Friends will become enemies on August 22 when the WBA welterweight champion Romero (17-2, 13 KOs) defends his title for the first time against the division debutant Lopez Jr. (22-2, 13 KOs).

The fight will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to headline a DAZN and Prime Video PPV event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

"This is going to be an action-packed, fight of the year kind of fight,” Romero said in a training camp dispatch. “Teo and I are always in entertaining fights. We’re the most entertaining fighters in the world and definitely the best self-promoters in the world.

"Nobody can ever say we’re runners or we’re in boring fights, like some of these other fighters y’all love to praise. We don’t run, we like to punch, and that’s what y’all can expect on August 22 – the biggest fight of the year from the sport’s most entertaining fighters.”

"Rolly" Romero, a 30-year-old from Las Vegas, finally found a willing and able dance partner in Lopez after failed negotiations with Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, Manny Pacquiao and Conor Benn left him sidelined for 16 months after dropping and decisioning Garcia.

"The Takeover" Lopez is a former Ring and unified lightweight and junior welterweight champion who is looking to become a three-division titleholder. The 28-year-old from Brooklyn, New York, looked nowhere near like himself last time out, however, against Shakur Stevenson and lost a landslide unanimous decision.

“Yeah, we’re friends, and we know each other’s families, but none of that matters on August 22,” Romero said. “I’m looking to be a Hall of Famer, just like Teofimo is. The only way to do that is to go through each other.

“That’s what’s wrong with boxing nowadays. Everybody wants to be friends, but they’re scared to fight each other and instead forget why we all got into this sport to begin with. That’s to become a legend and one of the best of our generation.”

Romero has esteemed coach Ismael Salas in his corner to help him attain career-defining accolades.

“To me, Salas is the greatest trainer of all time,” Romero said. "Who has won world titles with more fighters than Salas? He doesn’t ever get the flowers he deserves when they bring up Trainer of the Year.

“We’ve always had good chemistry together, like peanut butter and jelly. Salas knows exactly how to train me and what we need to work on to get the win. On August 22, we’re going to prove to everybody why nobody should ever bet against us again.”