Teofimo Lopez became the new WBA welterweight champion after a hard-fought victory against Rolando Romero on Saturday.
Lopez earned a majority decision after 12 hard rounds at the T-mobile Arena in Las Vegas, redeeming himself after losing to Shakur Stevenson at the start of the year.
With seemingly identical records, Romero and Lopez both made their professional boxing debut in 2016.
Romero made his name as a devastating yet unorthodox powerpuncher, racking up 13 knockouts in 17 victories, with only two losses.
His crowning moment came in his last fight in May 2025 when he beat Ryan Garcia in Times Square during the Fatal Fury card to win the WBA welterweight title.
Lopez also fought on the same card, beating Arnold Barboza Jr by unanimous decision.
Lopez, aged 29, famously beat Vasily Lomachenko to become the unified lightweight champion of the world in 2020. Since then, a turbulent career meant that he subsequently lost the titles to George Kambosos in the next fight.
Since then he regained momentum with statement wins against Josh Taylor, Jermaine Ortiz and Barboza before his second career loss to Stevenson in a twelve round shutout, racking up a professional record of 22 wins with two losses.
Romero came into this fight with the momentum, and he started fast, establishing his jab and range, however known as a ferocious counterpuncher that relied on finding openings on the inside.
The first big punch came towards the end of round four, when Romero caught Lopez with a clean check hook to momentarily wobble the 29 year old Honduran American.
Romero then caught Lopez again with another quick right hand in the fifth round before unloading a barrage of punches, a slip by Lopez ended the sequence, but Romero was in the ascendancy at the midway point of the fight.
However, the tide turned after the sixth round when Lopez’s attacks started to connect, as he became the aggressor, Romero started to back up. Allowing Lopez back into the contest.
Lopez connected with a lunging right hand in the seventh before Romero returned the favour shortly after.
Lopez started to invest in the body and his counterattacking gameplan also began to pay off, the expert catching manoeuvres with combinations to the body paid dividends.
Lopez continued to impose his will and push the pace right up until the final bell, his level changing and shot selection stunted Romero’s progress in the fight. By the final round, Lopez was well on top and finished the fight stronger.
After being announced as the winner, Lopez officially became a three division champion, he has set his sights on capturing all the belts in the welterweight decision. With Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn for the WBC belt set to take place next month, Lopez has his sights set firmly on the winner.
As for Romero, the 30 year old did not agree with the final decision of the fight, and is demanding an immediate rematch.
