Jonathan Romero proved his boxing mettle with a split decision win over Alejandro Lopez on the road Saturday evening in Tijuana, Mexico.

Scores were 116-111 and 115-112 for Lopez, while one judge had it 115-112 in favor of the house fighter in their 12-round vacant 122 lb. title match.

Both fighters came in at the 122 lb. divisional limit. The referee was Geno Rodriguez of the United States.

Romero began the fight walking down Lopez, realizing he would have to work three minutes of every round to win a fight in his opponent’s hometown. The plan of attack proved successful early on, scoring with combinations while Lopez spent the entire round in reverse.

The next two rounds saw a strange strategy from the unbeaten Colombian, who went on the attack but would back off at key moments. Romero had Lopez hurt in round two, but stepped back and admired his work rather than following through. The same happened in round three. On both occasions, Lopez took advantage of the lull, digging to the body and working his way inside in hopes of discouraging his opponent.

After a successful round four, Romero ran into a bit of trouble in the middle rounds. The unbeaten fighter was warned for rabbit punching, though Lopez oversold it later in the round, literally turning his head towards the punch before complaining of the foul.

Some terrific two-way exchanges took place in round seven, perhaps the first time in the fight that Lopez was able to legitimately hurt his opponent. Romero slowed down in the round, laying on the ropes at times and walking straight back whenever getting caught with a right hand from Lopez.

Romero regained control in rounds eight and nine, though still left himself vulnerable for body shots. Rabbit punching once again resurfaced, when Romero was once again warned for the infraction. Lopez joined in on the roughhousing as well, hitting on the break and attempting to turn the chess match into a dog fight.

Things grew interesting in the championship rounds. Both fighters claimed to be on the receiving end of the same foul. Lopez overshot with a right hand, cupping the back of Romero’s head they collided. The sequence left Lopez bloodied and in need of approval from the ringside physician before continuing.

The sight of his own blood lit a spark, as Lopez went on the attack later in the round. Romero. It was his best sequence of the fight, if not the worst sequence for Romero. Both fighters were instructed to finish strong; both fighters obliged. The intense action swayed back and forth, with Lopez getting the best of the action.

Romero nearly dug himself in a call, losing a point in the 12th and final round when Lopez nearly doubled over in pain from a previously received shot to the hip. Little did either fighter realize that their fate was already sealed prior to the end of the round and fight.

Anxious moments preceded the final scorecard announcement, at which point Romero collapsed to the ground in celebration once learning he won the vacant title. His record now advances to 23-0 (12KO); Lopez falls to 24-3 (7KO), snapping a four-fight win streak that included a split decision victory over former champ Takalani Ndlovu.

For Jonathan Romero press inquiries, please contact:

Marylyn Aceves
Thompson Boxing Promotions
213-494-4929

Photo credit: Carlos Baeza/Thompson Boxing Promotions