Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero is facing scrutiny over his temperament after a sparring clip showed him using a judo takedown. The video, released ahead of his August 22 title fight with Teofimo Lopez, highlights a potential lack of boxing discipline under pressure.
The brief footage was shared by DAZN Boxing to promote the upcoming welterweight title bout. It shows Romero absorbing a shoulder check from his sparring partner and immediately reacting by taking the man to the mat. The instinctual move points directly to Romero’s background in judo. But it is not a legal move in boxing. DAZN Boxing posted the clip with the caption: “Rolly’s reaction to getting a shoulder check in this sparring session 👀🔥 | Aug 22 | and DAZN on Prime 🤳”. While intended to generate hype, the exchange has instead drawn analysis of Romero’s composure.
Such a reaction in a sanctioned bout would risk immediate disqualification. More critically, it suggests a tendency to get reckless when challenged physically, a flaw that Teofimo Lopez is expertly equipped to punish. Lopez has built his career on capitalizing on opponents’ emotional mistakes and technical lapses. The clip, meant to project toughness, may have instead given the Lopez camp a clear psychological target.
This fight carries significant weight for both men.
Romero (17-2, 13 KOs) is looking to validate the career revival he earned with an upset victory over Ryan Garcia in May 2025. That win put him back in the title picture after consecutive losses to Gervonta Davis and Isaac Cruz. A successful defense of his WBA welterweight title against a name like Lopez would solidify his standing. For Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs), this is a direct path back to the top after a definitive unanimous decision loss to Shakur Stevenson in January. He will be challenging for Romero’s belt, aiming to prove he remains one of the sport’s elite fighters.
