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Rolando Romero‘s reign as champion was a cruel joke – his paper crown was exposed by the relentless storm that is Isaac Cruz. In a fight on the undercard of another explosive welterweight clash, Cruz tore through Romero’s defenses, snatching the WBA junior welterweight title with a TKO victory in the 8th round. From the opening bell, the writing was on the wall.

A brutal counter-left hook from Cruz sent Romero reeling, his legs turning to jelly. Somehow, Romero clung to the ropes, surviving the round but setting the tone for a brutal onslaught. However, the referee eventually stopped the fight in eight rounds. Moreover, Leonard Ellerbe had to eat his words as his fighter suffered a devastating loss against a worthy opponent.

Despite defeat, Leonard Ellerbe appreciates Rolly Romero’s effort

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Leonard Ellerbe had previously stated that Isaac Cruz doesn’t possess the power to knock out his opponents. On that note, a fan reminded him of his previous comments and talked about how his prediction for the fight didn’t come true, and in fact, his fighter had to face a stoppage defeat at the hands of ‘Pitbull’. Responding to the user’s tweet, Ellerbe acknowledged his prognosis that was henceforth proved wrong and lauded Cruz’s performance.

Ellerbe wrote, “Yup, I sure did and he had a heck of a performance, props to him for doing his thing. Thx for tuning in. 4 May will be another banger on Amazon Prime.”  He is now looking forward to the upcoming fight between Canelo Alvarez and Jaime Munguia which will be aired on Amazon Prime.

Meanwhile, Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins posted on social media about themselves laughing hysterically at Romero’s performance. This didn’t sit well with Ellerbe, and he expressed his disgust at their behavior.

Leonard Ellerbe schools Bernard Hopkins and Oscar De La Hoya

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Boxing legends Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins sparked outrage with a now-deleted Instagram post mocking Romero’s defeat. Their laughter and De La Hoya’s insensitive caption, comparing Cruz to a chihuahua, ignited a firestorm of criticism. Leonard Ellerbe, Romero’s promoter, wasn’t having it. He slammed De La Hoya and Hopkins for their “classless behavior,” highlighting the potential dangers of the sport.

Read More: “We Literally Talk for Five-Five and a Half Hours”: Leonard Ellerbe Explains How He Motivated Rolly Romero After Gervonta Davis Fight

Wow, Rolly is ok but what if he wasn’t and something tragic happened?” he questioned, reminding everyone of the very real risks fighters face in the ring. Ellerbe didn’t stop there. He balanced his critique with a touch of class, acknowledging Cruz’s impressive performance and giving “props” to the new champion and his team.

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Nonetheless, it remains to be seen how Romero comes back from such a crushing defeat. What are your thoughts on the Cruuz-Romero fight? Let us know in the comments section.

Also Read: Caleb Plant Defends Wife Jordan Plant Against Outrage Over Rolly Romero Post-Fight Interview