Confidence is a fighter's greatest friend or worst enemy. Rolando "Rolly", Romero, hopes that his high level of confidence will propel him to a game-changing upset over Gervonta Davis ("Tank") in Saturday's clash for the secondary WBA lightweight title. It takes place at the Barclays Center (Brooklyn) at 9 p.m. ET, Showtime TV -- Order Now
Romero (12 KO, 14-0) certainly has talked the talk in the lead up to the fight. He used a history of bad blood to hype the fight and himself.
Romero said that everyone talks about Gervonta's ability to outbox him, but that he isn't even a good fighter. Romero spoke ahead of the fight to "Morning Kombat". "Everybody punches him in his face and everyone outboxes them." It's all smaller guys and heavier opponents. The only person who had a pulse during their fight was Pitbull Cruz, and [he] has absolutely no boxing ability whatsoever. He beat Davis, and I'm talking about Gervonta Davis being outboxed. Shit.
"He has one the most padded records that I have ever seen, and people don’t realize it."
CBS Sports will provide live coverage with round-by–round scoring and blow–by-blow updates throughout the fight.
Davis (26-0, 24KO) is a rising star in boxing. He has shown a combination speed and power that has proved too much for all the men he has faced.
Are you a fan of MMA and boxing? Two of the most respected names in combat sports provide the latest news. Get the latest news and analysis from Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell in Morning Kombat. Below, you can see a preview of Davis vs. Romero's Showtime PPV in Brooklyn.
Davis's power is his calling card, despite all his talent. Davis has been defeated by only two other men. Davis' 16-fight streak of knockouts ended with a narrow victory over Cruz. Davis had some of the most impressive knockouts in boxing, including a devastating uppercut that killed Leo Santa Cruz in a highly competitive fight.
Davis stated at the press conference, "I just want people to know that there are different levels to boxing." There are boxers and people who have been practicing since childhood. It's time for me to prove that I'm not one to be played with. It all starts with him, and it will continue."
Romero pointed out that Davis was not able to fight Cruz in the fight. Davis sustained a hand injury mid-fight and had to fight through a determined and hard-charging opponent. Davis' ability to change gears and overcome those two levels of adversity was an amazing moment.
Cruz actually entered the Davis fight as a substitute for Romero, after sexual assault allegations were made. Although it was expected that Davis would continue the fight against Cruz, to target big-name fighters such as Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, and George Kambosos Jr. for a heavyweight title, the bout with Romero had to be rescheduled after no charges were brought against Romero, since the allegations could not have been proven.
Romero is a man of great power. He has stopped 12 of 14 of his opponents as a professional. His style can best be described as "awkward," which in boxing terms means lacking technical proficiency, but enough power to cover those technical shortcomings.
"I don’t think he’s awkward. Davis stated that he thinks he is a man who has just started fighting. He's like someone who has just come to the gym. He thinks he is nice, even though he still hasn't got it down. Real fighters recognize awkward fighters. He's just a dumb fight."
Romero failed to win the August 2020 fight against Jackson Marinez. Romero won that fight's WBA interim title, but nearly everyone except Romero and three judges deemed Romero to have deserved the win in a Marinez-dominated fight.
The WBA had been considering a rematch, but the fight did not materialize. Romero won a pair seventh-round knockout victories to set up a match against his opponent.
Undercard: Gary O'Sullivan takes on Erislandy "Spike", while Gary "Spike", O'Sullivan takes on Erislandy Lara in the co-main. Jesus Ramos will be battling Luke Santamaria, a veteran in the junior middleweight division. He hopes to continue his unbeaten streak. The PPV opens up to junior lightweights when Luis Melendez and Eduardo Ramirez slug it out.
Lara stated that she was expecting a hard fight as Gary O'Sullivan is a formidable fighter. "At this stage in my career it's difficult to get anyone to fight me, particularly the young up-and-coming guys. He deserves a lot of credit for getting in the ring along with me.
"I will try to get him out, but it will be difficult. He'll also have the advantage of having a lot more fans, so that'll be another plus."
Let's have a look at the odds offered by Caesars Sportsbook, before we get to a prediction or pick for the main event.
If you look back at the history of boxing, you will find instances of brawlers who were top-class fighters' kryptonite. These fights are more memorable than the more common cases where the superior fighter simply outclasses their opponent. Is Romero Ricardo Mayorga to Davis’ Vernon Forrest? It is possible, but it's also highly unlikely.
Romero talks about Davis being outboxed by all opponents, but Romero leaves bigger defensive openings. Romero is a master of the fences, hitting his opponents with almost every punch. He leaves big holes for rematch fire and often finds himself out of balance. Davis is the superior fighter. His power is just as strong, if not more, than Romero. It's difficult to imagine any other way that the fight would play out, with Davis striking Romero hard early and often, before ending the fight with a brutal flurry. Pick: Davis via TKO4
Who will win Davis vs. Romero in the final? Which prop is a must back? Check out SportsLine to find Brandon Wise's top picks for Saturday. This is the CBS combat sports specialist.
