Teofimo Lopez became a three-division champion, Amanda Serrano survived a disputed decision, George Liddard broke through in London and Oleksandr Khyzhniak captured his first professional title.
By Gee Bino | The Who Dat Daily
August 24, 2026
Boxing delivered championships, controversy and emerging stars across three countries this weekend.
The biggest result came in Las Vegas, where Teofimo Lopez defeated Rolando “Rolly” Romero by majority decision to capture the WBA welterweight title and become a world champion in a third division. One night earlier in California, Amanda Serrano earned the 50th victory of her career, retaining her featherweight championships against Lucrecia Manzur in a decision that created immediate debate.
Across the Atlantic, George Liddard stopped Dario Morello after eight rounds to claim the European middleweight championship. In Lviv, Ukrainian Olympic champion Oleksandr Khyzhniak won the WBA Gold International light-heavyweight belt in only his third professional fight.
Here is the complete Ring Kings breakdown.
Teofimo Lopez outworked Rolly Romero and made history
Lopez defeated Romero by scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112 at T-Mobile Arena.
The majority-decision label makes the fight sound more uncertain than it appeared. Lopez controlled long stretches with his jab, body work and superior activity. CompuBox credited him with a 124-73 advantage in total punches landed, including a career-high 62 jabs.
Romero created his best danger in the middle rounds. A left hook got Lopez’s attention in the fourth, and Romero opened a cut over Lopez’s right eye during a strong fifth. Lopez went down during the exchange, but the referee ruled that Romero pushed him rather than scoring a knockdown.
That was Romero’s opportunity to take control.
He did not sustain the attack.
Lopez regained his composure, went back to the body and forced Romero to wait for counters instead of creating offense. Romero remained dangerous but inactive, allowing Lopez to bank rounds and close the fight as the busier man.
Romero argued afterward that he deserved the decision and called for a rematch. His power gave him moments, but moments do not equal six or seven complete rounds. The correct fighter won, even if the 114-114 card was difficult to justify.
Lopez is now a champion in three divisions
The victory adds another major achievement to Lopez’s uneven but impressive career.
- At lightweight, he stopped Richard Commey and later defeated Vasiliy Lomachenko to unify championships.
- At junior welterweight, he upset Josh Taylor for the WBO and lineal titles.
- At welterweight, he defeated Romero in his first fight at 147 pounds to claim the WBA belt.
Lopez has now produced championship victories over elite or dangerous opponents across three weight classes. He has also rebounded quickly from January’s one-sided loss to Shakur Stevenson.
The next move should be bigger than an immediate Romero rematch. Lopez now has leverage for a unification bout or a major commercial fight involving names such as Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia or Conor Benn. Making those deals will be difficult, but possession of a recognized belt gives “The Takeover” options.
Amanda Serrano reached 50 wins—but the scoring will be debated
Serrano retained her WBA, WBO and Ring featherweight championships with a majority decision over Lucrecia Manzur in Temecula, California.
The official scores were 114-114 and 116-112 twice, moving Serrano’s record to 50-4-1. The victory gave the seven-division champion her 50th professional win, but she did not score the knockout needed to move past the women’s stoppage record she shares with Christy Martin.
Manzur made the fight uncomfortable from beginning to end. She pressed forward, worked in combination and forced Serrano to fight at a pace the champion did not always control. Serrano landed sharp counters and invested in the body, but the challenger’s pressure convinced many observers that the decision should have gone the other way.
This was not a robbery beyond reasonable debate; several rounds were competitive. It was a fight in which the 116-112 cards for Serrano felt wider than the action.
The event also represented a significant distribution experiment. Most Valuable Promotions streamed the championship card live through TikTok, placing a high-level women’s title fight directly in front of a younger mobile audience.
That strategy may be as important to boxing’s future as the result itself.
George Liddard claimed the European middleweight title
Liddard improved to 15-0 when Dario Morello’s corner stopped their fight after the eighth round at the Copper Box Arena in London.
The British and Commonwealth champion controlled the physical exchanges, broke Morello down and added the vacant European middleweight title to his growing collection. The official result was a retirement at the end of Round 8.
Liddard is not ready to be rushed into a world-title fight simply because he added another belt. He is ready for a higher level of opposition.
The next stage should involve a proven European or fringe world contender who can pressure him, take his power and force adjustments over 10 or 12 rounds. At 24, Liddard has time to build without stalling.
His performance was one of the weekend’s clearest statements.
Oleksandr Khyzhniak won a title in his third professional fight
Khyzhniak defeated Argentina’s Durval Elias Palacio by unanimous decision in Lviv, Ukraine. The judges scored the 10-round fight 98-92, 99-91 and 100-90.
The Olympic gold medalist improved to 3-0 and captured the WBA Gold International light-heavyweight title.
That belt should be described accurately. It is a regional or secondary WBA title—not a full world championship. Its value comes from positioning, experience and the level of opposition it can help Khyzhniak secure next.
His amateur pedigree makes rapid advancement understandable, but professional boxing asks different questions. Khyzhniak must continue developing his pacing, defense and ability to handle seasoned opponents who can survive his early pressure.
Winning 10 rounds against an experienced professional was more useful to his development than another quick knockout.
Other results worth knowing
The Lopez-Romero undercard produced several meaningful outcomes:
- Gary Antonio Russell defeated Victor Santillan by unanimous decision, winning by scores of 118-109 and 119-108 twice.
- Yoenli Hernandez defeated Francisco Daniel Veron by majority decision, 95-95, 98-92 and 99-91.
- Carlos Utria edged Israel Mercado by split decision, 96-94, 94-96 and 97-93.
On the Serrano-Manzur card, U.S. Olympian Jahmal Harvey produced one of the weekend’s most violent finishes, stopping Hammet Kebb in the second round with a right hand that immediately added attention to the young prospect’s rise.
Harvey still needs rounds and professional seasoning. The speed, timing and finishing instinct are already obvious.
Biggest winner: Teofimo Lopez
Lopez left the weekend with the most valuable combination of accomplishment and opportunity.
He became a three-division champion, answered questions after the Stevenson defeat and entered a welterweight market filled with commercially attractive opponents. The performance was not flawless, but it was disciplined when discipline mattered most.
Most difficult night: Rolly Romero
Romero lost more than a belt.
He demonstrated that his power could bother Lopez, then failed to create enough offense to capitalize. Waiting for one counter can work against reckless opponents. Lopez adjusted, reduced the openings and forced Romero to lead.
Romero needs a dependable jab, more body work and greater round-to-round urgency. His personality and punching power will keep him relevant, but he cannot expect judges to reward long periods of inactivity.
Big Q’s Final Bell
This weekend showed four different versions of championship boxing.
Lopez used adaptation and activity to take a belt. Serrano leaned on experience and survived a challenger who may have deserved more from the judges. Liddard announced that he is ready for another competitive step. Khyzhniak used his third professional appearance to gain the kind of rounds his development requires.
The loudest conversation will surround the scorecards in Las Vegas and Temecula. The deeper lesson is that fighters must control what judges can see. Romero waited too long. Manzur applied pressure but allowed enough close rounds for the champion to receive the benefit of doubt.
Boxing’s scoring will always create arguments. Activity, clean punching and ring control remain the best protection against them.
Why It Matters
The weekend reshaped the welterweight division, added momentum to two rising European stars and showed another possible distribution path for women’s boxing.
Lopez now owns negotiating leverage at 147. Serrano remains champion but faces legitimate questions about age and future opposition. Liddard and Khyzhniak are moving toward the contender stage, where matchmaking becomes more important and mistakes become more expensive.
Prediction: Lopez pursues a unification or major-name welterweight fight instead of granting Romero an immediate rematch.
Confidence level: 75%
Gee Bino is a senior writer and columnist for The Who Dat Daily, covering boxing, the New Orleans Saints, Pelicans, LSU athletics and the Gulf South sports landscape. Follow The Who Dat Daily and Ring Kings Boxing World for fight news, analysis and post-fight reaction.
