NEW YORK, NY — Friends with Rolly Romero, the WBA welterweight champion since their amateur days in the gym, there was Teófimo Lopez, the two-time division champion and Rolly Thursday afternoon at the Park MGM in Las Vegas on a podium.
They smiled as they always do when face-to-face though Lopez had his game face on—that look of a fighter who is destined to continue his legacy of a takeover.
Teófimo “The Takeover” Lopez has an agenda set for this Saturday at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas with fans able to tune in on DAZN PPV – Image Credit: Cris Esqueda/Premier Boxing Champions
The welterweight title and taking it from Romero Saturday evening at the MGM Grand Arena/streamed live on DAZN Pay-Per-View is his agenda.
Though a friendship for now is off the table as Lopez is in his quest to begin a takeover and unify titles in another division. There’s no denying that Lopez can achieve his quest having won championship belts at lightweight and junior welterweight.
From friends to foes, Rolly Romero (17-2, 13 KOs) and Teófimo Lopez (22-2, 13 KOs) will be meeting in the ring this Saturday night – Image Credit: Cris Esqueda/Premier Boxing Champions
He has been in there with the best. Vasyl Lomachenko for the lightweight titles and Josh Taylor as the takeover continued at junior welterweight.
It’s the question of can Teofimo achieve his purpose opposing the friend he knows well, both pals out of the ring. They communicate and at times can be seen often in Las Vegas where Romero resides. But it’s a different perspective when friends meet in the ring.
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And different because it’s all about the business of boxing, another championship that would continue to cement beginnings towards a legacy. Because so few have become three-division champions at 29-years of age, Lopez has an opportunity to do that in a sport that thrives on success and a legacy.
Throughout their pro careers in the ring, Rolly Romero has taken on Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, Ryan Garcia and Issac Cruz, while Teófimo Lopez has faced Vasiliy Lomachenko, Shakur Stevenson and Josh Taylor – Image Credit: Cris Esqueda/Premier Boxing Champions
Lopez (22-2, 13 KOs) and Romero (17-2, 13 KOs) were meant to meet. When Devin Haney, the WBO welterweight champion, could not come to terms, and WBC king Ryan Garcia signed to fight Conor Benn next month, the remaining was IBF title holder Liam Paro. None of that transpired.
To begin that quest of a takeover in another division, it was Lopez who wanted Romero. And it was Romero who asked for Lopez—natural as they say “What are friends for.”
So Romero who was also seeking Haney, the other champions, and those looking to dethrone him of the WBA title elevated to full champion after Jaron Ennis, a champ at junior middleweight, vacated his super version of the title.
Things got interesting in Thursday afternoon’s press conference between Rolly Romero and Teófimo Lopez but even more with Romero’s trainer Ismael Salas and Lopez’s father and trainer Teofimo Sr. – Image Credit: Cris Esqueda/Premier Boxing Champions
Yes, it’s boxing politics and if it means meeting a good friend? Even better. From the onset of this PBC/DAZN fight card promotion, they mimicked each other on social media. Back-and-forth, it was Lopez with a friendly taunt, and Romero, with his customary low demeanor and smile, who knew this was all about building a fight that has potential to be a good one.
And that’s what makes this more interesting, friends who are not when the bell rings Saturday night. For Romero, a win improves his position to bargain and become a power player in a division that has revived Lopez again.
The fight has been hyped more with two friends that really don’t want to make this nasty. Then again, this is boxing. When friends exist and become rivals because of what’s at stake, the insults instead boil over between the teams such as Romero’s trainer Ismael Salas and Lopez’s father and trainer Teofimo Sr.
It wasn’t Mike Tyson or Jake Paul insults back-and-forth, instead two trainers confident their fighter will prevail. It’s the competitive nature of the sport two days prior to the fight. The ramifications though for this one are significant.
Romero has not been in the ring since his upset win and return of Garcia last May in Times Square, NYC—the same Fatal Ring extravaganza card when Lopez was the star of the night and defeated Arnold Barboza Jr. via unanimous decision for the WNO and Ring junior welterweight titles.
“I tried to fight everybody else, all the top guys,” Romero said Thursday in a press conference. “I wanted a big fight and this is the only guy who stepped up. You ever punch someone you love in the face? The friendship doesn’t matter to me at all when the bell rings.”
And Lopez has to prove to the skeptics that championship loss to Shakur Stevenson in late January at Madison Square Garden—failing in a bid to take over in what he says was not his greatest effort—is in the past.
Coming off a loss against Shakur Stevenson back in January, what’s in the past is in the past for Teófimo Lopez – Image Credit: Cris Esqueda/Matchroom Boxing
Lopez was manhandled while facing the defensive minded Stevenson over 12 rounds for the WBO and Ring junior welterweight titles. Stevenson became a four-division world champion, a friendly fight also for Lopez as both opposed each other as successful amateurs.
“Rolly and I go way back,” said Lopez. “We’ve known each other since the amateurs and now we’re here 10 years later. He’s the best fighter at 147 and the hardest puncher. I’m the type of guy who goes after those challenges. He’s gotten better over the years. Saturday night friendship goes out the window.”
And on-and-on it went, two friends saying how one would beat the other. It resembled the childhood days when friends were adversaries on the baseball diamond, football field and basketball court.
But this will be real, a worldwide audience and highlight on the summer boxing calendar—all brought to you on DAZN PPV. Romero will be defensive and adjust to the pressure as for Lopez, he has his style, quick, great foot work, and can throw the punch.
It’s as one says about a big brawl, “styles make fights.” This has it. Hard to go with a winner here but if I had to pick, a close fight and Lopez gets the split decision and begins another takeover.
More so bigger opportunities in a very crowded and competitive division.
In the co-main event, undefeated middleweight star Yoenli Hernández will duel veteran Argentina contender Francisco Daniel Verón in a 10-round attraction, plus interim WBA super bantamweight champion Victor Santillan squares off against top contender Gary Antonio Russell.
Colombian boxing prospect Carlos Utria will make his U.S. debut in a 10-round battle against super lightweight contender Israel Mercado opening the pay-per-view on DAZN at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Rich Mancuso is senior writer and columnist Latinosports.com covering boxing, MLB, MLS. X(@Ring786) Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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