'The friendship disappeared': López faces Romero after years of sparring and support
Boxing’s most mercurial star is putting an old friendship aside as he moves up to 147lb to challenge Rolly Romero for the welterweight title he won against Ryan Garcia
TL;DR
- Teófimo López and Rolando 'Rolly' Romero, friends for over a decade, will fight for Romero's WBA welterweight title.
- López is moving up to 147lb, seeking a title in a third division after a recent loss to Shakur Stevenson.
- López admitted to issues with making the 140lb weight limit and distractions prior to his defeat against Stevenson.
- Romero won his WBA title against Ryan Garcia and has recently undergone a personal transformation, recommitting to his Christian faith.
- López emphasizes taking control of his training camp and moving directly into a title fight rather than a rebuilding bout.
- The fight will showcase López's speed and athleticism against Romero's power and durability, with their shared history adding a personal element.