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Rolly Romero Wants 'Legacy Fight' With Manny Pacquiao, Predicts Jaron Ennis Will Move On From 147
Article
Manouk Akopyan
Manouk Akopyan
RingMagazine.com
Rolly Romero Wants 'Legacy Fight' With Manny Pacquiao, Predicts Jaron Ennis Will Move On From 147
LOS ANGELES — Rolando Romero is on top of the boxing world following his unanimous decision win against Ryan Garcia, as he dropped his rival and took the fight right out of him in his welterweight debut earlier this month.

During a victory lap roundtable discussion days after picking up a secondary WBA title in the win, Romero (17-2, 13 KOs) reiterated his desires on what he plans on doing next, which include potential fights against the likes of Manny Pacquiao — ahead of the Filipino legend’s planned comeback at 46 — but not necessarily against The Ring, WBA and IBF welterweight champion Jaron Ennis, WBC titlist Mario Barrios or WBO crownholder Brian Norman Jr.

“Would I be remembered for beating Jaron Ennis? Or beating Manny Pacquiao? What's the biggest fight in the boxing world?” Romero told The Ring and other media.


“Honestly, I don't think [Ennis is] going to be at 147 much longer. He's a bigger kid. Ennis is a tremendous fighter. I'm not going to take anything away from him. But it's not a massive fight. There are so many bigger fights for me. I'll fight [Pacquiao]. He's coming back for a certain reason. It's still a legacy fight for me.”

Romero also insisted he’d entertain rematches against Garcia and Gervonta Davis, and even a fight against washed-up Adrien Broner because of the event’s high promotional ceiling due to the inevitable banter between the two.

“I should have been at 147 pounds a long time ago,” said Romero. “How do I move up in weight and get more explosive and faster? That doesn't make sense. You're supposed to be slower … You guys couldn't see me box earlier in my career because I was flatlining people … I've always been focused, but I've matured a lot lately.”

Romero also recounted his upset win against Garcia, which threw a wrench in the plans for a rematch between Garcia and Devin Haney.

“I told y'all [expletive]. Nobody wanted to listen,” said Romero.

“He gave me the best. He was a focused Ryan. Is anyone going to say he wasn't focused in his whole camp? Ryan was taking me seriously. I know him too well. I knew where he was going to come from.

“I neutralized his left hook. The second he threw one left hook, what happened? He got dropped. He never threw it again. The only reason he didn't get knocked out is because he didn't throw at all. He didn't take a single risk. He fought to survive. He realized the second he opened up he was going to get knocked out.

“I don't know if he's mentally well to have a rematch. Aside from that, I feel that he has other obligations [vs. Haney] that I don't think too many people are interested in seeing. I think the hype for their rematch has completely died out. I still would like to see it, personally. But if you have obligations, you should honor your obligations. I don't know what's going on in their end, and I don't care.”

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan

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