Romero and Lopez set for August Las Vegas world title spectacular

The WBA welterweight title holder will face the ex-two-weight world kingpin in an all-American clash at the T-Mobile Arena on August 22.

Romero, who defeated Ryan Garcia last May in a Times Square extravaganza, will mount the maiden defence of his belt in Nevada.

He will do so against Lopez, who steps up a division following a January light-welterweight title loss to Shakur Stevenson in New York.

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A successful defence for Romero would underline his strength within a crowded domestic scene, especially after turning over Garcia.

Indeed, victory could tee up a unification rematch, with the WBC champion expected to make his own stand against Conor Benn too.

But success for Lopez would underline the Brooklyn native was a serious pound-for-pound threat once more, and in rarefied company.

The pair's encounter will also raise questions over WBA (Regular) champion Jack Catterall's next move as he eyes a world title shot.

Is there huge pressure on Lopez to deliver?

DAZN News senior boxing editor Christopher Walker

A two weight-world champion, a regular fixture on the pound-for-pound list, and the man who outclassed Vasiliy Lomachenko, but why does it feel like Teofimo Lopez is fighting to save his career when he faces Rolly Romero next month?

In what was set to be one of the year’s biggest fights in January, Lopez feebly surrendered his WBO super-lightweight title to the brilliant Shakur Stevenson in a bout where so much was expected of the popular New Yorker.

Instead, Lopez failed to show any desire in the fight with the contest slipping away from him after every passing round. A strange outing for someone who has come to be considered as one of the sport’s most talented operators.

Now up at welterweight, Lopez has a chance to make a fresh start against Romero and victory will provide him with a world title in a third weight category with Romero’s WBA belt being up for grabs.

The Las Vegas fighter has fallen short in huge fights against Gervonta Davis and Isaac Cruz, but against Ryan Garcia last year, Romero displayed his quality as he registered the best win of his career with a landslide points decision.

Romero has been inactive since, but against Lopez, he has a chance to record another monumental victory, and one that could elevate him towards even bigger fights against Devin Haney, a Garcia rematch, or even welcoming Stevenson to welterweight.

Those mouthwatering clashes are also up for grabs for Lopez, who likely needs success in this fight more than Romero due to the fact he has long been seen as a man who can carry American boxing forward and make the sport a mainstream option once again.

If he endures another defeat against Romero, that opportunity may never present itself again, and although Lopez has rebuilt impressively in the past, returning from consecutive defeats could be one battle he’s not equipped to win.

This fight is everything for both men, but who will prove who wants it most? We’re not far away from finding out.

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