Boxing
Does Romero care about earned respect before Lopez fight?
Romero vs Lopez: DAZN PPV & Prime Video - Saturday
There's an old adage of the saying, 'Respect is gained, not handed to you'.
A fighter who puts their life on the line every time they step through the ropes while trying to avoid getting punched by the person standing across the ring from them should garner respect. Add in the caveat of winning 17 of 19 fights with 13 knockouts, and that should gain more admiration. Let's say, with all of those accomplishments, sprinkle in becoming a three-division world champion for good measure.
Tensions and accusations build in Romero vs. Lopez Face Off
BUY NOW: Watch Romero vs. Lopez exclusively on DAZN PPV & Ultimate Tier
Not so fast, in the eyes of many when they look at Rolando 'Rolly' Romero as he looks on Saturday to defend the WBA welterweight title against former two-division champion Teofimo Lopez at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, live on DAZN PPV and Prime Video.
Along with Lopez, Romero has faced Gervonta 'Tank' Davis, Ryan Garcia, and Issac Cruz. While he came up short against Davis and Cruz, it was the Garcia fight that should have opened up people's eyes. Many felt Garcia would steamroll Romero. However, the 30-year-old dropped the current WBC titlist in the second round on his way to dominating Garcia and winning a lopsided decision in May 2025, capturing the WBA belt.
"I wonder who put that one together because they didn't just watch me beat him up twice in sparring on video," Romero interrupts to tell DAZN News. "But sparring is sparring. Regardless, people just go with whatever they truly... It's like they get these people from the very beginning and just go with whatever, whether they do well or badly. You know how it is. Media's so biased and all that stuff. Me, who was behind me? I'm the one that built my career. I'm the one that promoted myself. I'm the one that did everything, and nobody promoted me or any of that stuff. I did it myself."
Based on that statement alone, it makes you wonder if Romero truly competes with a chip on his shoulder, as it would be hard not to. He still hasn't gotten the proper credit for the Garcia win, which is baffling considering 'King Ry's' stature in the sport. People feel that Garcia shouldn't have been fighting due to his personal issues outside the ring and was a shell of himself at the Times Square event.
In Romero's point of view, he doesn't fight with extra added pressure. Because of that, Romero understands people still don't respect for his win 16 months ago. Some would be mad at the disrespect. Not Romero.
"I don't care," Romero said. "People never get the flowers where they can still smell them anyways. They still doubt me, but who cares? Who really cares? Bro, dude, I'm a multimillion-dollar, seven-figure, three-division world champion. I started boxing at 17. These guys got punched their whole life. I could leave this sport today, and I'm perfectly fine. Nothing happened. I won. At the end of it, I've already won."
Romero vs. Lopez - Watch on DAZN PPV & Prime Video
The WBA welterweight title is on the line as Rolly Romero and Teofimo Lopez face off this Saturday, August 22, live on DAZN.
Buy as a one-off PPV, via DAZN on Prime Video, or included along with Moses vs. Hrgovic (Aug 29) and Canelo vs. Mbilli (Oct 31) PPVs with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.
For more information, pricing, and to buy, click here.
