Lopez eyes undisputed welterweight title after outboxing Romero for WBA crown

Sam Gordon, Las Vegas Review-Journal on Aug 23, 2026

Published in Boxing

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LAS VEGAS — The cut above WBA welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez’s right eye became a hematoma on Saturday an hour after his victory over Rolando Romero at T-Mobile Arena. Romero’s left hook in the middle of the fifth round turned his face into a bloody mess, making the swelling conspicuous.

But not more so than his post-fight grin.

“I wasn’t hurt enough,” Lopez said. “I can take a shot. I really can.”

Romero’s fifth-round flurry couldn’t stop or subdue his longtime friend, who wore a crimson mask en route to a 116-112, 115-113, 114-114 win. Lopez is a three-division world champion, having held the unified lightweight title and the WBO junior welterweight title he lost in January to Shakur Stevenson.

Lopez stood up to Romero’s power and pressured the hard-punching native Las Vegan with a snapping jab, softening his body with clean right hands that he landed with vigor. CompuBox counted a 124-74 edge in connections for the New York native, who landed 59 body shots (compared to 16 for Romero), 62 jabs (compared to 24) — and showed a belief in his punch resistance.

A spirited crowd that chanted “Rolly,” rooting him on throughout the fight, was chanting “Teo” by the end of the night.

Said the native New Yorker, who trained in Las Vegas, in the bowels of the arena after his welterweight debut, flanked by his father, namesake and trainer: “It doesn’t matter how you fall. It’s how you rise. I think that we all need that in life in general. That’s why I love boxing. I think boxing is a great example of how to live life. You just can’t give up.”

Bouncy, quick and a crisp counterpuncher, Lopez (23-2, 13 knockouts) was a rising pound-for-pound star when he unified the lightweight championship in 2020 with an upset win over former pound-for-pound fixture Vasiliy Lomachenko at MGM Grand. His first defense the following year was spoiled by underdog George Kambosos, sending him to 140 pounds — in which he claimed the WBO title with a 2023 win over former undisputed champion Josh Taylor.

But three uninspired title defenses followed (though he outboxed then-unbeaten 140-pound contender Arnold Barboza last May) and preceded a schooling by Stevenson in New York, moving Lopez to welterweight — and into a title bout with Romero.

The two trained together in their younger years and sparred as burgeoning professionals. They shared an embrace before the 12th round, dominated by the newly minted champ. Said Romero (17-3, 14 KOs), 30, despondently after affirming belief he won the fight: “I love Teofimo. I love him. That’s all. He’s my little brother. That doesn’t change anything. He has no control over the scoring and the judges.”

Romero claimed the WBA title a year ago in May over Ryan Garcia by dropping him early with a crisp left hook and keeping him at bay with the threat of his power. But Lopez wasn’t ever deterred, stalking Romero behind his jab and weathering his fifth-round flurry with poise while limiting his output the rest of the way.

Stopped before the bell in his other two losses, Romero fought like he didn’t trust his chin.

“I just moved around a little bit. Used my defense. Clinched on him,” Lopez explained. “I even caught him the exchanges to make him think about it. I’m still here. I’m still a live dog.”

And again a world champion with sights fixated on undisputed glory.

Having signed a four-fight deal with DAZN — which broadcast the pay-per-view card in conjunction with Premier Boxing Champions — Lopez is eyeing unification belts with the other three 147-pound titleholders. Garcia, blending power and hand speed, won the WBC title in February from Mario Barrios at T-Mobile Arena, where he’s set to defend it Sept. 12 against Conor Benn. Three-division champion Devin Haney has the WBO title and two-division champion Liam Paro has the IBF crown.

Lopez is positioned for prominent fights, comfortable at welterweight.

The cut notwithstanding.

“This is the road to undisputed. You know what I’m saying?” Lopez said. “I’m here to reclaim and get all the next world titles and whoever the next champion is, that’s what it’s all about. I think that’s what we’re missing. There’s people that don’t want these belts no more, and I’m just one to — let’s get this last run.”