Marco “El Tiburon” Romero’s Professional Debut
Rising boxing star Marco “El Tiburon” Romero is gearing up for an exciting milestone as he prepares for his inaugural professional fight in his hometown of Olathe, Kansas, scheduled for September 6. At just 19 years old, Romero boasts an impressive record of 9 wins, 0 losses, and 8 knockouts and is under the expert guidance of renowned trainer John Brown.
Learning from Champions
Brown is emphasizing the significance of learning from established champions, specifically highlighting the career of Oleksandr Usyk, the esteemed Ukrainian boxer with an unbeaten record of 24-0 and 15 KOs. Usyk’s illustrious career has been marked by remarkable achievements, including winning a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games and securing the title of undisputed world champion in the cruiserweight division before successfully ascending to heavyweight.
Brown believes that Usyk embodies attributes that Romero should aspire to cultivate in his own fighting style.
“Usyk’s discipline and relentless work ethic set a standard for Marco. I want him to absorb Usyk’s tactics to enhance his own skill set,”
Brown stated. While he admires fellow heavyweight Tyson Fury, Brown prioritizes instilling Usyk’s characteristics—such as resolute determination, rigorous conditioning, and a deep understanding of boxing—into Romero’s approach.
Romero himself has come to appreciate Usyk’s unique prowess.
“I hadn’t paid much attention to Usyk until recently, but his agility and footwork are extraordinary, even as a heavyweight. He’s truly remarkable,”
Romero expressed.
The Homecoming Event
The event, dubbed “The Homecoming,” will take place on September 6 at the Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center in Olathe, and aims to generate funds for the Turner Boxing Academy, an establishment owned by Brown in nearby Kansas City. Sponsorship for this event comes mainly from McCarthy Auto Group, with a portion of the proceeds going toward Safe Kids Johnson County, an organization dedicated to child safety.
Fight Card Highlights
In this match, Romero will be making his debut as a middleweight after transitioning from super middleweight, and he will face off against Javier Dario Aragon, who carries a record of 7-1-1 with 3 KOs. Romero, who has previously excelled in the amateur circuit with 23 national titles, is looking forward to this 8-round bout, which marks a significant step in his professional journey.
Alongside Romero, the co-main event features undefeated heavyweight John “Iron Man” Cantrell, known for his strength with 14 wins and 13 KOs, as he takes on Portland’s “The Prince” Pringle, who has a record of 5-5-1.
The undercard is packed with talent as well, showcasing Kansas City welterweight Marcell Davidson, who stands at 6-0 with 4 KOs, facing Dallas’s Ociel Vazquez. Davidson’s accolades include being a two-time champion at The Ringside World Championships and a gold medalist at the 2019 National Golden Gloves Tournament. Also making his pro debut will be Leawood’s Ben Turla, a three-time national champion, stepping into the ring against Randy “SPAWN” Martina.
The card will kick off with a 4-round welterweight matchup featuring Anthony Adams, Jr. against Topeka’s Marquis Hawthorne. As always, fans are reminded that the fight card is subject to change, but the anticipation for this local sporting event is sure to be high.
