Rolando Romero wanted Manny Pacquiao. He got Teofimo Lopez instead, and he has not let it go.
The WBA welterweight champion told DAZN that Pacquiao avoided him, while making clear what he thinks of him anyway.
He ducked me. But Pacquiao’s a legend, all-time legend.
Romero had reason to think the fight was live. He took the WBA regular title by dropping and outpointing Ryan Garcia in May 2025, then was upgraded to full champion when Jaron Ennis vacated to move up to super welterweight. Pacquiao had held that belt before, and returned in July 2025 to box a draw with Mario Barrios for the WBC version at 47.
It went elsewhere. Romero defends against Lopez on August 22.
Pacquiao is 47 and without a fight. A rematch with Floyd Mayweather had been scheduled for later this year before it collapsed, and no replacement has been announced.
His record needs no defending. Pacquiao is an eight-division world champion whose last defeat before the comeback came against Yordenis Ugas in 2021, and he was a Hall of Fame lock long before any of this.
Romero’s own record is more complicated. The 30-year-old has lost to Gervonta Davis and Isaac Cruz, and the Garcia win remains the biggest of his career.
