Rolly Romero fought Teofimo Lopez on Saturday with the former’s WBA welterweight title on the line. Romero legitimately lost.
It was completely clear to everyone besides him and one judge who inexplicably scored the fight as a draw. Romero met with the media after the fight and he made it clear, he believed he won the bout and isn’t trying to hear anyone’s argument otherwise. Let’s talk boxing.
Romero vs. Lopez: Key Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Result | Teofimo Lopez by majority decision |
| Date | Saturday, August 22, 2026 |
| Location | Las Vegas |
| Title | WBA welterweight |
| Scorecards | 114-114, 115-113 Lopez, 116-112 Lopez |
| Rounds | 12 |
| Total connects | Lopez 124, Romero 73 |
| Power punches | Lopez 62 |
| Romero’s best round | Fifth, cut Lopez over the right eye |
| Romero’s reign | Ended without a defense |
| For Lopez | Third divisional world title |
| Lopez’s last fight | Loss to Shakur Stevenson, January 2026 |
What Romero Said After The Fight
Did anyone reading this article actually watch the fight — round by round? I watched every second and I scored it 119-109 for Lopez. I’ll concede there were several close and quiet rounds that could have gone either way, but it’s tough to imagine how anyone would give him enough rounds to win the fight.
Romero was dismissive of Lopez’s body shots, but whether he realizes it or not, those punches count and that was worth more than his overly selective approach. Romero hurt and cut Lopez in the fifth round, but I didn’t see another round that he clearly deserved to win.
The official cards read 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112, a majority decision. Only the first was even, and that is the card Romero is pointing at.
Speaking to Ring Magazine, Romero said the result was “clear as day” and that he deserves a rematch.
The punch stats had Lopez ahead 124 to 73 in total connects, including 62 power punches.
The belt was Romero’s WBA welterweight title, taken from Ryan Garcia and lost without a defense. For Lopez it is a third divisional championship, seven months after Shakur Stevenson beat him.
The Case Romero Is Making
- One judge scored the fight even at 114-114 (This was an egregious scorecard, but it did come from a licensed judge.)
- He opened a cut over Lopez’s right eye in the fifth and came close to a knockdown (It was proof Romero could compete with Lopez, he just didn’t do enough.)
- He says he was never in trouble across the 12 rounds (This is true. He wasn’t. But that doesn’t mean you won the fight.)
- He argues he has never been given a fair shake by judges (That’s debatable. He did win a unanimous decision over Garcia in 2025).
The Case Against Him
- Two judges had it for Lopez, one by four rounds (Those two judges are also licensed.)
- Lopez landed 124 total punches to Romero’s 73 (It’s tough to argue a punch disparity this large.)
- Lopez landed 62 power punches (Neither man did a ton of work with power shots, but the body shots count — no matter what Romero say.)
