He had no interest in talking about what had just transpired, having lost the WBA welterweight title.

"I'd like to just thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ for everything in my life that I have got to enjoy. I will always be your faithful servant," Romero said before abruptly leaving the ring.

Scores of 116-112 and 115-113 saw Romero (17-3, 13 KOs) beaten for the third time in little over four years, despite a third judge having it a draw at 114-114. It can definitely be argued the scorecards were generous for the now-former beltholder, who was outlanded 124-to-73 according to CompuBox.

Romero enjoyed the best sequence of a mostly unspectacular fight in the fifth, stunning Lopez with a right hand and buckling his knees in the final minute of the round, 20 seconds after slicing Lopez's eyebrow with a left hook. 

Romero unleashed a hellacious flurry, but Lopez survived the round and immediately got back in the driver's seat for the remainder of their meeting. 

Romero landed double digits in punches in only one round – round five – according to CompuBox and lacked the urgency to stave off the surging Lopez beginning in the sixth. Even Romero's trainer Ismael Salas implored his charge to dial up the pressure to ensure victory would be within reach.

During his post-fight press conference, Romero elaborated on the sequence of events that led to the loss following a career-best unanimous decision win against Ryan Garcia 15 months ago. 

"My immediate thoughts, look at my face. I got hit with what, two clean shots the whole fight," Romero said. "If that's enough to beat the champion, that's enough.

"He never hurt me at any given moment. He got hurt multiple times throughout the fight. Every time I threw a shot, I landed it. He couldn't land anything clean on me, it was clear and apparent.

"I could have pressed more. Of course, anyone can but you know, championship fights, they're all close like this, especially with two high-level fighters."

Romero also elaborated on the dramatic fifth round, which saw Lopez touch the canvas during a hellacious sequence. Referee Harvey Dock ruled it a slip. 

"Honestly, it should have been counted as a knockdown, but you know how it is," Romero said. "He survived, knows how to survive. I hit him so many times clean and hurt him. Some of those rounds were for sure 10-8 rounds. 

"I was trying to open that cut even more, more than anything. I was trying to feint and land a good left hand. 

"I couldn't get him clean. He didn't completely wobble. The other shot I hit him with at the end of the round, though, he was out."

Romero also called for a rematch, despite confirming there was no rematch clause in the contract. Heading into the matchup, Romero said if he was going to lose his title, he'd prefer it to be against Lopez after deals to face Garcia, Devin Haney, Conor Benn and Manny Pacquiao couldn't get done. 

"I love Teofimo, that's all," Romero said. "He's my little brother. That doesn't change anything. He has no control over the scoring of the judges."

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.