NEW YORK, NY — There is a reason former two-time world champion Teófimo Lopez continues to fight, his quest now is to take over the welterweight division at 147. It’s more than pride, seeking more boxing history, and the lucrative purses that come with mega fights.
The Honduran fighter out of Brooklyn, New York, says it’s about everything at stake. His career has featured the good and the bad of boxing. But will there be a good or bad conclusion is the important question.
Though it’s far from any conclusion for the soon to be 29-year-old who will attempt another takeover by challenging Rolando Romero for his WBA welterweight title on Saturday, August 22nd at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. A mega fight with fans from all over the world able to tune in on DAZN PPV.
Rolly Romero and Teófimo Lopez will meet in the ring in Las Vegas on Saturday, August 22nd with all of the action available on DAZN PPV – Image Credit: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions
The first fight of his career at welterweight for Lopez, a lightweight and junior welterweight champion who embellishes the history and old school era of boxing. Back then, there were 15-round championship fights with purses being minimal compared to the millions in this new era. Then champions also defended titles more than two times a year.
Lopez wants to stay busy, and with a new contract sealed with DAZN, he will have the opportunity—first with Romero in his quest and that takeover agenda in a division that has many options with Ryan Garcia (WBC), Liam Paro (IBF), and Devin Haney (WBO). All have also tested the same weight classes as Lopez. All names who have been associated with Lopez as well.
Rolly vs. Teófimo made headlines this week as the two clashed in Las Vegas for their first press conference leading up to Saturday, August 22nd – Image Credit: DAZN
He mentioned Thursday in Las Vegas at a press conference that officially announced his fight with Romero: “I chose to be the guy that sets the tone and leads by example. Me and Rolly go way back from 2015. We built a relationship, a friendship at the same time while climbing the professional ranks…
Now we’ve come to terms that we have to fight each other to let everybody know that ‘yeah, it’s cool to be friends but when it comes to competition, when it comes to what we love to do, we gotta put everything to the side and make the fight happen.’”
The mega fights like this one can be made easier now, Lopez mentioned that due to the aligning of TGB Promotions and the PBC associated with Romero, his Takeover Promotions and DAZN all on one network.
It’s unity in some form as most of the major promoters are aligned with DAZN. The one exception is Dana White and Zuffa Boxing, causing havoc in the game with their division of weight classifications, challengers for titles, and the champions.
White and Zuffa recently signed lightweight and junior welterweight champion Shakur Stevenson to a reported $20 million multi-fight deal with Paramount+ which led to more confusion. Recall in late January at Madison Square Garden, Lopez failed in a bid to takeover Stevenson in what he said was not his greatest effort.
And after, Lopez (22-2, 13 KOs) didn’t hide. He stayed busy in the gym, spent valuable time with his five-year-old son and visited local gyms in Las Vegas and South Florida to support them. He believes in leading by example for the youth, those aspiring to become a champion like he once did as a youngster.
Through the ups and downs, Teófimo Lopez has continued to the impact the sport of boxing while inside and outside of the ring – Image Credit: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions
Two weeks ago, Lopez made a visit to the Barclays Center in his hometown of Brooklyn, watched Xander Zayas drop his 154-pound unification titles to Jaron “Boots” Ennis and had an extended stay in the Tri-state area, a place where it all started for him. We talked often throughout the fight night and he said meeting in the ring with Romero was next. Social media of course was already buzzing at the time.
Why Romero, and not Haney, a name that has always sparked interest? Or another matchup with Stevenson, though that was never going to be scheduled. Or with Garcia which would be a perfect matchup? And the rumors of Lopez also signing with Zuffa because White appears to have a handle on signing big name fighters every week including Conner Benn who was another potential opponent that did not transpire.
Yes, like Lopez said, he and Romero are friends. They admitted to that on the podium and showed some humor in between the fight strategy and approach to this fight.
Romero said “Teófimo is a little brother.” The respect is evident, both have a sparring history, they talk often but that strategy changes when another title is on the line.
It was all respect and friendly banter between Rolly Romero and Teófimo Lopez in their press conference this past Thursday in Las Vegas – Image Credit: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions
Lopez took out a duffle bag, placed a toy rubber duck and old mask from a previous fight on the table during Thursday’s press conference. Even a pair of fake feet, saying we all know Rolly has a foot fetish. That got some laughs even from Romero.
It’s nice to know in a different world of boxing that animosity does not exist here, they can be friends and competitive at the same time. It’s about boxing, the significance of a title on the line and Lopez seeking more history to become a three-division champion.
Basically, Lopez goes where the fights can be made. Adversaries are a part of the sport—always has and will continue to be with the changing landscape.
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“It’s a gentleman’s sport. You got problems? Settle it in the boxing ring,” said Lopez who tends to shy from controversy that chases him. “I think everything will be answered on the 22nd. You can’t demand things if you don’t supply nothing. You’ve got to look at your market. I supply and demand.”
Speaking with authority, Lopez always does and supplies the answers. This, though, was not what everybody expected next on the summer fight schedule and already has the chance for the beginning of another Teófimo takeover.
Of Cuban heritage and from Vegas, Romero (17-2, 13 KOs), 30, can punch but also has to answer the critics after not fighting since his May 1st 2025 win where he came out victorious on a unanimous decision over Garcia for the WBC welterweight title. Boxing politics of course took him to the WBA title.
Lopez admits fighting Shakur may have been the wrong move, as 147 fits him best.
“It’s put up or shut up (time),” he says. In other words, Lopez continues to have a plan and another takeover at this level, more lucrative fights perhaps with Benn, Garcia, or Haney next.
Then again Zuffa can get involved with their surge to overtake the sport.
But for now, it’s anticipation of Romero vs. Teófimo and another opportunity to continue that takeover.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at Latinosports.com with coverage on boxing, MLB, and MLS – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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