NEW YORK, NY — The takeover had started all again for Teófimo Lopez on a close majority decision Saturday evening, winning the WBA welterweight title over Rolly Romero at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
A decision in the main event of a PBC fight card—streamed live on DAZN PPV and Amazon Prime Video—that Romero adamantly felt went the wrong way, in turn requesting a rematch but that will be determined another time. Lopez, fighting officially as welterweight for the first time has other plans to unify the division in his latest quest of a takeover with Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney and Liam Paro holding other portions of titles.
Teofimo “The Takeover” Lopez became a three-division world champion with a narrow majority decision over two-division champion Rolly Romero to earn the WBA Welterweight World Championship Saturday night in the main event of a PBC event available on DAZN and Prime Video from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas – Image Credit: Cris Esqueda/Premier Boxing Champions
A competitive division as always, though more interesting with Lopez in position to bargain for lucrative fights. Now a three-division champion with the win, Lopez in his three-fight deal with DAZN and his Takeover Promotions banner, certainly earned this one after a lackluster unanimous decision defeat in January to Shakur Stevenson at Madison Square Garden.
But the controversy as always in boxing and a championship fight of this magnitude took away some of the spotlight of Lopez’s significant victory. Judges scored it: 116-112, 115-113, and 114-114—all for Lopez (23-2, 13 KOs). My scorecard was 115-113 and if Lopez had not finished with a strong final and 12th round then we can understand a draw, so forgive Romero (17-3, 13 KOs) for his refusal to comment in the ring when questioned with immediate post-fight comments.
Leading up to Saturday night’s main event in Las Vegas on DAZN PPV, Rolando Romero was coming off an 18-month layoff since winning and anointed champion with an upset win over the comebacking Ryan Garcia last May on the Ring Magazine/Fatal Fury card outside in Times Square NYC – Image Credit: Cris Esqueda/Premier Boxing Champions
Then again scoring is subjective, the KO or TKO is decisive and ends all doubt. Lopez (29, Brooklyn, New York) with his exceptional speed and ability to punch landed more jabs while Romero (30, Las Vegas, Nevada) did not land more in total punches as much as it appeared he did.
And in the fifth round, Romero with a barrage of punches and a nasty left, caused a cut over the eye of Lopez.
He got rocked, or as Lopez said “buzzed,” putting him in jeopardy of another takeover.
According to Compubox, Lopez landed 124/530 total punches (23.4%) and Romero, 73/352 (20.7%), including only two compared to Lopez’s 10 in the final round.
You be the judge.
Round five of Saturday night’s Premier Boxing Champions’ main event featured the most dramatic moment of the fight, as Rolly Romero opened up a significant cut over Teófimo Lopez’s right eye, and hurt him with a series of punches that included a left hook and a looping right hand – Image Credit: Cris Esqueda/Premier Boxing Champions
Billed as a friendly fight in their days as amateurs, a dejected Romero said he was hardly hit and still called Teofimo his little brother.
“Look at my face,” stated Romero in the post-fight press conference. “He landed two clean shots. That’s not enough to be a champion. I hurt him multiple times. I want a rematch for sure. When somebody else does this, it’s a master class. When I do, it’s all political.”
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Romero was giving his take, in the end Lopez remained a friend. The former champion now will sit on the sidelines and as to where he goes from here remains the question.
“If you lost and you come back, then you never lost, because you’re a winner,” commented Lopez, referring to being driven with more desire after his loss to Stevenson.
“I’m a winner and I’m a true example of what winning is. It ain’t about losing, it’s about never giving up. The scorecards, I could care less (about) because at the end, we got victory.”
Regarding the matchup, he said: “I expected something similar to this, but more combinations from Rolly. He was staying composed and listening to his corner. We had to push the fight. He hit me with a shot that woke me up. I told him he has to do better than that. I was just buzzed. I got right back to it. I stayed cool, calm and collected. We have the ring experience. That’s what’s helped me throughout my journey.”
Regardless Lopez will take a much-needed break, a second child he anticipates instead of looking at the moment of who the next opponent will be in his latest takeover which will lead to mega fights. Haney is the WBO champion, Garcia defends his WBC title next month versus Conor Benn, and Pero holds the IBF belt.
All are formidable opponents and Lopez is confident he can be one step further of a takeover.
With a dangerous punch, Pero’s name stepped up to the plate first. As for Garcia, with all the talent, he is unpredictable and the outcome with him and Benn still awaits. Haney, awaiting his next opponent, is always in the discussion with his power and defense but there’s always talk of a long awaited rematch with him and Garcia.
Nevertheless, Teófimo Lopez added another distinctive title to his resume, a three-time champion—takeover steps and regardless what Romero said—it’s in the record books.
The Undercard, Courtesy of Premier Boxing Champions: In the co-main event, undefeated Cuban top middleweight Yoenli Hernández (11-0, 9 KOs) kept his perfect record intact with a majority decision over Argentina’s Francisco Daniel Verón (17-2-1, 10 KOs), controlling the 10-round affair and earning the nod by scores 98-92 and 99-91, overruling a 95-95 card.
Ranked in the top two by the WBA, WBC and WBO, Hernández (29, Miami Beach, Florida) showed his potential as a future world champion once again, displaying a combination of savvy boxing and vicious power-punching to pile up rounds against the determined Verón.
Undefeated Cuban top middleweight Yoenli Hernández, 29, of Miami Beach, Florida, went the distance for just the second time in his career in a majority-decision victory over Francisco Daniel Verón Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas – Image Credit: Cris Esqueda/Premier Boxing Champions
While Verón (27, Fort Lauderdale, Florida) held an edge in punches thrown (809-649), Hernández easily outpaced him in power punches landed (122-45) and overall connected with an impressive 31% of his shots.
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“I liked that Verón was the type of fighter who applied pressure,” said Hernández. “That’s exactly what I was looking for in an opponent. It was really good for me to face a fighter like that.”
Unbeaten Colombian super lightweight prospect Carlos Utria (15-0, 11 KOs) eked out a split-decision victory over 140-pound contender Israel Mercado (13-2-2, 7 KOs) in a spirited contest that saw one 96-94 score for Mercado overruled by scores of 97-93 and 96-94 for Utria.
After his 15th pro-career win Saturday night in Las Vegas, Carlos Utria, 22, a native of Bolivar, Colombia said in his post-fight interview: “Colombia, thank you for your support. My team’s t- shirt was a tribute to my people. I wanted to bring them some joy after this terrible tragedy. Stay strong, Colombia!” – Image Credit: Cris Esqueda/Premier Boxing Champions
“We’ll keep working,” said Utria after. “I have a few things I need to fix. I think the travel took a toll on me more than anything. I don’t think I got enough rest, it was nothing but traveling.”
“I thought I won the fight,” Mercado claimed. “I’ve been here many times before. I’ve been on the downside of decisions like this. This fight meant a lot, but we keep moving forward.”
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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