Kansas’ Marco “El Tiburon” Romero (4-0, 3 KO)’s recent super middleweight win in Portland, Maine capped an incredible 12-month run in which he was overall 13-0 in the ring, combining for nine amateur and four professional attacks.

As a free agent, Romero defeated Orlando “El Marro” Salgado (3-6, 2 KO), paving the way to a sensational knockout – showing the best left hook in Fresh England boxing since “The Irishman” Micky Ward – at the Sign 1 gala :21 of the opening round on the November 9 card promoted by Bobby Russo’s Portland Boxing Club at the Exposition Building.

“I always had that power, especially the left hook to the body,” Romero commented. “I knew it was over when I hit him with that body shot and he groaned. I worked a lot on the left hook on the head and body. I haven’t met Micky Ward yet, but I watched the film and it was a great story.”

Because he was under the mandatory age of 18 and his weight class (super middleweight) was not included in the 2024 Olympic boxing field, Romero never seriously considered waiting for a chance to make the U.S. Olympic team. Instead, his eyes were set on only one prize: becoming a professional fighter.

Last December, Romero won the championship at two of the most prestigious amateur events in the U.S., the U.S. National Boxing Championships and the 2024 National Golden Gloves Tournament. Overall, he is 9-0 in amateur competition over the past 12 months, including three The Nationals and five at The Golden Gloves, along with four professional wins to date, giving him a total record of 13-0, which includes four as a pro and eight in elite national amateur competitions (and victory in one foreign event).

Romero’s plan never included the Olympics, largely because of his age (he only turned 19 last Thursday) and the fact that his weight class was not sanctioned at the Paris Games. Marco not only concluded his 12 months of extraordinary boxing with triumphs at The Nationals and The National Golden Gloves, but at the latter competition he was also awarded the title of Most Outstanding Boxer (Golden Boy Award).

His 12-month predetermined schedule included taking a break from fighting over the holidays and preparing for Thanksgiving, Christmas and the anticipated, life-changing year of 2025. He tentatively plans to return to the ring in the first quarter of next year.

“Hey, we’re Mexican. and we love food,” Romero noted. “I will enjoy the holidays with my family, but I will continue to work challenging to feel better, even during the holidays.”

In Romero’s corner is the legendary 77-year-old John Brown, who is Marco’s head coach and manager. He played the same role for world heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison (48-3-1, 42 KO) from his amateur days through his first 39 professional fights, 1988-1993.

“I liked that Marco fought in front of a lot of people. 3,000 rabid fans,” Brown noted. “It was an invigorating environment and he will be involved in substantial fights in the future and it was good for him to gain experience like he did in his last fight. He has a great left hook, like many Mexican fighters. I like that he’ll have some time off after the last 12 months. We need to find him some lasting sparring, because that’s what’s missing in this field. I want him to know when to let go in real sparring sessions without holding back. I’m not worried about him taking time off during the holidays because he’s always at the gym and he’s only 19.

Other integral members of Romero’s corner are assistant coaches Sergio Flores and Marco’s father, Salvador Romero, who encouraged his son to become a boxer at the age of seven.

Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza and Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez delighted fans with a Fight of the Year contender last December, and the pair are looking to pick up where their dramatic 12th round left off in their December 7 rematch at Phoenix’s Footprint Center.

Espinoza (25-0, 21 KO) defeated Ramirez by majority decision to win the WBO featherweight world title on ESPN’s Upset of the Year. Ever since ring time announcer Mark Shunock said “AND NEW”, a rematch seemed inevitable.

However, both men returned in June with different dance partners. Espinoza stopped Sergio Chirino in just four rounds in his first title defense, and Ramirez (14-2, 9 KO) returned a week later to defeat Brandon Benitez with a stunning uppercut in the seventh round.

Espinoza, a Mexican phenomenon over 180 centimeters high, wants to prove that his first victory was not a coincidence. Ramirez, a two-time Olympic gold medalist from Cuba, is determined to reclaim his throne after personal struggles affected his performance in their first meeting.

Espinoza trained at home in Guadalajara, and Ramirez was at camp in Las Vegas. Here’s what they had to say ahead of Part II.

Rafael Espinoza

“I know it will be a war. It will also assist me that I can fight any version of Ramirez. I will be ready, whether he wants to fight at close quarters or at range. As I said before the first fight, I won’t leave without the title.”

“I’m preparing for the best version of Ramirez because I know he’s the one I’ll face on fight night. And that’s exactly what I want. I want him to be in top shape so that there will be no doubts or excuses when I win.

“My self-confidence has increased. My mentality, approach to training and commitment have changed. I’m three times more committed than in the first fight and I think I showed it in the match against Chirino. I want to prove it again against Ramirez.

I know I have to be completely focused in this fight. I made a mistake the first time and it cost me a lot. That’s why we focus on 100% concentration because it’s effortless to lose focus once you get comfortable in the ring. I can’t afford to lose focus even for a second. That will be the key difference in this fight.”

“My top priority is to beat Ramirez on December 7. Then we’ll see who I can unite with. For now, I’m only focused on beating Ramirez.

Robeisy Ramirez

“In the camp, my father became seriously ill. He almost died. It influenced me a lot. My father is in Cuba and I can’t go back. I couldn’t visit him in the hospital. It affected me a lot.”

“It wasn’t the best version of me in the first fight. Despite this, I was still able to put on a great show. So I have no doubt that the second fight will be better.”

“He didn’t surprise me in the first fight. We all know what Mexican warriors are like. They never give up. However, considering my personal problems, I was not in the best shape. Nevertheless, if the judges feel he deserved the decision, then fine.

“I describe myself as a fighter who gets back up every time he gets knocked down. I have the mentality of a champion and I will be a champion again.”

“Everyone knows I’m a fighter. I also have a Cuban boxing school. But as the Mexicans say, I also have the courage to stand in the middle of the ring and go to war.

“A win would put me where I belong. We’ll have to see how this fight develops, but unification fights and fights against the best in the division are always on the cards.

The Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez II junior lightweight world title bout and the Espinoza-Ramirez co-feature will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT. Sky Sports will be broadcast in the UK and Ireland.

Tickets promoted by Top Rank are now on sale at Ticketmaster.com.

Sylvester Stallone faced backlash for believing that Mike Tyson delivered an Oscar-worthy performance in his November 15 comeback fight.

According to Hollywood icon and star Rocky Stallone, a longtime friend of Tyson’s, “The Baddest Man on the Planet” spared Jake Paul’s life in Texas. According to Stallone, Tyson did not give up and could have knocked out the YouTuber whenever he felt like it.

Stallone said: “I want to tidy up my personal record. Business is business. Sometimes you have to do something complex and make sacrifices to assist your family.

“I have known this incredible athlete since he was 19 years elderly, and we saw him deliver one of the greatest Oscar-winning performances of all time!

“Please, Jake, be grateful. He spared your life, trust me.

“Keep fighting Mike. There will never be a man like you, a gladiator like you, and a soul like you. Keep fighting, champion of champions!

“I remember running into him once and thinking I had been hit by a runaway bulldozer.”

Paul took it upon himself to deliver a brutal response to one of the most beloved boxing Hall of Famers ever involved in the sport.

“As a child, I always admired you, but now you are spreading lies against my name. Gloomy to see you fall. Maybe it’s all because of the plastic surgery,” the former Disney child actor fumed.

Responses to Paul’s statement regarding Stallone’s comments were largely one-sided, as followers supported the actor to the extreme.

One stated: “Everyone saw Mike scare you in the first round and that’s what happened [s***ting] This. Then you hugged him and said some stupid thing in his ear. Suddenly Mike stops, punches the air, moves slower, and bites his gloves.

“You had your gloves down and you were ready to take it in the first and second round. You didn’t protect your face and Mike just left it. Most know the truth.

Another added: “My cousin Richie Giachetti trained Mike for about ten years!! Sly is 1000% right!”

Criticizing another boxing legend for beating one of their own in the ring after getting him to fight at the age of 58 is a mistake on the influencer’s part and will not be helpful to Paul’s continued presence in squaring the circle.

Stallone enjoys pride as a sports god, and Paul could learn a lot about being respected as he continues to face adversity following his lackluster career efforts.