Teofimo Lopez takes on Rolando Romero in Las Vegas this weekend for the super version of the WBA welterweight title at the T-Mobile Arena. The winner is likely to face whoever comes out on top between Conor Benn and Ryan Garcia, who meet in the same ring next month.
Lopez Moves Up to 147 Pounds
Lopez moves up to 147 pounds as he bids to recharge his career after the defeat to Shakur Stevenson last time out. Stevenson was all wrong for Lopez, who loves opponents to come on to him. He won’t have far to look for Romero, who knows only one way to fight. Romero has been quiet since his surprise win over Ryan Garcia 15 months ago.
Victory will likely open the door to a moneyed showdown with the winner of Garcia and Benn, who meet in the same Vegas ring next month.
Romero’s Style and Comparisons
Romero’s two defeats have come against compact aggressors with big punches. Lopez does not offer the same heavy-handed threat as Gervonta Davis and Isaac Cruz, but he can still punch and has more strings to his bow. Lopez is the better technician. He can box, counter and wallop.
What he can’t do is back up opponents, which is precisely the game of Romero, who is tough, takes a shot and fights at pace. Romero reminds me a little bit of the great Mexican Carlos Palomino, who knocked out John H Stracey and Dave Boy Green a year apart at Wembley half a century ago for the WBC welterweight crown. Romero doesn’t have Palomino’s finesse but he fights in the same mauling style. He wants that slugging match, but Lopez is too smart for that.
Big Money at 147
It’s all happening at 147 with Garcia and Benn setting the economic agenda with their big-money match. The fight generated $6.3m in ticket sales in the first 24 hours. Benn was demanding $15m to take the fight. The details of the deal have not been disclosed but it’s fair to say the numbers for both boxers will be big.
Lopez and Romero are doubtless fighting for less in the hope of hitting the jackpot against next month’s winner. For Lopez it is a real chance to get everyone talking about him again after the Stevenson setback. The defeat to Stevenson was predictable. Lopez doesn’t like guys who run or stand off him. He can’t chase them down.
That is why this has the makings of a classic. Lopez wins by controlling the centre of the ring with his jab and whipping in the right at every opportunity. Expect Lopez to start getting through in the later rounds and possibly winning by stoppage.
