Teofimo Lopez challenged Rolando “Rolly” Romero for the WBA welterweight title on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Lopez entered the fight looking to add a championship in a third weight division, while Romero was defending his 147-pound belt.
Lopez (23-2, 13 KOs) accomplished that goal with a majority decision over Romero (17-3, 13 KOs). The judges scored the fight 116-112 and 115-113 for Lopez, with the third card even at 114-114. Lopez used his jab and higher activity to control the opening rounds before Romero found success with his counter left hook, opening a cut over Lopez’s right eyebrow and hurting him in the fifth.
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Lopez recovered in the sixth and returned to pressing forward behind his jab while working to the body. Romero remained dangerous on the counter but spent much of the second half waiting for individual opportunities, allowing Lopez to consistently outwork him. Even with the cut bleeding again late, Lopez remained the busier fighter through the final bell.
Gary Antonio Russell (22-1, 13 KOs) captured the interim WBA super bantamweight title with a unanimous decision over Victor Santillan (16-3, 7 KOs), dropping him in the 12th round. Yoenli Hernandez remained unbeaten with a majority decision over Francisco Daniel Veron, while Carlos Utria edged Israel Mercado by split decision in a closely contested super lightweight bout.
Watch Russell vs. Santillan highlights: Watch
Earlier, Marco Romero stopped Kahlil Mitchell at 2:33 of the first round. Benjamin Johnson earned a six-round decision over Jose Gabriel Rodriguez, Joseph Brown swept all three scorecards against Alton Wiggins, and Aldo Blancas dropped Ricky Mamone before securing a unanimous decision.
Image Credit: Emily Harney