Rolly Romero Clears the Air on Past Sparring Video with Teofimo Lopez - 'He is being desperate'

In response to persistent rumours that he had a sparring video with Teofimo Lopez, Rolando "Rolly" Romero clarified that the tape was from 2016, before Teofimo Lopez became a professional, and that he was only 17 years old. As Rolly is ready to defend his WBA light welterweight title against Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz, this truth has surfaced.

From Friends to Foes: Teofimo Lopez and Rolando 'Rolly' Romero's Evolving Rivalry

Rolly Romero provided insight into the sparring session with Teofimo Lopez, which has been a subject of conversation among boxing enthusiasts, in an interview with Fighthype. Rolly clarified, "As of October 27, 2016, I hadn't even turned pro." Rolly was still honing his boxing skills when the video, which featured him losing to Lopez, was taken. He maintains that his present status as the WBA light welterweight champion is proof positive that he has made great progress since then.

Rolly believes Teofimo's decision to make the sparring video public is motivated by a need for money. Rolly said, "It sounds like he's broke right now and he's being desperate for something." This remark is made amid rumours regarding Teofimo's financial status and his ongoing challenges against Terence Crawford.

Rolly talked nostalgically about his previous friendship with Teofimo in spite of the conflict. "To me, Teofimo was a brother," he remarked, recognising the nuanced character of their bond. Rolly made a suggestion that if their feud doesn't end, they might be able to work things out through a unity fight.

Flashback to the Ring: Teofimo Lopez and Rolando 'Rolly' Romero in a Heated Sparring Session

Now that the fight against Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz is approaching, Rolly is optimistic about their encounter. Regarding the fight scheduled for March 30 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, he stated, "It's going to be a banger, it's going to be fireworks, and I think it's going to be the right fight to kick off Amazon Prime."

Rolly Romero looks forward to demonstrating his value in the ring as he continues to rise in the boxing world, putting the scandals from his early career behind him. In addition to defending the championship, Rolly will be able to demonstrate how much he has improved as a fighter since his early days of training with Teofimo Lopez in the next bout against Isaac Cruz.

How do you feel about Rolly Romero's explanation about the sparring video and his impending matchup with Isaac Cruz? Tell us what you think will happen in this thrilling encounter.