Though it took until the legitimate last minute, Yoel Romero was able to get a finish before the bell, defeating Ras Hylton in the main event of Dirty Boxing 1 in Miami.
Romero circled around the ring to start things, getting a feel for Hylton, while the tall fighter looked to step and reach to land early jabs. The former UFC title challenger finally started to get things going in the final minute, landing an overhand left.
The action seemed to slowly pick up to start the second, with Hylton trying to press forward. Romero worked his jab, however, but trying to be patient and moving in and away from Hylton’s range. The Cuban’s pacing picked up but still was not enough to do much damage.
Romero and Hylton picked things up in the final round, with the former even landing a knockdown in the first minute — though he elected to let Hylton up than go for ground-and-pound.
With less than a minute to go in the fight, “Soldier of God” landed a body shot and followed it up with a flurry that dropped Hylton. The referee waved the fight off there, giving Romero the win.
Yoel Romero KOs Ras Hylton At Dirty Boxing 1
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Romero, a former UFC middleweight title challenger, spent about seven years with the promotion before joining Bellator in 2021. He fought four fights for the promotion, including an unsuccessful challenge of the Bellator light heavyweight title, before it was purchased by PFL. In Romero’s most recent MMA fight, he defeated Thiago Santos at the PFL vs. Bellator show in Saudi Arabia last year.
Romero made his Dirty Boxing debut at the premier event in November, knocking out Duane Crespo. He’s since been drafted as part of the Global Fight League and is expecting to debut against Gegard Mousasi on June 22 in New York.
Hylton, a veteran of Bellator, PFL, and Cage Titans, last fought in a loss against Jahshua Marsh at Cage Titans 61 in September 2023.
