Teofimo Lopez, Rolly Romero, Amanda Serrano and more on a loaded boxing weekend: 5 things to watch

Congrats guys, you made it to the freakin’ weekend!

And what’s a weekend without an appointment with the sweet science? Despite August trickling by slowly, things are looking up over the next few days with the likes of Teofimo Lopez and Amanda Serrano in action.

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Add to that one of England’s hottest young talents in George Liddard, and there’s more than enough to get your pearly whites stuck into. 

Let’s take a closer look at the weekend’s action.

1. Lopez attempts to grab Romero’s WBA title

Friends become enemies on Saturday night inside the T-Mobile Arena — something the famous Las Vegas Strip is accustomed to witnessing. 

Teofimo Lopez is hopping up to welterweight in an attempt to grab Rolly Romero’s WBA welterweight title, and in the process putting their old friendship to one side.

For years Lopez (22-2, 13 KOs) and Romero (17-2, 13 KOs) were inseparable across amateur tournaments and sparring sessions in Sin City, but now they meet as professionals after both of their careers have endured years of ups and downs. 

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“Enigma” is a word that can be attributed to either Lopez or Romero, so predicting which version of either fighter will turn up this weekend is as difficult as choosing a winner.

It could be spectacular. It could be a dud. Let’s see. 

2. Liddard moves through the levels with a shot at the vacant European middleweight title

George Liddard (14-0, 8 KOs) continues his climb up boxing’s championship ladder on Saturday night, attempting to add the European title to his British and Commonwealth straps at middleweight.

Liddard brings an unbeaten record to the Copper Box Arena in East London, buoyed by an army of West Ham United soccer fans who will be loud in the corner of the 24-year-old. 

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Matchroom has matched Liddard nicely through 14 fights, giving him the chance to take the traditional route to the top of the 160-pound division. Italy’s Dario Morello (26-1, 4 KOs) is fighting outside of his homeland for the first time as a pro and is predicted to have only one edge over Liddard: experience.

The 33-year-old lost to Britain’s Luther Clay fairly convincingly in 2019 for the WBO’s Global title at 147 pounds, and another one-sided loss to a British opponent is expected Saturday night.

3. Serrano defends her WBO and WBA featherweight titles on … TikTok?

I think the last time I logged onto TikTok was during the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic when my wife — then girlfriend — convinced me to take part in a viral dance craze. 

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Listen, we all did things we regretted over those confusing months, and no, I won’t be recreating it at the yet-to-be-organized Uncrowned Summer Party. 

But I may have to redownload the app this weekend, as Amanda Serrano (49-4-1, 32 KOs) returns for her 55th professional outing at the age of 37, defending her WBO and WBA world featherweight titles inside California’s Pechanga Resort & Casino.

Argentina’s Lucrecia Anabella Manzur is in the opposite corner, bringing a modest 14-4 (7 KOs) record to the proceedings, as Serrano eyes a record 33rd knockout and 50th win.

The Puerto Rican southpaw has enjoyed an illustrious 17 years in boxing, and another highlight-reel performance over the limited challenger will bring the curtain down on her career nicely. 

4. Is Santillan vs. Russell the best-matched fight of the weekend?

If we’re expecting Serrano and Liddard to have pretty straightforward weekends, the same can’t be said about Victor Santillan or Gary Antonio Russell.

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Santillan (16-2, 7 KOs) defends his interim WBA super bantamweight strap against Russell (21-1, 13 KOs) on the Romero-Lopez undercard in what can be confidently described as a near-50/50 fight.

55-45? OK, 60-40, with Russell holding the bigger percentage, thanks to the sharper tests he has faced as a 122-pounder.

The full champion at super bantamweight is none other than the “Monster,” Naoya Inoue — so the winner of this interim clash may be advised to be careful what he wishes for.

5. Will Fury vs. Joshua get officially announced?

What’s another weekend without a continuation of the endless Fury vs. Joshua will-they-won’t-they saga?

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I was fresh-faced and in my 20s when these two English heavyweights were first rumored to meet inside the squared circle, and a decade later it appears that they aren’t getting noticeably closer.

Forgive my cynicism, but Thursday’s rumored contract addendum from Matchroom Boxing to Saudi Arabia’s event management/entertainment company Sela has appeared to only further muddy the murky waters. 

Eddie Hearn has come out swinging, disputing the legitimacy of the “leaked” details — claiming he “doesn’t care who this interview upsets” and referring to Turki Alalshikh and the Saudis as “cretins” is an interesting tactic from the promoter.

This saga is holding the heavyweight division and British boxing hostage; the sooner there is a conclusion, the better.