Teofimo Lopez targets third division title against Rolly Romero

Teofimo Lopez is scheduled to face WBA welterweight champion Rolando Romero on August 22. A victory in this contest would make Lopez a three-division world champion.

This opportunity follows Lopez's recent loss of his WBO light welterweight title to Shakur Stevenson. In that bout, Stevenson won via a 119-109 scorecard decision. While most fighters typically undergo a rebuilding period after such a defeat, Lopez has moved directly into another title fight at 147 pounds.

Winning the WBA belt would provide Lopez with significant leverage for future high-profile matchups. He could potentially secure fights against Devin Haney or the winner of the Ryan Garcia versus Conor Benn contest. This path allows him to bypass the standard process of fighting mandatory contenders to improve his ranking.

Lopez's career has been defined by high commercial value despite his recent performance. His resume includes notable wins over Vasiliy Lomachenko and Josh Taylor. Even after the loss to Stevenson, his ability to secure marquee fights remains intact due to his existing fanbase.

By facing Romero, Lopez avoids the traditional route of fighting low-risk opponents on non-televised cards. If he succeeds on August 22, the title of three-division champion will be added to his record, providing him with a major bargaining chip for multi-million dollar purse splits in the welterweight division.