Lopez On Romero Fight After Technical Camp

Teofimo Lopez says his welterweight debut against Rolly Romero will showcase a sharper, more technical version of himself after a training camp built around fixing past mistakes.

Lopez, who defends his title against Romero on August 22, told Bad Left Hook that his left arm is sore from the volume of jabs thrown in sparring sessions. The former lightweight champion said he learned from the Shakur Stevenson fight that he failed to establish range early, and this camp has focused on correcting that flaw. "We've been really technical with this camp," he said.

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Lopez's Game Plan For Romero's Length

The 29-year-old outlined how he plans to close the distance against Romero's longer reach, citing Manny Pacquiao as a blueprint for smaller welterweights. Lopez said punch volume will blur Romero's vision and allow him to step inside unnoticed, the same tactic Pacquiao used throughout his 147-pound run. He dismissed concerns about moving up in weight, predicting he will fill out the division just as he did at lightweight.

Lopez has scored just one stoppage since 2022, but he expects the added comfort of fighting at welterweight to bring out his physicality. Romero's trainer Ismael Salas recently called Lopez an aging opponent based on his recent performances at 140, a label Lopez rejected. He said Salas is assessing him on old tape and promised a surprise on fight night.

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Lopez also shot down the idea that mutual respect between the two fighters will produce a cautious bout. Both men now believe they are the better fighter, he said, and the August 22 showdown in Los Angeles will settle it.

Reported via:

• Bad Left Hook — ‘We’ve been really technical with this camp’: Teofimo Lopez eager to show improvements against Rolly Romero