Gervonta Davis vs. Rolando Romero is scheduled for 12 rounds in the lightweight division for the WBA regular title on May 28 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. There is no love lost between these two punchers, and they both have a knockout on their minds. Bad blood is about to be spilled in the ring when they face off in a grudge match. Months of jawing and posturing will come to a head, and someone is going out on a stretcher.
Boxing odds favor “Tank” to flatten Romero, as he’s instilled as a -1,100 favorite. Romero, with 12 KOs in 14 wins, is a +650 underdog.
Here are our free boxing picks and predictions for Davis vs. Romero on May 28.
Gervonta Davis vs Rolando Romero odds
| Method of victory | Gervonta Davis | Rolando Romero |
|---|---|---|
| Win outright | -1,100 | +650 |
| Win by KO/TKO | -400 | +1,100 |
| Win by points or decision | +450 | +1,400 |
| Draw | +2,000 | +2,000 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of May 25, 2022.
Gervonta Davis vs Rolando Romero betting predictions
Picks made on May 25. Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
Gervonta Davis vs Rolando Romero betting preview
Gervonta Davis is becoming one of boxing’s brightest young stars, thanks in no small part to his fascinating power. “Tank” is the hardest-hitting puncher regardless of weight class, and he is showing an expanded skill set that makes him even more dangerous.
He had to dig deep last December to outlast Issac Cruz, who stepped in for Romero as a late substitute. Though Davis hurt his hand, he boxed well and won a competitive decision, the first time in eight years he has gone the distance. Cruz has since established himself as a legitimate contender, but the same can’t be said about Romero.
“Rolly” has a big mouth and excellent punching power, but he’s so far behind Davis from a developmental standpoint that it’s hard to like his chances. Romero beat a sexual assault allegation that cost him the December fight with Davis, but as far as his in-ring talents go, he’s so raw that eating him might kill you.
He’s easy to frustrate, but dangerous to overlook. One thing Romero also has going for him is that Mayweather Promotions, who also promotes Davis, is silently putting their hopes in a Romero upset as Davis is primed to leave them after this fight. Considering how much these two dislike each other, there’ll be no room for scorecard shenanigans here.
It might end early, or it might end late, but there’s no way this fight hears the final bell.
Gervonta Davis vs Rolando Romero boxing prediction and best bet
Davis vs. Romero prediction:
When this fight was initially explored, “Tank” putting Romero out of his misery was the expected outcome. As time has gone by, there’s been little to change those expectations. While Davis has been publicly airing his frustrations with how his promoter has handled his career, he can certainly send them a message by destroying the heir apparent.
A few years ago, Romero was lucky to win a decision against Jackson Marinez. His two fights since then paint him as an overconfident fighter who believes too much in his power. To his dismay, Davis is the better puncher and boxer, and has fought better competition for a longer period of time.
The thing about having a puncher’s chance is that the superior opponent may be vulnerable enough for a big shot. With the Baltimore native showing a strong chin in taking heavy blows against Mario Barrios, a huge junior welterweight, Romero will just leave himself open for a volley of return fire he won't want.
Another thing Davis has in his favor, despite the social media squabbles and their hostilities during the promotional tour, is that he is a professional. Romero’s immaturity and lack of exposure on the big stage will make him an easy night for Davis. We’re rolling with “Tank” here.
Prediction: Gervonta Davis to win (-1,100 at DraftKings)
Best Bet:
In all honesty, Davis should stop Romero the minute he lands a clean shot on him, but Romero’s busy style can clog the lanes and buy him some time. Also, questions linger about the seriousness of Davis’ hand injury. With just one hand, he won’t be able to set up his power punches or get Romero in range.
Even if his left hand isn’t 100%, Davis isn’t going to need a lot of time to finish Romero off. While a first-round TKO seems tempting, this fight won’t be over so soon. We believe the warning bells will be ringing for Romero early, but it’ll take Davis no longer than six rounds to finish the job.
The pick we like for this grudge match is for Davis to score a stoppage between rounds 4-6 for a +320 pick up.
Pick: Gervonta Davis to win in rounds 4-6 (+320 at FanDuel)
