Rolando Romero left no doubts this time.
The lightweight contender, coming off a controversial victory, forced the corner of last-minute replacement Avery Sparrow to stop their one-sided bout 43 seconds into Round 7 on the Angelo Leo-Stephen Fulton card Saturday in Uncasville, Conn.
Romero (13-0, 11 KOs) defeated Jackson Marinez by a unanimous decision in August but many believed he was given a gift, suggesting that Marinez had outboxed and outworked him.
That perception angered Romero, who thought he deserved the victory and was determined to prove against Sparrow that he is an elite 135-pounder.
Mission accomplished.
Romero, known as as a power puncher, put Sparrow (10-3, 3 KOs) down with a left hook about 40 seconds into the fight.
It was all Romero from then on, as he showed his doubters that he knows how to box and work hard in the ring. He patiently imposed his will on Sparrow, jabbing, following with accurate power punches and slowly breaking him down.
Round 6 was unusual. Sparrow suddenly hit the canvas and grabbed his right knee, as if it was injured, but he continued to fight. Moments later he landed a low blow that referee Johnny Callas ruled was intentional, costing him two points.
Sparrow came out for Round 7 but, as he continued to take hard punches, his corner stopped the fight.
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