eight hours straight. I also thought Isaac Cruz beat him up.”
Davis has brushed off Romero’s outlandish trash talk.
“I’m not emotional about what ‘Rolly’ is saying,” Davis said. “At first I was, but he showed me that he’s just a hype job. He’s trying to hype himself up to get into the fight. It feels like he’s acting fake right now. He’s never been in this position and you can tell.”
Romero has been calling fellow Mayweather Promotions fighter Davis out since 2017.
“Romero has been asking me for this fight for years,” Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe said. “Every time he sees me he asks about ‘Tank’. Now is his opportunity.”
Romero has repeatedly claimed that in the past Davis invited him to spar with him only to bail out.
“Davis didn’t show up to sparring twice when we agreed to it, because he’s scared of me,” Romero said. “He says I’m scared, but that guy is scared of me.
“This feels really good. It’s about time he gets in the ring with me. I’m built for this moment and this fight. Not everyone is built for this. Davis obviously isn’t built for this. He can’t even say a word. I’m the superstar here.”
In actuality, it is Davis who has proven to be one of boxing’s top stars. He will be headlining his fourth consecutive Showtime PPV card and has sold out venues in his hometown of Baltimore, Los Angeles and Atlanta. The fight on Saturday, according to organizers, is on pace to set the all-time record for live gate for a Barclays Center boxing event. It will be the arena’s 40th boxing card.
Romero, who has had retired former lightweight and junior lightweight champion Joel Casamayor in camp to work with him, was not interested in all that — only in getting his hands on Davis.
“I don’t like ‘Tank’ as a person and I believe he’s going to get whupped in this fight,” Romero said. “Tell me one fight where he hasn’t gotten punched on by smaller dudes with no power? I’m way more accurate than anyone he’s ever fought. I’m way stronger and more explosive. It’s just common sense, he’s getting knocked out.
“I thought Isaac Cruz beat Gervonta. That fight showed just how vulnerable he is. He’s scared of people that can actually crack. I don’t have any message for Davis, I just have these fists.”
Photo: Amanda Westcott/Showtime
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Tank being the babyface in a promotion is almost crazy enough to make me willing to pay to watch him atop an uninspiring fight card. Almost.
This isn’t moving the dial in the UK at all. Davis has been defending his secondary title against secondary opponents for too long. Ideally the WBA will order him fight the Kambosos - Haney winner. What will probably happen is that Haney will beat Kambosos and before their contracted rematch he will be stripped with Davis elevated to full titleholder.