Romero (17-2, 13 KOs) and Lopez (22-2, 13 KOs) will meet at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to headline a DAZN and Prime Video pay-per-view event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

Lopez engaged in an array of exercises and then met with the media to declare that he’s ready to rock Romero and become a three-division champion.

“I’m really healthy, focused and locked in for this fight,” Lopez said. “I’m excited for everything that’s to come. And right now, it’s the takeover. The man in the mirror [is the hardest fight for me at 147]. That’s all it is, man. I think my biggest advantage against Rolly is going to be that I’m just the better fighter.

“I’m fighting a big puncher at 147 and going up to that weight for the first time. We’re taking a risk, because it’s no risk, no reward. I’m just focusing on my objectives so I can come out victorious."

Lopez certainly has the edge, at least on paper, in the skills department against the hard-hitting Romero.

Oddsmakers like his chances, too. Lopez is listed as a -225 betting favorite and Romero is the +175 underdog, according to DraftKings.

But Romero, who typically brings a brawling style, proved he can mix things up as needed when he astutely outboxed and dropped Ryan Garcia during a unanimous-decision win last time out in May 2025.

“I think Rolly’s skills are underappreciated," Lopez said. "He controls the pace and makes it his fight, everyone overlooks that. But he’s not underrated on the stature side. He’s a world champion for a reason.”

Lopez, meanwhile, didn’t look so good during his most recent outing January 31, suffering a one-sided unanimous decision defeat against Shakur Stevenson. The loss ended a four-year, seven-fight run for Lopez at 140 pounds.

Lopez, a former Ring and unified lightweight and junior welterweight champion, already has wins against the likes of Vasiliy Lomachenko and Josh Taylor and could secure additional legacy-defining fights in a new weight class against WBO champion Devin Haney and WBC titleholder Ryan Garcia if he gets past Romero.

Lopez declared that he’s only interested in title unification fights to etch his name as the welterweight great of the era, a title previously held by Terence Crawford.

“I’m here to take over and become undisputed at 147 pounds,” Lopez said. “The welterweight division is in a great position right now.

“I’m just going to keep going forward in my career. I’m so locked in on continuing to achieve bigger and better things one fight at a time. The fans can decide my legacy when it’s all over."

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