Teofimo Lopez vows to 'take it right' to Rolly Romero at 140

Teofimo Lopez plans to press Rolly Romero from the opening bell when they meet for the junior welterweight title, according to an interview he gave to Ring Magazine.

Lopez told the panel he will exploit Romero's year-long layoff and revert to the disciplined boxing that carried him to a lightweight title before his loss to Shakur Stevenson. "We're going to take it right to him," Lopez said, per Bad Left Hook. "I think all the cards are laid out for me to take over."

Lopez addresses corner changes after Shakur defeat

The Brooklyn fighter confirmed he has added a childhood trainer to his father's corner crew rather than remove his dad outright. Lopez described the hire as bringing in someone who can reinforce fundamentals and give his father more tactical voices during rounds. He acknowledged his father had a poor night against Stevenson but called it a correctable lapse, not a pattern requiring a full split.

Lopez noted that Romero throws punches from awkward angles but believes the stylistic contrast will produce an entertaining scrap. He sparred Romero years ago but expects the live bout to deliver a different intensity. The winner is positioned to face the victor of Ryan Garcia against Conor Benn, a matchup Lopez said his team is eyeing next.

The fight has no announced date. Lopez last competed in February when he dropped a decision to Stevenson at lightweight.

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• Bad Left Hook — ‘Going to take it right to him’: Teofimo Lopez plans to set the tone against Rolly Romero