Former UFC and Bellator title challenger Yoel Romero wasted little time dispatching his opponent at the very first Dirty Boxing Championship event.
To the surprise of many, Romero was a last-minute addition to the maiden card for Mike Perry’s new combat sports promotion. The striking-only organization announced the Cuban’s matchup last Friday, a day before the private event in Miami.
“Soldier of God” — who unsuccessfully challenged Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya for UFC gold, as well as Vadim Nemkov for champ status under the Bellator banner — headlined opposite Power Slap competitor Duane Crespo.
At the event, which had limited promotion and did not stream online, Romero quickly showed his superiority over Crespo by destroying “The Iron Giant” inside the very first round.
OUT COLD
@YoelRomeroMMA takes out Duane Crespo on round one #dirtyboxing pic.twitter.com/cXejA47D9g
— Dirty Boxing Championship (@DirtyBoxing_) November 24, 2024
Fights under the Dirty Championship Boxing banner consist of three-minute rounds (three for normal bouts and five for main events) and are fought with 5oz gloves. The fighters are also allowed to throw elbows.
The result on Saturday came in Romero’s first combat sports appearance since this past February, when he got the better of fellow former UFC contender Thiago Santos at the PFL vs. Bellator event in Saudi Arabia.
It remains to be seen what lies ahead for Romero in 2025, and whether or not his next outing will see a return to mixed martial arts following a foray into the ring at Perry’s Dirty Boxing Championship.