Gervonta Davis (27-0, 25 KOs) silenced the trash-talking of Rolando Romero with a sixth-round stoppage win in Brooklyn on Saturday night.
Their WBA lightweight fight which was originally scheduled for December had to be put back, but to simply added to the tension and disdain that each man had for the other.
Romero (14-1, 12 KOs) had a chance to walk the walk at the Barclays Centre but fell face first into the ropes with just over 30 seconds left in the sixth. The challenger lunged forward as he had been doing during the fight, but ‘Tank’ Davis connected with a concussive counter left hand. Soon after referee David Fields ended the bout deciding Romero was in no position to continue.
The opening round was not the shootout that maybe many had hoped. Jabs were being flicked out, but the fire wasn’t lit. Romero’s prediction of the fight ending in the opening frame proved to be woefully incorrect.
Romero got to work in the second and caught Davis with a powerful looking right hand.
Matters in the ring began to get rough afterwards but Romero looked the more threatening in the time left.
Davis was on his toes in round three, somewhat wary of his rival’s power. However, a lovely feint to throw a right hid the left punch that Romero threw and found a home for.
The 26-year-old was getting attention, but his aggression often looked like it could land him in trouble. Davis looked to be quick off his feet but nothing significant of his had been landed.
Just before the fourth session got underway Davis began talking to his mother! Clearly, he was enjoying the night in front of a 20,000 plus crowd there to cheer him on. Their adopted son from Baltimore started to beat Romero to the punch with his speed and movement dictating the action.
Davis continued the momentum in the fifth letting his hands go early to get a hold of the round. However, he notably grimaced after a left was thrown which didn’t hit the target. Having suffered with hand problems in the past Davis was put on the back foot by Romero who sensed a moment to capitalise on but failed to do so.
‘Tank’ proved there was nothing about his left arm or hand to worry anyone as he fired a shot downstairs during round six. Romero retaliated with a punch below the waist which earned him a ticking off from the referee. The Las Vegas lightweight continued to barrel forward and at one point his shots tasted air as Davis’ superior head movement got out of the way. Then with seconds remaining at the halfway stage of the fight Romero’s lunging attacks proved to be his downfall. A right hand flew towards Davis who in the blink of an eye answered it with a highlight reel perfectly timed left which silenced Romero.
It was proof once again that Davis is still one of the best 135lb fighters in the world and retaining his secondary WBA title wasn’t needed to back that up. The real version will be defended by George Kambosos next weekend against Devin Haney in Australia. With their two-fight deal tying up the four titles for the foreseeable future we can only hope that another lightweight monster duel can be made this year between Davis and Ryan Garcia.