Junior welterweight Rolando Romero is eager to prove he still belongs at the top of the division following the loss of his WBA title to Isaac Cruz. Romero has boldly predicted a knockout victory against Manuel Jaimes on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Romero (15-2, 13 KOs) will face 24-year-old Stockton native Jaimes (16-1-1, 11 KOs) in the opening bout of the pay-per-view event headlined by Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga.
Romero has faced a challenging slate of fights since May 2022. He headlined a pay-per-view against Gervonta Davis, battled Ismael Barroso in a controversial stoppage win, and suffered a seventh-round knockout loss to Isaac Cruz, where he lost the WBA junior welterweight title he had won from Barroso. Despite the setbacks, Romero remains confident in his prediction of a knockout but noted he’s not taking Jaimes lightly.
“Nah, I am not overlooking him,” the 28-year-old Romero said at the grand arrivals on Tuesday.
In typical brash fashion, when asked to predict the round of the knockout, Romero responded with a playful challenge to the interviewer.
“You want an early one or a late one?” Romero asked.
When the interviewer suggested a third-round knockout, Romero confidently agreed, promising to deliver the result.
This fight marks the first time since 2021 that Romero will fight twice in one year. Reflecting on his recent competition, Romero made it clear he believes he has been tested at the highest level.
“I have fought the best in the damn world,” Romero said. “Three fucking times, and you’re about to see.”
Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.
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