Rolando Romero Returns To Winning Ways And Targets ‘Any Of The Champions’
Rolando Romero says he’s targeting a world title shot next after the super-lightweight contender returned to winning ways against Manuel Jaimes on Saturday.
Romero (16-2-0 13 KO) secured a wide points victory over Jaimes (16-2-1 11 KO) on the undercard of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s successful defense of his unified super-middleweight titles against Edgar Berlanga at the T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. All three judges scored it 99-91 in favor of Romero.
It was an ideal response from the Nevada native fighting in his hometown after a damaging defeat to Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz in March, which limited Romero’s reign as the WBA’s super-lightweight champion to one fight. On that night six months ago, ‘Rolly’ was bullied around the ring until Cruz earned the stoppage in the eighth round.
“I needed a tough 10-round fight against someone hungry and that’s what I got tonight,” Romero, 28, said. “I was doing a lot of stuff tonight that I should have done in my earlier fights. “Jaimes was coming forward a lot, but I was controlling the pace. The fight was going how I wanted it to. In the later rounds I started coming forward more and landing more body shots.”
Romero became a world champion in May 2023 in fortunate circumstances. He was down on all three scorecards against veteran Ismael Barroso when referee Tony Weeks interfered and waved off the fight in the ninth round following a barrage from Romero. However, few of his punches had landed and Barroso was clearly able to continue.
One year and one fight earlier, Rolly was dominated by WBA lightweight champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, who secured the stoppage in the sixth round.
His recent record meant a victory against Jaimes was vital to Romero’s hopes of an immediate return to world title contention, and he wants to challenge one of the title holders as soon as possible. “Hopefully I’m fighting for a title next,” he said. “I have my eye on any of the champions.”
Three of the division’s four titles are currently occupied, with Teofimo Lopez Jr holding the WBA belt and Liam Paro the IBF champion, while the WBA strap is held by Jose Valenzuela, who defeated Cruz in his first defense on August 3. The WBC title is vacant after Devin Haney vacated due to his refusal to fight mandatory challenger Sandor Martin because of disappointing purse bids.
Despite the wide points decision, Jaimes viewed the fight differently and believes it was much closer than how the judges scored it. However, after fighting against his strongest-ever opponent on the biggest stage of his career so far, the Californian said he would analyze his performance and plot his next move.
“The judges saw what they saw,” he said. “I’d have to watch the tape to be able to score it myself. I could have been more active, that would have helped me land more. It was big to be in this position, it’s the kind of fight I always wanted to be in. I’m going to get back to work and figure out what’s next.”
