WBA welterweight ‘Super’ champion Rolando Romero seems poised for an August return and Roy Jones Jr has offered up a fighter he trains for the opposite corner.
Jack Catterall put in a dominant display against Shakhram Giyasov to win the WBA Regular belt, hoping to tee up a well-earned fight with ‘Rolly’. The American, however, is planning an August voluntary defence before the ordered fight with Catterall – a move the Brit brands ‘pathetic.’
Speaking to Boxing News, Jones recognised that Romero, who has been inactive since a May 2025 win over Ryan Garcia, wants ‘less of a fight’ than the in-form Catterall. The Hall of Fame fighter-turned trainer suggests his charge Mohamed Mimoune (WBA #9) as a summer defence.
“Catterall is a tough fight, but he I think he [Romero] wants a little bit less of a fight, which is what he would think that Mimoune is, in order to get ready for Catterall.
“I get where he is coming from, because Rolly is trying to get to the best that he can get to. He is trying to get himself into the best situation he can get into.
“From Catterall’s perspective, yeah, you will always try and get the edge if you can [and force the fight next]. But, me, I would want to beat you at your best. So, what I would do, if I was Catterall, I would demand that, if there is any kind of upset, Mimoune has got to fight me next.
“Mimoune will be ready [for Romero], he ain’t got no choice! When you ain’t the champion, you better be ready for whenever they ring you.”
Jones then said that the Frenchman’s experience and intelligence would make him a good test for Romero.
“Mimoune has very good experience, it’s a great fight because you have got a puncher and you have got a guy with a lot of experience. In that experience, he has been prone to a great shot too, which is why it’s a great fight for Rolly, because he will want guys that are prone to big punching power – as that is his asset.
“With Mimoune, although he is a prone to a big punch, he is also a very clever boxer – and being a clever boxer is what Rolly don’t like. So, it’s a 50/50 fight right away because of Rolly’s punching power and because of Mimoune’s experience.
“So, they are both exactly what it takes to beat the other. They both love contact and they are both the exact opposite of what the other guy wants to see.”
Since partnering up with the boxing icon in 2021, Mimoune has had alternating wins and losses in their six bouts together, the most recent of those losses coming to Arthur Biyarslanov, who is set to face Lindolfo Delgado for the vacant IBF super-lightweight world title next time out.
Mimoune told Boxing News that he believes that the weight restricted his performance that night and that 147lbs is his natural division.
“I have a lot of experience; welterweight is my true weight class, even though I boxed a super lightweight. That weight class was too tough for me; I lost over 16 kg just to make weight. I’m fast and hard in this weight class.”
The 31-year-old echoed Jones’ fight call out, telling ‘Rolly’ to ‘watch out for the old guy.
“You know, I’m a man who loves a challenge and Romero is a good boxer. I’m currently ranked number nine in the WBA and hold the WBA Gold World belt. I’ll get my chance soon. Now, if Rolly wants to fight me, I’m open to any offer.
“You know I’ve faced all the best boxers, world-class and up-and-coming, and I’ve always done what was necessary. So, they just have to contact my team.
“Let’s say he’s at the beginning of his career and I’m at the end, but watch out for the old guy, he knows the way.”
“I think he deserves to be champion, even if he hasn’t boxed any big names except for two or three. He’s had a well-built career, but he took the right risks at the right time. For me, I wouldn’t make him the WBA Super Champion.
“I box by moving forward and backward on my legs. Romero relies heavily on power, looking for a knockout with every punch. I like that kind of boxer, especially at my ideal weight, welterweight.
“To beat Romero, you have to catch him off guard on the counter-attack because he has a generous boxing style, he looks to inflict damage with every punch, he exposes himself a lot.”
Whilst Mimoune and Jones hope to be in the running, Puerto Rico’s Nestor Bravo is also said to be under consideration from Romero’s team for his August appearance, despite having never boxed at 147lbs.
