Rolly Romero is the defending WBA super lightweight champion, whereas Isaac Cruz has moved up from the 135-pound division for their 12-round, 140-pound title fight.
Handicappers have nevertheless installed Cruz as more than a 2-1 favorite to dethrone the ever-brash Romero on March 30 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Romero is “not really” concerned, however, with how oddsmakers look at their fight, the co-feature of Premier Boxing Champions’ inaugural Amazon Prime pay-per-view show.
“Odds are just statistics,” Romero said during a press conference Wednesday at The Conga Room at L.A. Live in Los Angeles. “And they’re looking at it like this – he lost to Gervonta, what, four fights ago? And I’ve only had one fight since then. So, he’s had what, three or four? Something like that. So, it’s just statistics.”
Mexico City’s Cruz (25-2-1, 17 KOs) gave Gervonta Davis what is commonly considered the most difficult fight of the 29-year-old knockout artist’s professional career.
Baltimore’s Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) won their 12-round bout by unanimous decision in December 2021 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, but Cruz lost by only two points on the scorecards of judges Carla Caiz (115-113) and Max De Luca (115-113). Judge Zachary Young credited Davis for a wider win over Cruz, 116-112.
The durable, rugged Cruz also ended Davis’ 16-fight knockout streak that night.
North Las Vegas’ Romero (15-1, 13 KOs) gave Davis some trouble during the first five rounds of their 12-round, 135-pound bout as well.
Romero led by one point, 48-47, on judge Robin Taylor’s card, and trailed by the same score according to judge Kevin Morgan when Davis drilled him with a left hand late in the sixth round, which abruptly brought their fight to an end in May 2022 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Romero beat referee David Fields’ count, but Fields stopped their bout because he didn’t like how Romero responded to his commands.
Judge Ron McNair had Romero behind by three points, 49-46, entering the sixth round of that Showtime Pay-Per-View main event.
The 28-year-old Romero reminded his doubters Tuesday that Davis was a much heavier favorite over him, 7-1 on fight night, than Cruz.
“And let’s just say it like this, I was a huge underdog when I fought Tank,” Romero said. “And 80 percent of people bet on me, so Imma bet on Rolly.”
The 25-year-old Cruz has never been knocked out. Romero believes he needs to change that trend if he is to truly capitalize on a high-profile opportunity he took instead of facing Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs).
“Well, to become the superstar of Prime Video I just gotta knock him out, right?,” Romero asked. “It has to be a knockout.”
Romero-Cruz will be one of four fights on this pay-per-view broadcast. Australia’s Tim Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs), the WBO junior middleweight champion, will face former WBA/WBC welterweight champ Keith Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs, 1 NC), of Clearwater, Florida, in the 12-round main event, a non-title contest contracted at a catch weight of 155 pounds.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.