Rolly Romero Keeping Unusually Quiet Since Becoming Champion
In his last in-ring assignment, Rolando “Rolly” Romero (15-1, 13 KO’s) captured the vacant WBA super lightweight championship belt. Despite claiming the win, many feel that Rolly was granted preferential treatment which resulted in the victory. No matter what side of the fence that you fall on, Romero is still one of the four belt carrying champions in the division. What’s odd though is how graveyard quiet Rolly has been since claiming the title.
It’s no secret that his fellow fighters harbor little, if no, respect for Romero’s skill as a fighter. Undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney has called him the worst of the worst and WBO 140-pound champion Regis Prograis has repeatedly stated that he does not want to fight Rolly, specifically due to his lack in ability. Luckily for him though, Rolly has displayed a remarkable ability to talk himself into a good fight.
WHERE YOU AT?!
In the prizefight directly before Ismael Barroso for the vacant WBA title, Romero hyped his way into a showdown with Regular WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis. Sadly for Team Rolly, the Las Vegas native held his own until being knocked out in the sixth. It was a smooth counter left hook that liquified Romero’s legs and balance. Despite the outcome, it was masterful on his part that Romero willed the fight into existence.
As his in-ring prowess is indeed eyebrow raising, one has to give credit to his ability to verbally maintain his relevance in the division. Minus Tank, Romero has zero marquee bouts and a couple of questionable wins. This is why his four-month blackout since becoming champion is rather quizzical. One would think that such a verbose fighter would be talking loud as ever. This is not the case though.
Rolly could naturally be campaigning for unification bouts with fellow champions Subriel Matias (IBF), Regis Prograis (WBC) or Teofimo Lopez (WBO). There is even a built-in backstory with Lopez, as he and Rolly are good friends. Nevertheless, Lopez has expressed his willingness to put his warm feelings aside to handle that business. So it will be interesting to see who Romero next targets and when he next steps back out of the shadows.
