この勝利により、ロペスはライト級とジュニアウェルター級に続き、3階級制覇の偉業を成し遂げました。試合はマジョリティ判定となり、ジャッジの採点は115-113、116-112でロペスを支持したものの、3人目のジャッジは114-114のドローと採点しました。
Teofimo Lopez and Rolly Romero
Teofimo Lopez became a three-division world champion tonight, taking the WBA welterweight title from Rolly Romero by majority decision, with three scores closer than they probably should have been. Teófimo López became a three-division world champion on Saturday night, winning a 12-round majority decision over Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero to claim the WBA welterweight title at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. López prevailed by scores of 115-113 and 116-112, while the third judge Glenn Feldman saw the fight even at 114-114. Lopez (23-2, 13 KO) seemed a clear winner to most observers.
T-モバイル・アリーナでの激戦と判定への異議
試合は終始、ロペスがジャブとフットワークを駆使して組み立てました。ロペスは試合後に、自身のパフォーマンスやアプローチについて振り返り、タフな局面を乗り越えるために過去の経験が生きたと語っています。パンチ統計によれば、ロペスはキャリアハイとなる62個のジャブを含む124発のパンチをヒットさせました。López largely controlled the fight behind his jab and movement, keeping the heavier-handed Romero from consistently closing the distance. According to Compubox’s punch statistics, López landed 124 punches to Romero’s 73, including a career-high 62 jabs.
However, Romero made the first defense of his title won against Ryan Garcia 15 months ago. Romero’s best stretch came in the fifth round, when he opened a cut above López’s right eye and followed with a left hook and looping right hand that hurt the challenger. Romero pressed forward as López bled heavily, but the 29-year-old weathered the attack and recovered before the end of the round. López regained control over the middle and later rounds, using his footwork to stay outside Romero’s range while scoring with single punches and combinations. Romero produced another late opening in the 11th, catching López with a left hook that knocked him off balance.
ロメロは、114-114のスコアを聞いたとき、それが強盗劇だと分かったと述べ、試合を通じてかすめた程度のパンチを2発受けただけだったと語りました。
Top Rank and Bruce Trampler
Teofimo spoke about his performance, his approach in the fight, and thanked his former matchmakers at Top Rank for helping to provide him with the experience needed to get through a couple of tougher moments. Teofimo Lopez Jr. thanked Top Rank, matchmakers Bruce Trampler and Brad Goodman, because of the way that they worked his career, stating that he was able to weather the storm tonight.
シャクール・スティーブンソン戦の敗北から得た教訓
今回の戴冠は、ロペスにとって劇的な再起戦となりました。That’s what former two-division world champion Teofimo Lopez Jr. and his father/trainer, Teofimo Lopez Sr., confronted after Lopez Jr. lost the WBO super lightweight belt to Shakur Stevenson on Jan. 31, in front of a packed Madison Square Garden. Lopez Jr. remembers sitting there in his corner late in the Stevenson fight, paralyzed by a numbing blur, hoping his father would blurt out some form of instruction instead of talking him down with everything he was doing wrong.
Teofimo Lopez Jr. and Uncrowned
ロペス・ジュニアは、Uncrownedの独占インタビューに対し、成功すればするほど父親を失っているように感じたと明かし、物事にはギブアンドテイクやある種のバランスが必要だが、スティーブンソン戦に向けた前回のキャンプではそれが欠けていたと語りました。また、スティーブンソン戦ではロープの間をくぐる前からすでに負けていたとし、体制を立て直して今回の試合に臨んだと述べています。
テオフィモ・ロペス Jr., 元世界王者・挑戦者, Yahoo経由
父親でありトレーナーでもあるテオフィモ・ロペス・シニアも、前回のキャンプが混乱していたことを認め、自身の責任を公に受け入れました。Both fighters raise their arms in victory after the final bell. Lopez Jr. stated that he has a baby on the way and just wants to take some time.