Who will rub shoulders with the other royalties of the 140-pound division, Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez, come this March 30? Is it the current WBA champion, Rolando Romero? Or is it the surging Isaac Cruz, who wants to add another world champion to his victim list? The exciting action unfolds at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. But who is the favorite to ride it out to the destination?

‘Rolly’ will make his first title defense against ‘Pitbull’ at Amazon Prime’s first boxing event with the PBC. Both young boxers have kept the buzz alive with trash-talking and garnered eyeballs for their event. The incumbent champion has particularly been aggressive with his words and the grim future he predicts for his opponent. But can he back his words with actions in the square circle?

Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero: Awkward style and the baggage of the last fight

Romero, at first glance, doesn’t spark interest among the fans. The American has power, is more skilled at dropping verbal bombs than combinations, and doesn’t stand out in a crop of talented and skilled champions at 140. However, he is exactly the kind of fighter boxing needs. One who builds hype, keeps fans engaged, and doesn’t shy away from picking a fight, despite not ticking all the skill boxes.

The 15-1 record holder packs decent power behind those punches and throws wide, lunging punches. But that might put him in a tight spot against Cruz. His fighting style surely doesn’t look appealing to the eyes, and most fans would agree that he might have to raise his game because his last performance didn’t evoke confidence. If anything, some believe it was a fluke.

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The Las Vegas native bagged the vacant WBA strap when he stopped Ismael Barroso last July, or rather referee Tony Weeks, abruptly in the ninth round despite Romero not connecting any punches. Before that stoppage, Romero was trailing on scorecards and dominated by the 40-year-old Barroso.

However, there is another side to it. The WBA champion took the fight on three weeks’ notice. He was destined to falter. In his previous fight, he fought and dropped a fight against Gervonta Davis, so there is not much going his way. But Romero is ironing out his issues as he has joined the coach, Ismael Salas, who has trained the likes of Joe Joyce and Yordenis Ugás. You can expect him to turn around a corner and showcase a new, confident self. So, Cruz has his work cut out for the upcoming fight.

Isaac Cruz: a swarmer in a new territory

Cruz, at 25-2-1, is a champion killing machine. In his nine-year-long career, he has defeated the likes of Francisco Vargas and Yuriorkis Gamboa. Moreover, he is the only one of the two boxers ever to halt ‘Tank’s KO spree, as he fought a competitive fight and only lost the fight by a close margin on points.

The Mexican fighter is tough, likes to keep busy, and hits hard. He is the epitome of a swarmer who likes to engage in close quarters. You can expect him to attack the champion relentlessly and force the latter into close-range fighting. His staple leaping left hooks might cause trouble for Romero, and if the champion doesn’t negate those, it might turn out to be a long night for him. Also, Romero might have to fend off Cruz’s attack for three minutes of every round. However, the 25-year-old is also coming from a subpar performance.

“Thank You for F**king Saving My Life”: Rolly Romero Makes Startling Confession About Last Controversial Fight

Cruz barely edged out Giovanni Cabrera in his last with a split-decision win. In addition, that fight was at 135 pounds. He has since made the switch and moved up to 140 pounds. It remains to be seen how he copes with the new weight class and how much power he adds to his punches. That hasn’t stopped Oscar De La Hoya from predicting a knockout victory for Pitbull. But can he do it?

Prediction: Who wins it?

Irrespective of the winner, this is a great matchup. Both fighters are young and are currently nearing their prime. Both boast plenty of confidence and power, so you can expect the fight to not go the distance. The outcome depends on how Romero can keep from getting hit by Cruz’s devastating left hook.

But Cruz is a skilled and top-tier fighter, as evidenced by his performance against ‘Tank’. His aggressive come-forward brawler might prove too hot for Romero, and you can expect him to end the fight early. Meanwhile, Romero has a puncher’s chance against the shorter Pitbull.

What do you make of this upcoming fight between Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero and Isaac Cruz? Who do you believe will emerge victorious between the two? Let us know in the comments below.

Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero vs. Isaac Cruz Stats: Age, Height, Weight, Reach, Net Worth, Record, Knockout Ratio, and More