ROLANDO Romero believes he will become a pay-per-view star of the super-lightweight division.
On Saturday night The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas will stage Romeroโs shot at a vacant world title against veteran Ismael Barroso.
Romero 14-1 (15) suffered his first defeat last time out against Gervonta Davis at a sold-out Barclays Centre in Brooklyn 12 months ago. The 27-year-old gained respect for his performance that gave โTankโ problems early on. Romero has now left the lightweight division for a potentially more exciting weight class five pounds higher.
โIโm going to make 140-pounds the most popping division in boxing. I see many pay-per-view events and Iโm involved in all of them,โ he said at Thursday’s final press conference.
Romeroโs brash personality added to a fiery build-up for his fight against Davis. The defeat, he says, taught him one lesson.
โThe only thing that I learned from the Gervonta Davis fight is that I need to be patient. Patience is everything in life.โ
The polarising character of โRollyโ and what comes with him will rarely depart but he gave respect to Barroso 24-3-2 (22) after original opponent Albert Puello was pulled from the fight. Last month it was revealed the Dominican had failed a performance-enhancing drug test for the banned substance clomiphene, the same substance that Conor Benn tested positive for before his October 2022 bout against Chris Eubank Jr.
โI think Barroso is actually a better fighter than Alberto Puello, because he can actually crack. Any time youโre in a fight with a puncher, you know itโs gonna be difficult,โ said Romero.
โI do like trash talking, but this isnโt a trash talking fight. I have to respect this man next to me. Someone didnโt want to follow all the rules, so I have to be grateful Barroso is here.”
Barroso, who turned 40 in January, has had nearly twice as many fights as Romero and his professional boxing career started in August 2005, two months before his next opponent celebrated his 10th birthday.
โIโm churning with the same intensity that I had 10 years ago. Youโre going to see that hunger and power in the ring. Iโm bringing my best,โ said the Venezuelan.
โPeople who know me, know that Iโm a warrior. โRollyโ is a warrior too. So, if youโre tuning into this fight on Saturday night, youโre going to see a battle between two fighters who are very eager to become world champion. That means fireworks.โ
British fight fans will remember the heavy-handed Barroso for his exciting fights against Kevin Mitchell and Anthony Crolla in 2015 and 2016. His UK record is won one and lost one. Since then, the former champion has suffered two defeats in seven fights taking him from Latvia to Hollywood.
โThe lesson Iโm here to show is that it doesnโt matter how many times you fall down, you have to keep getting up and battling every single moment. Because dreams can come true. Keep striving for whatever you want, no matter how old you are.โ