In a night of boxing action at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, 29‑year‑old Teofimo Lopez secured the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title. Lopez, who previously held belts in the light welterweight and lightweight divisions, defeated longtime sparring partner Rolando “Rolly” Romero by majority decision after twelve rounds.
Fight details and scoring
The bout went the distance, with two of the three judges scoring the fight in Lopez’s favor—115‑113 and 116‑112—while the third judge recorded a 114‑114 draw. Lopez entered the ring with a professional record of 23 wins, 2 losses and 13 knockouts, while Romero, returning from a 15‑month layoff, held a 17‑3 record.
Lopez’s comeback narrative
Lopez’s victory comes after a disappointing loss to Shakur Stevenson in January, when he was stopped by a lopsided decision in a WBO super lightweight title fight. Demonstrating resilience, Lopez told reporters after the fight, “I’ve got some work to do, but I’ve got to say, thank you, God. If you lose and you come back, you never lost, because you’re a winner. I’m a winner. I’m a true example of what a winner is… The scorecards? I could care less, because in the end, I got a victory.”
Romero’s return
Romero, who had not fought since a 2025 bout, entered the match after a lengthy hiatus that included a win over Ryan Garcia for the WBA welterweight belt. Despite the loss, his performance showed that he remains a competitive presence in the division.
Implications for the welterweight division
Lopez’s addition of a third division title places him among a select group of fighters who have captured world championships in three weight classes. The win also reshapes the landscape of the welterweight division, positioning Lopez as a potential challenger for other top‑ranked fighters as the sport looks toward upcoming title defenses and unification bouts.
Looking ahead
Promoters have indicated that Lopez’s next opponent could be a high‑profile contender, though details remain under negotiation. Fans and analysts alike will be watching to see how Lopez builds on this momentum and whether he can maintain his champion status amid a deep and talented welterweight field.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
