In the realm of combat sports, the rivalry between competitors is almost always present. Fighters frequently engage in conflict within the ring or octagon to determine who prevails, whether it is due to trash talk, old grudges, or simply a desire to prove who’s the greatest. Such was the case when Rolly Romero squared off against Gervonta Davis last May.
Gervonta Davis Faces Dangerous Rematch Against Power-Punching Romero
Despite the loss, Romero’s team is convinced that he’s learned from his mistakes and is eager for a rematch against the undefeated Davis. Romero’s trainer, Cromwell Gordon, is even going so far as to claim that Davis is in “danger” if he accepts the rematch. “He wouldn’t wanna do it again because he knows the danger of it,” Gordon said in an interview. “And with him going up to being a blockbuster pay-per-view star and all that, and then you get a rematch with Rolly, that’s two of your toughest fights in your whole career.” Although Gordon’s remarks may seem like standard pre-fight hype, they really include some reality.
Rolly Romero's Trainer: Tank Wouldn’t Wanna Do It Again Because He Knows Danger Of It https://t.co/MztV6rl0Eg pic.twitter.com/7R9bfOPtJR
— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) May 14, 2023
Davis has a record of 29-0 and 27 KOs, demonstrating his skill as a knockout artist. But Romero has the power of his own, with 12 KOs in 14 wins. And despite his loss to Davis, Romero was leading on one scorecard before the KO. Of course, there are no guarantees in combat sports. But Romero’s team believes that their fighter has the tools to defeat Davis in a rematch. “Now you’ve got Rolly with the patience, [Davis] with the patience – then it’s a real chess match,” Gordon said. “So now, does he really want that smoke? Don’t know. We’ll have to see where the guts and the balls and the intangibles come in, if they’ll take that fight.”
Davis’ Business Mindset Clashes with the Ultimate Test of Courage in Dangerous Rematch
So it’s not only an issue of having the guts and the gall. Davis is now a significant pay-per-view attraction and is also a successful businessman. His battle with Ryan Garcia earlier this year garnered more than 1,200,000 PPV purchases, and Mario Barrios, his upcoming opponent, is anticipated to do even better. A rematch with Romero might not make financial sense for Davis, especially if he believes that he already proved himself in their first fight. Both fighters have power and speed, and both are hungry for victory. Romero faces a challenging fight in the interim.
He’s facing Ismael Barroso, a dangerous puncher with 22 KOs in 24 wins. Romero is the favorite, but he can’t afford to overlook Barroso.“He can crack and he throws a lotta punches, in variety,” Gordon said of Barroso. “But that’s what’s gonna make him tired faster. And by seven, eight rounds, we’ll start seeing his diminished conditioning, stamina, and that’s when Rolly will take over.” Barroso vs.Romero will take place on May 14 at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. This tripleheader’s main event will be shown on Showtime.
