Rolly Romero has surprised boxing fans by revealing the hardest-hitting fighter he's faced in his career. The current WBA Regular welterweight champion didn't name Ryan Garcia or Gervonta Davis as many expected.
Romero, 29, from Las Vegas, has faced some big names in the ring. He beat Ryan Garcia in a career-best performance on May 2 in Times Square, New York City. The fight ended with Romero winning by unanimous decision, even flooring Garcia in the second round. This win was a big upset, as Romero went into the fight as the underdog.
But when asked about the hardest puncher he's faced, Romero didn't mention Garcia or even Gervonta Davis, who stopped him in May 2022. Instead, he pointed to a lesser-known opponent from an earlier fight.
On The Danza Project Podcast, Romero said:
"I end up getting a world title shot at 140 and I'm like 'Okay, I'm going to become a world champion', you know, and my opponent changed on like two weeks' notice to a completely different dude who punches harder than anyone I've ever been in the ring with in my life. And to this day I still haven't been hit that hard, and I still pulled off the victory."
Romero seems to be talking about his fight against Alberto Puello for the WBA super-lightweight title. He won that fight with a 9th round stoppage at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, though some felt his opponent should have had more time to continue.
Since then, Romero's career has had ups and downs. He lost his WBA crown at 140lbs to Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz in March 2024, getting stopped in the 8th round. But he's bounced back with two wins in a row and is now trying to make his mark in the welterweight division.
Romero's recent win over Garcia has put him back in the spotlight. It was a disciplined performance that surprised many boxing experts. Now holding the WBA Regular welterweight title, Romero is looking to build on this success and establish himself as a force in the 147lbs weight class.
