Inside the Shocking Rise of Rolando 'Rolly' Romero, the Unorthodox Fighter Who Stunned Ryan Garcia to Claim the WBA Welterweight Title
The sport of Boxing thrives on those moments when the underdog rises to victory. Just yesterday, in Times Square, fans witnessed exactly that kind of dramatic turnaround when Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero shocked the boxing world in the first event of the Cinco De Mayo Boxing Weekend!
Rolando Romero wasn’t the favorite going into Friday’s fight. Most fans were already looking ahead to a Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney rematch in October. But Romero had other plans! The brash fighter from Las Vegas tore up that script completely, claiming the WBA Welterweight title in a stunning unanimous decision that left spectators in New York’s Times Square absolutely stunned.
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Born October 14, 1995, Rolly didn’t have the extensive amateur background many boxers boast. He jumped into professional boxing relatively late, making his debut in December 2016. His first professional fight ended with a quick first-round TKO against David Courtney. Talk about making an entrance!
Rolly’s early career showed promise with impressive power. He won eight of his first nine fights by stoppage, catching the attention of promoters. His aggressive, somewhat unorthodox style made him entertaining to watch. Fans never knew what to expect when ‘Rolly’ stepped into the ring, except that something dramatic would likely happen.
Romero’s career hasn’t been without controversy. In 2020, he captured the WBA interim lightweight title against Jackson Marínez in a decision many boxing experts questioned. The judges saw something others didn’t, giving Rolly a unanimous decision that raised eyebrows throughout the boxing community.
His biggest setback came in 2022 against Gervonta Davis. After plenty of trash talk leading up to the fight, Rolly was knocked out in the sixth round. Many thought this loss would derail his career, but Romero bounced back by moving up in weight class. He captured the WBA super lightweight title in 2023 in another controversial stoppage against veteran Ismael Barroso, only to lose it in March 2024 to Isaac Cruz in a brutal battle. Romero has secured victories over fighters like David Courtney, Andres Figueroa, Juan Carlos Cordones, Anthony Yigit and Manuel Jaimes among others.
| Fights (19) | By Decision | By Stoppage |
| Win | 4 | 13 |
Loss | 0 | 2 |
Nobody expected Friday’s outcome. Ryan Garcia entered the ring as the heavy -900 favorite, riding high despite his year-long layoff. The fight started with fireworks when Romero caught Garcia with a left hook in the second round, sending him to the canvas early.
That knockdown changed everything. Garcia became hesitant, unwilling to open up with combinations. Romero sensed this and worked Garcia’s body relentlessly. His left hand found a home on Garcia’s torso repeatedly, winning him crucial rounds on the judges’ scorecards.
By the later rounds, Garcia’s corner was begging him to increase his output. Derrick James, Garcia’s trainer, kept urging Ryan to let his hands go. But Garcia couldn’t shake the fear of getting countered. Meanwhile, ‘Rolly’ stayed disciplined, continuing to outwork Garcia throughout the second half of the fight.
When the final bell rang, the judges’ scorecards read 115-112, 115-112, and 118-109, all for Romero. The boxing world was shocked! Romero has now completed a remarkable journey from prospect to champion across three weight divisions. Love him or hate him, ‘Rolly’ Romero has secured his place in boxing history with this career-defining victory against one of the sport’s biggest names!
(Image Credit: Home_of_Fight – X)
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