Rolando Romero


Rolando Florencio Romero Moreno, known as Rolly Romero, is an American professional boxer. He is a world champion in three weight classes, having held the World Boxing Association welterweight title since August 2025. He previously held the World Boxing Association super lightweight title from 2023 to 2024 and the World Boxing Association interim lightweight title in August 2020.

Professional career

Lightweight

Romero made his professional debut on December 2, 2016, scoring a first-round technical knockout victory against David Courtney at the Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall in Sunrise Manor, Nevada. Romero amassed an 8–0 record during the next three years, winning all but one of those fights by stoppage. Romero was next scheduled to face Andres Figueroa on April 20, 2019, on the undercard of the Danny Garcia and Adrián Granados welterweight bout. He won the fight by a fourth-round knockout. Romero had his first step-up in competition on November 1, 2019, when he faced Juan Carlos Cordones. He won the fight by a first-round knockout, stopping Cordones in the final minute of the opening round. Romero faced the undefeated Arturs Ahmetovs on February 22, 2020, on the undercard of Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury II. He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout.

Romero vs. Maríñez, Sparrow

After compiling a record of 11–0 Romero faced undefeated Dominican Jackson Maríñez for the vacant WBA interim lightweight title on August 15, 2020, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Romero captured the vacant WBA interim title via twelve-round unanimous decision with the judges' scorecards reading 118–110, 116–112, and 115–113. This decision was considered very controversial, with the majority feeling Maríñez earned the win.
Romero was scheduled to take on Justin Pauldo, but Pauldo came in 5Ibs over the contracted weight. Romero's team would then change the weight to 140 Ibs, but Pauldo failed a pre-fight physical with the commission having to cancel it. Romero fought Avery Sparrow as a last minute opponent, the latter having had five weeks of training prior to this fight. Romero defeated his opponent by seventh-round technical knockout, and aired his frustrations with Sparrow's fighting style after the fight: "He fought like a coward, he just wanted a street fight because he knew he wasn't gonna do anything to me."

Romero vs. Yigit

Romero was slated to defend his interim title against Austin Dulay on the undercard of Jermell Charlo vs. Brian Castaño on July 17, 2021. Dulay pulled out of the fight a few days before the scheduled date which prompted Romero to claim that Dulay had pulled out of the fight due to a “panic attack.” Dulay responded by revealing that he suffered a knee injury and offered to give Romero $10,000 of his fight purse to reschedule the fight. Anthony Yigit was subsequently moved from his untelevised preliminary slot to step in as Romero's opponent. Romero's title was no longer on the line when Yigit weighed in 5.2 lbs over the 135 lb limit, but the fight nonetheless went ahead. On the night, Romero dropped Yigit multiple times en route to a seventh-round technical knockout victory. The San Antonio crowd booed Romero as he was announced as the winner, voicing their displeasure with his roughhouse tactics of throwing elbows, shoving and grappling his opponent. He was unfazed when questioned about it in his post-fight interview, saying, "I fought a 140 pounder and I fucking stopped him, simple as that."

Romero vs. Davis

On October 6, 2021, it was announced that Romero would be facing undefeated WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis on December 5 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Showtime PPV. However, Romero was pulled from the bout due to sexual assault allegations made against him, and was subsequently replaced with Isaac Cruz. On January 11, 2022, Romero revealed on his Instagram page that no charges against him were filed, as the claims of sexual abuse could not be substantiated. On January 24, the WBA once again ordered Davis to make a mandatory lightweight title defense against Romero, and gave the pair until February 24 to come to terms. The pair agreed to face each other on May 28, in the main event of a Showtime PPV, at the Barclays Center in New York. Romero was knocked out in the 6th round.

Light welterweight

Romero vs. Barroso

On February 8, 2023, it was reported that Romero would move up to light welterweight to challenge the WBA champion Alberto Puello. The championship bout was expected to take place on May 13, 2023, in the main event of a Showtime broadcast card. Puello was pulled from the fight on April 19, after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, and was replaced by Ismael Barroso who faced Romero for the vacant championship. Romero won the fight by a controversial ninth-round technical knockout. Barroso was ahead on the all three of the judges' scorecards at the time of the stoppage and had out-landed Romero in both total and power punches.

Romero vs. Davies

Although Romero was ordered by the WBA to make a mandatory title defense against the twice-defeated Ohara Davies, the pair failed to come to terms within the allotted 30-day negotiation period, which forced the sanctioning body to call for a purse bid to be held. Romero submitted a request for a medical exemption on July 21, which led to the WBA indefinitely postponing the purse bid. A further proof of injury was demanded of Romero on August 4 and again on August 19.

Romero vs. Cruz

On March 30, 2024 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Romero was scheduled to make the first defense of his WBA light welterweight title against Isaac Cruz. Badly battered by the later rounds and failing to mount an effective defense, Romero lost the fight and the title by TKO after the referee jumped in to stop the fight at the 0:56 mark of Round 8.

Welterweight

Romero vs. Jaimes

Romero was scheduled to face Manuel Jaimes in a 10-round super lightweight bout at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on September 14, 2024. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Romero vs. Garcia

Romero fought Ryan Garcia for the vacant WBA welterweight title in Times Square in New York on May 2, 2025. He won by unanimous decision.
On August 1, 2025, Romero was elevated to full champion after Jaron Ennis vacated his Super version of the title.

Personal life

Born in the United States, Romero is of Cuban descent. His father Rolando Romero Sr., was a boxer in Cuba and won the National Title there three times.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
19Win17–2Ryan GarciaUD12May 2, 2025Won vacant WBA welterweight title
18Win16–2Manuel JaimesUD10Sep 14, 2024T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
17Loss15–2Isaac CruzTKO8, 0:56Mar 30, 2024T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Lost WBA super lightweight title
16Win15–1Ismael BarrosoTKO9, 0:20May 13, 2023The Cosmopolitan, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant WBA super lightweight title
15Loss14–1Gervonta DavisTKO6, 2:39May 28, 2022Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S.For WBA lightweight title
14Win14–0Anthony YigitTKO7, Jul 17, 2021AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.WBA interim lightweight title not at stake after Yigit missed weight
13Win13–0Avery SparrowTKO7, 0:43Jan 23, 2021Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
12Win12–0Jackson MaríñezUD12Aug 15, 2020Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.Won vacant WBA interim lightweight title
11Win11–0Arturs AhmetovsTKO2, 1:22Feb 22, 2020MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
10Win10–0Juan Carlos CordonesKO1, 2:14Nov 1, 2019Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, Sunrise Manor, Nevada, U.S.
9Win9–0Andres FigueroaKO4, 1:27Apr 20, 2019Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California, U.S.
8Win8–0Nicolas Atilio VelazquezKO1, 1:02Mar 9, 2019Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California, U.S.
7Win7–0Rondale HubbertTKO2, 0:45Dec 7, 2018Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, Sunrise Manor, Nevada, U.S.
6Win6–0Dieumerci NzauKO1, 1:17Oct 27, 2018Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, Sunrise Manor, Nevada, U.S.
5Win5–0Javier Martinez6Aug 3, 2018Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, Sunrise Manor, Nevada, U.S.
4Win4–0Alex SilvaTKO1, 2:48Jan 27, 2018Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, Sunrise Manor, Nevada, U.S.
3Win3–0Johnny Estrada2, 2:02Oct 21, 2017Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, Sunrise Manor, Nevada, U.S.
2Win2–0Adrian LevyaTKO4, 0:23May 20, 2017Laredo Energy Arena, Laredo, Texas, U.S.
1Win1–0David Courtney1, 1:11Dec 2, 2016Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, Sunrise Manor, Nevada, U.S.