Rolly Romero Critiques Boxing’s Financial Landscape Ahead of Title Defense Against Teofimo Lopez
Rolando “Rolly” Romero is set to defend his WBA welterweight title on Saturday against Teofimo Lopez at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This will mark Romero’s first fight in 15 months, following an impressive upset victory over Ryan Garcia in May 2025. However, beyond preparing for the bout, the two-division champion has raised eyebrows with his critical views on the current state of boxing.
Romero believes the sport is suffering due to excessive fighter compensation for subpar matchups. “I care less about money,” Romero stated. “I’m here for the sport of boxing. I’m here to grow the sport of boxing.” He emphasized that many fighters are earning significant sums without contributing to the sport’s advancement, which, he argues, detracts from opportunities for upcoming talent.
Addressing examples of this issue, Romero specifically pointed to the WBC super middleweight title fight between Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli, scheduled for October 31 in Saudi Arabia. Alvarez signed a multi-fight deal for an estimated $400 million, which Romero criticizes as an example of overcompensation for underwhelming matchups. “This [Mbilli bout] is clearly just a cash grab,” he said. “I can’t stand fighters who just do money grabs. Bro, at this point, retire and let young fighters use that money.” Romero lamented the lack of significant bouts like a long-anticipated fight with David Benavidez, who has moved up in weight and has yet to face Alvarez.
Romero expressed frustrations about other boxing matchups that have failed to happen, including the heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, and the anticipated rematch between Garcia and Devin Haney, which has not occurred in over two years since their initial encounter in April 2024. “Why didn’t [Fury vs. Joshua] happen? It would be one of the biggest U.K. fights of all time,” he remarked, emphasizing a need for clarity and action in high-stakes boxing events.
Looking forward to his fight against Lopez, Romero sees this matchup as beneficial for fans and the sport. Lopez is making his debut at 147 pounds. Romero had difficulty finding an opponent during his prolonged break from the ring and expressed gratitude that Lopez accepted the challenge, stating, “Thank God, Teo took this fight. I literally got ducked by everybody.” He articulated a metaphor to describe his perspective on boxing: “Boxing is like life, right? We’re hunters, we’re gatherers. We eat what we kill.” He underscored the need for fair compensation aligned with fighters’ actual achievements, insisting that a reevaluation of fighter payments could enhance boxing’s overall quality.
In addition to his upcoming fight, Romero shared his views on other welterweight contenders, evaluating their potential future matchups with him. He labeled Lopez as a future Hall of Famer and reminisced about sparring sessions with other champions such as Richardson Hitchins and Ryan Garcia. Regarding Shakur Stevenson, he acknowledged his caliber, stating, “He’s a great fighter. You can’t say anything wrong against him in boxing.” However, he expressed confusion regarding the matchmaking in the division, particularly with Keyshawn Davis and his connection to Haney.
As Romero prepares to step into the ring, he remains vocal about the pressing issues within boxing, insisting that the integrity and future of the sport depend on a reassessment of how fighters are valued and compensated.
Special Credits: Image Courtesy of Espn
