Rolly Romero's reign as WBA welterweight champion is over. Teofimo Lopez outpointed the Las Vegas native by majority decision on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena, claiming the 147-pound crown and becoming a three-division world champion in the process. Two of the three judges scored the bout 116-112 and 115-113 for Lopez, while a third card was even at 114-114 — a verdict Romero promptly branded a "robbery."
The defeat dropped Romero to 17-3 and marked the third loss of a professional career defined by heavy hands, bigger talk, and world titles in two weight classes. For Lopez, the decision added a welterweight belt to the lightweight and junior welterweight championships he previously held, burnishing one of the sport's more decorated résumés.
How Lopez Dethroned Romero Inside T-Mobile Arena
Fighting on DAZN pay-per-view, Romero was making the first defense of the WBA title he captured in May 2025 by upsetting Ryan Garcia in Times Square. From the opening bell, however, Lopez — a former unified lightweight champion — controlled the distance with a stiff jab and a steady stream of body work, while Romero spent long stretches waiting for a single counter left hook that never fully materialized.
Romero's best stretch came in the fifth round, when a pair of left hands opened a cut over Lopez's right eye and sparked a loud "Rol-ly!" chant from the crowd. Romero pressed forward and Lopez briefly hit the canvas, but the referee waved it off as a push rather than a knockdown. The surge was short-lived: Lopez regrouped in the corner and outworked Romero for nearly every round that followed.
Round-by-round scoring from MMA Fighting had Lopez sweeping the final seven frames on the way to a 118-110 card, with the outlet repeatedly observing that Romero "simply was not fighting." The official judges were kinder — the even 114-114 scorecard was all that kept the result from a unanimous decision — but the direction of the fight was rarely in doubt.
From Controversial Contender to Two-Division Champion: Romero's Road
Born Rolando Florencio Romero Moreno in Las Vegas on October 14, 1995, Romero turned professional in December 2016 and raced to an 11-0 start with 10 knockouts. The son of a three-time Cuban national champion, Romero carried his father's power into the ring — but his rise was rarely without controversy.
- August 2020 — Romero claimed the WBA interim lightweight title with a widely criticized unanimous decision over Jackson Maríñez.
- May 2022 — Gervonta Davis stopped Romero in the sixth round, handing him his first professional defeat.
- May 2023 — A disputed ninth-round TKO of Ismael Barroso made Romero the WBA super lightweight champion, despite trailing on all three scorecards.
- March 2024 — Isaac Cruz battered Romero to an eighth-round TKO, ending his title reign at 140 pounds.
- May 2025 — Romero upset Ryan Garcia by unanimous decision in Times Square to win the vacant WBA welterweight title, later elevated to full "Super" champion after Jaron Ennis vacated.
Saturday's clash with Lopez was Romero's first defense of that welterweight crown — the latest stop in a career that has mixed genuine knockout power with near-constant debate over his scorecards.
Why the Result Matters: A Historic Third Title and a Wasted Opportunity
Lopez's victory carried genuine historical significance. By adding the welterweight title to the 135-pound and 140-pound belts he held earlier in his career, he joined the select group of fighters to claim world championships across three divisions. The Brooklyn-born Lopez first announced himself in 2020 by upsetting Vasiliy Lomachenko to unify the lightweight division, and he later captured the WBO and Ring junior welterweight titles by beating Josh Taylor in 2023.
For Romero, the night raised harder questions. The power that produced 13 knockouts in 17 wins rarely surfaced, and both observers and scorecards noted his reluctance to let his hands go. Even the fifth-round flurry that nearly swung the fight dissolved into inactivity, allowing Lopez to reclaim control and cruise to the final bell.
The post-fight "robbery" claim echoed the disputes that have shadowed Romero's career — his interim title win over Maríñez and his first world title against Barroso were both met with public outcry. This time, though, the broader consensus leaned the other way, with most ringside observers scoring the fight comfortably for Lopez.
Where Things Stand Now: Romero Cries Foul as Lopez Celebrates History
In the immediate aftermath, Romero labeled the judges' verdict a "robbery," signaling a likely push for a rematch or an appeal. The gap between the 116-112 and 115-113 cards and the even 114-114 scorecard gave his camp at least the outline of an argument that the fight was closer than the majority suggested.
Lopez, meanwhile, left Las Vegas as a three-division world champion with his record improved to 24-2. The win re-established him atop a welterweight division in flux following Ennis's departure and instantly positioned him among the marquee names to watch in the back half of the boxing calendar.
What Comes Next for Romero and Lopez
A rematch is the most immediate possibility, particularly given Romero's "robbery" complaints and the closeness of the 114-114 card. Whether promoters bite on a second meeting is another matter — the first fight drew criticism for its stretches of inactivity, and Lopez may prefer to chase a unification against the division's other titleholders.
For Romero, the road back is less certain. At 30 years old and now 17-3, he still holds the name recognition and one-punch power that made him a two-division champion, but he will need to rediscover the volume and urgency that vanished for large portions of Saturday night. A tune-up fight — or a direct rematch — appears the most likely next step as he plots his return to the title picture.
The Bottom Line: Key Takeaways From Romero vs. Lopez
- Teofimo Lopez defeated Rolly Romero by majority decision (116-112, 115-113, 114-114) to win the WBA welterweight title.
- Lopez became a three-division world champion, adding the 147-pound belt to his lightweight and junior welterweight titles.
- Romero, in his first title defense, dropped to 17-3 and later called the verdict a "robbery."
- The bout took place August 22 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on DAZN pay-per-view.
