Rolando Romero dominates Avery Sparrow
In his first bout of 2021, controversial lightweight fighter Rolando “Rolly” Romero (13-0, 11 KO’s) won by way of seventh round TKO. His opponent, Avery Sparrow (10-3, 3 KO’s), was game but unable to answer Romero’s power. Serving as a last minute replacement, Sparrow sought to make the most of his appearance. Rolly’s original adversary, Justin Pauldo, failed miserably to make weight and subsequently was removed from the card. Following his rejection from the telecast, Sparrow slid into Pauldo’s time slot and fight corner.
The solid performance was something of a ‘must-do’ for Romero. In his last bout, against Jackson “El Finx” Marinez, Rolly logged in a soggy and unimpressive showing. When the fight was over, it was widely believed that Romero was lucky to receive a gift decision on the cards. In with Sparrow, the brash Nevada native meant to prove why he is a legitimate contender.
ONE-WAY ACTION
Here in against Sparrow, Romero was in control from start to finish. As is his way, Rolly began the fight looking to walk his foe down. For the better part of it, he was successful in this plan of attack and forced Sparrow to fight on his back foot. Romero even scored a first round knockdown. Despite moving backwards, Sparrow was able to thread a number of counter right hooks through Rolly’s wide punches. Despite the accurate shots, he was never able to force Romero to alter his game plan.
Rolly fairly easily controlled the action throughout the first six rounds. After Romero threw a barrage of punches, Sparrow went down for the second time. On this occasion, however, the trip to the canvas was ruled a slip and not a knockdown. Unfortunately for Avery Sparrow, he appeared to have injured his knee in the fall. Or at least, when he went down, he immediately began clutching his leg.
When he heard that the fall was being ruled as a push, he got up quickly but moved somewhat gingerly. Even worse, shortly after getting back to his feet, he was somewhat curiously deducted two points for a low blow. In the end, the impairment and lost points would not play a huge role in the bout. In the very next round, Sparrow’s corner had seen enough and threw in the towel. Even though Avery Sparrow is lightyears away from the cream of the crop, this was a much needed, improved showing for Romero.
By: Bakari Simpson
