LA’s Danny Roman Risks his WBA Belt against Gavin McDonnell in Chicago

In a city where sports and other entertainment reign supreme, even a world champion like Danny Roman can get lost in the galaxy of stars that is Los Angeles.

The amiable prizefighter known as the “Baby Faced Assassin” never outwardly showed concern.

But when Matchroom Boxing Promotions signed Roman to a fight contract and then made him a co-main event, it was a moment to finally exhale.

“It’s great to finally get this kind of exposure,” said Roman. “It’s good for boxing.”

Roman (25-2-1, 9 KOs) defends the WBA super bantamweight title against Great Britain’s Gavin McDonnell (20-1-2, 5 KOs) on Saturday Oct. 6, at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill. The world title fight will be streamed by DAZN.

The road to success has never been easy for Roman who slowly progressed in the professional boxing world as just one of the many faces that show up in gritty gyms around Southern California. While other hopefuls show blazing hand speed, or eye-popping power, Roman was simply known as a tough kid with a lot of heart.

Heart can take you far in the boxing world.

“Danny Roman has always had tremendous heart,” said Alex Camponovo, the matchmaker for Thompson Boxing Promotions. “He’s shown it in all of his world title fights.”

Roman, 28, grabbed the WBA world title a year ago by knockout against Japan’s Shun Kubo a tall hard-hitting fighter who was undefeated. Despite being more than five inches shorter the L.A. fighter cut him down with a savage attack that left the Kyoto, Japan audience stunned.

After that win, Roman returned to Japan and faced yet another tall foe in Ryo Matsumoto. Once again the L.A. fighter needed to tip-toe to see his foe face-to-face. But Roman cut the Japanese fighter down to size in front of a Tokyo audience, winning a unanimous decision.

“It was one of the most incredible moments I’ve ever seen or been a part of,” said Ken Thompson the president of Thompson Boxing. “I’ll never forget it.”

This past June, Roman defended his title against Mexico’s Moises Flores another fighter who towered over the L.A. fighter. On this occasion the match took place in Texas and was televised.

Finally, the American sports world – outside of his native Los Angeles – would get an opportunity to see Roman in action.

But when Flores failed to make weight, all could have been washed away. Roman accepted the over-the-weight challenge from the lanky Mexican fighter and proceeded to batter him for 12 rounds in retaining the world title by unanimous decision.

American boxing fans finally saw the grit of Roman via the television airwaves. Just a glimpse.

When Eddie Hearn spoke with Roman’s co-promoters Thompson Boxing and Banner Promotions it opened the door to add a Southern California influence to the boxing card in Chicago.

Southern California

For hardcore boxing fans and those engaging in prizefighting in one form or another, it’s not a surprise that the area from Santa Barbara to San Diego, California is rife with boxing gyms springing up like weeds.

More than 100 boxing gyms exists in Southern California and in the past 10 years prizefighters from around the world are arriving from Europe, Asia, South America, Africa and Australia to be a part of a “boxing gold rush” taking place in the Golden State.

Fighters like Dmitriy Bivol, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, Isaac Dogboe, and Romero Duno have arrived in Southern California to train and be a part of the growth of professional boxing in the U.S.

Roman often trains in Norwalk alongside many of the fighters like Bivol.

Because of the abundance of boxing talent in Southern California, the WBA titlist gets an opportunity to spar against many top fighters on a weekly basis. It’s an immeasurable advantage.

U.K.

In the last 10 years boxing has erupted in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Though prizefighting has always been popular in the United Kingdom, lately the region has exploded with regular shows on a weekly basis.

McDonnell, 32, represents that growth of talented prizefighters and is gunning for a world title. He’s won various regional titles but never a world title though he did have one earlier attempt against current WBC titlist Rey Vargas of Mexico.

“I know (Roman) he’s a good fighter and he’s a worthy champion. He won it abroad in Japan and has defended it against good fighters – undefeated fighters,” McDonnell told WorldBoxingNews.net. “He’s a worthy champion and it’s going to be a hard fight, but one I’m confident in. It’ll be a great night for myself, it’s one of them that will always be remembered, going over there and pulling off a win against a great champion.”

Roman, 28, has become accustomed to facing taller fighters.

“At 5’11” he’s got the height, he’s got the reach, he’s fought Rey Vargas, so it’s his second chance at the world title, he is going to come at me with everything,” said Roman about McDonnell.

Though Roman’s career didn’t skyrocket to success like many other champions, his was a gradual ascent as he fought different styles and learned how to combat them with his own cache of fighting tools.

“I do a little bit of everything. I can brawl or box, I can exchange, I can do a little bit of everything,” confesses Roman who had a loss and a draw in his first four pro bouts. “It all depends on the fight. If it’s working on pressuring the guy we can adjust to it.”

On Saturday, the Los Angeles-based fighter hopes to show Chicago what he and others from Southern California can do.

“Little by little things are changing especially now with this deal with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing,” said Roman by telephone. “In a way this fight is for me and for other (Southern California) fighters too. I’m opening doors for them too. We will all see how it goes.”

Here comes Roman.

Check out more boxing news on video at The Boxing Channel

To comment on this article at The Fight Forum, CLICK HERE.