Teófimo López outpoints Rolly Romero for WBA title

Teófimo López became a three-division world champion on Saturday night, winning a 12-round majority decision over Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero to claim the WBA welterweight title at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. López prevailed by scores of 115-113 and 116-112, while the third judge scored the fight even at 114-114.

Romero, making the first defense of his title won against Ryan Garcia 15 months ago, disputed the result in the immediate aftermath. "When I heard 114-114 I knew it was a robbery," Romero said. "I got hit with two punches the whole fight that barely grazed me. I was never in any trouble."

The victory gave López a world title at 147lb after previous championship reigns at lightweight and junior welterweight. He largely controlled the fight behind his jab and movement, keeping the heavier-handed Romero from consistently closing the distance. According to Compubox’s punch statistics, López landed 124 punches to Romero’s 73, including a career-high 62 jabs.

Romero’s best stretch came in the fifth round, when he opened a cut above López’s right eye and followed with a left hook and looping right hand that hurt the challenger. Romero pressed forward as López bled heavily, but the 29-year-old weathered the attack and recovered before the end of the round. "He hit me with a shot that woke me up," López said. "I was just buzzed. I got right back to it. I stayed cool, calm and collected."

López regained control over the middle and later rounds, using his footwork to stay outside Romero’s range while scoring with single punches and combinations. The 30-year-old struggled to sustain his offense and reached double digits in punches landed in only the fifth round.

Romero produced another late opening in the 11th, catching López with a left hook that knocked him off balance. Neither fighter was able to establish a decisive advantage in a closely contested final round before the bout went to the scorecards.

The win completed a rapid return to championship status for López, only seven months after Shakur Stevenson comprehensively outpointed him by identical scores of 119-109. López had described that defeat as "the best thing that could have happened to us," saying it helped realign him with his father and trainer, Teófimo López Sr. "If you lost and you come back, then you never lost, because you’re a winner," López said. "I’m a true example of what winning is. It’s about not giving up."

López said afterward that he was ready to move on to his next challenge. "I just had to stay busy and keep my range against a strong puncher," he said. "I’m just looking forward to the next thing."