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“Release It and F**K Off”: Ohara Davies’ Coach Lashes Out at Rolly Romero for Not Defending His WBA Title Since May

Published 01/06/2024, 2:19 PM EST

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via Imago

It’s been more than six months since Rolando Romero defended his WBA Super Lightweight belt. Ohara Davies who also wants to claim the title has gone down heavily on ‘Rolly’ for the lack of enthusiasm he’s shown in taking up defense bouts. Now, doubling down on Davies’ criticism against Rolly, his coach Will Jones too has called out the fighter.

In May last year, Romero defeated Ismael Barroso in their Las Vegas fight. Through the 9th-round knockout, he secured the vacant 140-pound crown. To further his claim on the title, he was mandated to fight Ohara Davis. However, in light of an undisclosed injury, the defense was given an extension by the WBA. As of now, the last date for the Londoner to prove his claim on the title remains March 20th. However, with just months remaining for the extension to elapse, Rolly’s camp has not shown any proactiveness in getting the fight rolling. Commenting on such laxity, Coach Jones has suggested that Rolly Romero perhaps is not in the headspace to fight anymore.

Will Jones thinks Rolly is wasting time

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Tonight, 31-year-old Ohara Davies will face Rolly’s former opponent Barroso for the Interim WBA Super Light title at the Virgin Hotels, Las Vegas. Ahead of the bout, his coach, Jones who also mentors Thomas Galbraith and Brook Eaton sat down with Boxing Social’s Louis Hart to elucidate Davies’ and his efforts in preparation for the fight. While doing so, he was quizzed on what he thought about Rolly Romero showing rather a lack of effort for the mandated WBA title defense. In response, the coach explained, “I think Rolly’s enjoying life at the minute. I think… I don’t think his head’s in boxing at the minute.”

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While he started calm, he joined his fighter who had earlier left no words in calling out the 29-year-old Rolly. Jones added, “He’s got the WBA title, but if you’re not willing to defend it and fight us, then f*ck off.” “Go to another division or go fight someone else. Cause at the moment he’s just wasting time. His head’s not in boxing. He can do what he likes but if he’s not willing to defend his belt, then release it and f*ck off.”

Earlier, Davies too had a similar reaction to Romero’s injury. In a conversation with Boxing Scene, he noted, “He’s not injured.” 

Does Rolly Romero not want to fight Davies?

The latter thinks not. He suggests, “It just seems like he’s not in the gym. He hasn’t got his mind in the right place.” Bringing all the wrath he could accumulate against Rolly, he further called him “stupid.”

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But I think with Rolly, I think he’s just a genuinely dumb kid. He’s just a stupid person. He’s got no sense… I think he’s won the world title and he doesn’t know how to handle it. Maybe he got paid a bit of money, and he doesn’t know how to handle it, and he’s not in the gym.”

Davies’ manager, Lee Eaton, and promoter, Oscar De La Hoya are pushing hard for him to get his chance at the championship fight. However, his only impediment remains tonight’s Barroso fight. Once he wins that, his next fight has to be Romero.

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Do you think Rolly Romero is running away from the defense? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

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Written by:

Mohammed Shafiulla

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Edited by:

Snigdhaa Jaiswal