Teofimo Lopez has become a three-weight world champion after defeating Rolando Romero to secure the WBA ‘Super’ welterweight world title. The bout took place on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where Lopez earned a majority decision victory.
Lopez, who previously held world titles in the lightweight and light-welterweight divisions, controlled much of the fight against his long-time friend and sparring partner, Romero. The judges’ scorecards reflected a win for Lopez with scores of 116-112 and 115-113 from two judges, while the third judge controversially scored the fight a 114-114 draw.
The Brooklyn-born boxer faced a challenging moment in the fifth round when he sustained a significant cut above his right eye. Romero followed up with a left hook and a looping right hand that impacted Lopez. Despite bleeding heavily, the 29-year-old Lopez managed to weather the attack and recover before the round concluded, demonstrating his resilience in the ring.
Romero, making his first defence of the title he won 15 months prior against Ryan Garcia, expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome. He stated that he was never significantly hurt during the fight and felt he was owed a rematch. Romero, 30, now has three losses in 20 professional fights.
Lopez’s performance and future plans
Lopez’s victory marks a swift return to championship status, coming just seven months after a defeat to Shakur Stevenson, who outpointed him with identical scores of 119-109. Lopez had previously described that loss as a beneficial experience, helping him to realign with his father and trainer, Teofimo Lopez Sr. He emphasized the importance of not giving up, stating, “If you lost and you come back, then you never lost, because you’re a winner.”
Throughout the fight, Lopez largely dictated the pace using his jab and movement, which prevented Romero, known for his heavier punches, from consistently closing the distance. According to Compubox statistics, Lopez landed 124 punches compared to Romero’s 73, including a career-high 62 jabs. Romero’s offensive output struggled to be sustained, reaching double figures in punches landed only in the fifth round.
Following his win, Lopez outlined his potential next opponents, declining to call out Briton Jack Catterall for his first defence. Catterall holds the WBA ‘Regular’ belt, which would typically place him next in line for a fight with Lopez, unless the WBA opts for a unification bout instead.
Lopez expressed interest in fighting the winner of the upcoming WBC title fight between current holder Ryan Garcia and English challenger Conor Benn. This fight is scheduled for September 12th in the same Las Vegas ring. Lopez noted that if Benn were to win, it would be a significant fight to take across the Atlantic.
Another potential opponent for Lopez is Australia’s IBF champion Liam Paro, as Lopez considers pursuing another unification bout. He also mentioned waiting for Devin Haney, the WBO champion, towards the end of his plans. Lopez’s record now stands at 23 wins in 25 fights, though he is still seeking his first stoppage win since 2022.
Catterall quickly responded to Lopez’s comments via social media, posting, “Congratulations Teofimo Lopez but I will be taking that belt 100%. Let’s Gooo.” This sets up a potential future encounter, though Lopez’s immediate focus appears to be elsewhere, looking forward to his next challenge in the welterweight division.
Romero managed to create another opening in the 11th round, landing a left hook that knocked Lopez off balance. However, neither fighter established a decisive advantage in the closely contested final round before the decision went to the judges’ scorecards.
Source: bbc.co.uk