Two of boxing’s biggest — and most unpredictable — personalities will meet in the ring on Saturday when Rolando “Rolly” Romero defends his WBA welterweight championship against Teofimo Lopez Jr.
Romero is something of an unexpected world champion, though he’s accomplished the feat twice over in his career. Always a popular fighter based on his big personality and strong social media presence, Romero has never displayed elite boxing skills, instead relying on an offense-first style and solid power.
In 2022, Romero received his first opportunity to break through to the top of the sport, but he was brutally stopped in the sixth round by Gervonta “Tank” Davis.
In his next fight after losing to Davis, Romero won his first world championship, picking up a ninth-round TKO win over Ismael Barroso to capture the vacant WBA junior welterweight championship. That win was heavily tainted by the fact that Romero was getting thoroughly outclassed by Barroso, a late replacement in the fight, when the referee jumped in for a clear early stoppage nearly the second Romero had gathered any momentum.
Romero dropped the title in his next outing, getting stopped by Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz. Two fights later, Romero again found himself playing the “b-side” to a bigger name fighter when he took on Ryan Garcia in New York’s Times Square.
Teofimo Lopez Jr. looks to bounce back from disastrous loss when he faces Rolly Romero for welterweight title
Brian Campbell
Garcia fought the worst fight of his life, turning in a lifeless performance that allowed Romero to win the “regular” WBA welterweight title, and was subsequently elevated to full champion when Jaron Ennis vacated his belt to move up in weight.
Now, Romero faces Lopez, a fighter who has always been viewed as a man with elite talent but a lacking mental game, almost the inverse of Romero.
Lopez won the first 16 fights of his career, a run that culminated in a win over Richard Commey to claim the IBF lightweight championship and Vasiliy Lomachenko to add the WBA and WBO titles.
Just as it seemed Lopez was poised to take over the sport, he suffered a devastating setback when he dropped a split decision to massive underdog George Kambosos Jr. Lopez was knocked down by Kambosos and clearly lost the fight, making the one card scored his way an oddity that seemed to convince Lopez boxing’s elites had conspired against the bigger name fighter with the bigger fanbase and the bigger promoter in favor of a fighter largely unknown in the sport.
As Lopez performed a backflip after the Kambosos loss, it confirmed to many that mental issues Lopez had displayed throughout his career — along with a seemingly unhealthy attachment to his father serving as his trainer — may hold him back from his true potential.
Lopez rebounded with six wins of varying quality, including struggles against Sandor MartÃn and Jamaine Ortiz, and a few impressive wins, including over Josh Taylor to capture the WBO junior welterweight title.
That run brought Lopez to his most recent fight, where he was badly outclassed by Shakur Stevenson over 12 rounds. Lopez was nearly shut out that night, losing 119-109 on all three official scorecards.
Against Stevenson, Teofimo Lopez Sr. offered little constructive advice in the corner, something that Lopez Jr. has taken issue with in the months since the loss, continuing their tumultuous relationship.
“I’m fighting a big puncher at 147 and going up to that weight for the first time,” Lopez said at a recent media workout. “We’re taking a risk, because it’s no risk, no reward. I’m just focusing on my objectives so I can come out victorious.
“Every fight at 147 will be my biggest fight. I won’t say they’ll all be the most challenging. The best man will end up on top. Right now I’m only focused on Rolly Romero.”
Elsewhere on the card, rising middleweight prospect Yoenli Hernandez is back to take on Francisco Daniel Veron. The 29-year-old from Cuba has looked like the real deal since making his pro debut in 2022. He’s amassed a 10-0 record with nine knockouts to his name. He picked up his biggest win to date against Terrell Gausha in a fourth-round knockout.
“I’m the best middleweight in the world right now,” Hernandez said at a recent media workout. “My hunger for glory, my desire to be champion and win every title — that’s something I don’t see in the rest of the division. Everyone seems to arrive, get the title, and settle. Not me. I’m coming to get the title, keep it, and fight the best. Lately, nobody in my weight class wants to face the best.”
Also on Saturday, Gary Antonio Russell makes his return to the ring when he takes on Victor Santillan at junior featherweight. Russell, one of the five fighting brothers, holds a 21-1 record as a pro. However, he has just two fights since 2024 as he looks to build toward a title shot.
Let’s take a closer look at the rest of the undercard for Saturday night in Las Vegas with the latest odds from DraftKings before getting to a prediction and expert pick on the main event below.
Romero vs. Lopez fight card, odds
- Teofimo Lopez Jr. -300 vs. Rolando Romero (c) +230, WBA welterweight title
- Yoenli Hernandez -1400 vs. Francisco Daniel Veron +750, middleweights
- Gary Antonio Russell -180 vs. Victor Santillan +140, junior featherweights
- Carlos Utria -1600 vs. Israel Mercado +750, junior welterweights
- Marco Romero -5000 vs. Kahlil Mitchell +1300, middleweights
- Benjamin Johnson vs. Jose Gabriel Rodriguez, welterweights
- Joseph Brown -5000 vs. Alton Wiggins +1300, junior middleweights
- Aldo Blancas -5000 vs. Ricky Mamone +1300, junior welterweights
Where to watch Romero vs. LopezÂ
- Date: Saturday, Aug. 22 |Â Start time:Â 8 p.m. ET (Main card) (Main event ring walks expected around 11 p.m. ET)
- Location:Â T-Mobile Arena — Las Vegas
- TV Channel/Stream: DAZN PPV | Price: $79.99
Prediction
Lopez is the better fighter. He’s the man with more natural gifts. He’s the fighter with more technical skills. However, Lopez is also a fighter with some obvious flaws. He’s shown mental weakness and a tendency to get flustered the second things aren’t coming easily in the ring. Lopez has also had extreme trouble with fighters who use movement and don’t choose to engage. Sandor MartÃn took that approach in a fight where he likely deserved the decision, and that left Lopez asking “Do I still got it?” after the final bell.
The problem for Romero is that he is very unlikely to be a fighter who is going to take a Martin-esque approach to fighting Lopez. Romero has a strong mental game, and that’s a good tool against someone like Lopez, but he doesn’t have the style to further fluster and beat Lopez unless he turns in a career-best performance.
Romero beat Garcia because Garcia simply didn’t show up that night in New York City. Garcia didn’t engage and he didn’t throw punches, making for an easy night for Romero. Lopez isn’t likely to turn in a dud on that level, and all things being equal, it should be a fairly easy win for Lopez. Whether or not Lopez can score his first stoppage win since 2022 is a more intriguing question. Pick: Teofimo Lopez via UD
Who wins Romero vs. Lopez, and how exactly does the fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the incomparable expert who is up over $2,500 on his combat sports picks last year, and find out.
