By Dan Ambrose: Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero (14-1, 12 KOs) will be challenging unbeaten Alberto Puello (21-0, 10 KOs) for his WBA light welterweight title in his first fight in the 140-lb division in April.
Rolly is ranked #7 with the World Boxing Association at light welterweight, and it’s unclear what he’s done, aside from getting knocked out by Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, to earn a title shot so soon.
Keith Idec of Boxing Scene is reporting the news of 28-year-old Rolly Romero getting a straight title shot in his first bout in the weight class at light welterweight after having been knocked out in the sixth round by WBA ‘regular’ lightweight champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis last May in Brooklyn, New York.
Why is Rolly being given a title shot?
What’s even more disturbing about this news of Rolly being given a title shot on a silver platter is that he was knocked out by the 22-year-old super featherweight prospect J’Hon Ingram (3-0, 3 KOs) in a sparring session that was leaked on social media. Rolly was flattened by the prospect Ingram.
shit lame wtf a coach doing getting in the ring jumping up & down yelling celebrating a sparring ko .. no class lol
— Errol Spence (@ErrolSpenceJr) February 8, 2023
After a knockout like that, it makes you question whether it’s safe for Rolly to return to the ring so soon after that to challenge the unbeaten Puello for his WBA 140-lb title.
You’d like to see Rolly have time to recover physically after the KO before getting back in the ring to face someone as talented as the 28-year-old Dominican Republic native Puello for his WBA belt.
Puello captured his WBA title last August, defeating Batyr Akhmedov by a 12 round split decision in Hollywood, Florida.
Puello bad news for Rolly
Ideally, Rolly should have had to beat at least two or three highly ranked contenders at light welterweight before being given a title shot against Puello because it makes a mockery of the sport to have a fighter being given a title shot off the back of a knockout loss like the one he suffered against Tank Davis last summer.
You don’t see teams going to the Super Bowl after being blown out in the playoffs or teams in the NBA going to the championship series after being eliminated in the semi-final playoffs. Rolly getting a title shot off a loss makes boxing seem more like professional wrestling, where popular celebrities are put in against the champions even after defeats.
It’ll be interesting to see how well Rolly holds up under the firepower of Puello, who has a lot of talent and is on another level than him.