Saturday Boxing Best Bets, Picks & Odds – Romero vs. Lopez Undercard
By Jaren Kawada in Boxing
Published:
- Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero and Teofimo Lopez headline an eight-fight Premier Boxing Champions card on Saturday night
- Undefeated middleweight contender Yoenli Hernandez takes on Francisco Veron in the co-main event
- Check out the best analysis, predictions and bets for the full Rolly Romero vs. Teofimo Lopez undercard below
In their second event since signing a broadcast deal with DAZN, Premier Boxing Champions hosts an eight-fight card in Las Vegas headlined by WBA ‘super’ welterweight champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero (17-2) and former pound-for-pound star Teofimo Lopez (22-2). Before Romero and Lopez take center stage in the main event, several undefeated and rising prospects look to steal the spotlight on the undercard.
Yoenli Hernandez (10-0) takes the top slot on the undercard, facing Argentinian veteran Francisco Daniel Veron (17-1-1) in the co-main event. Hernandez enters the fight with an impressive 90 percent knockout rate, including a fourth-round stoppage of former title challenger Terrell Gausha in his most recent outing.
In the featured slot, WBA interim super bantamweight champion Victor Santillan (16-2) puts his new belt on the line against Gary Antonio Russell (21-1). Russell, a member of the famous Gary Russell family, can join his younger brother as a world champion with a win.
Rolly Romero vs. Teofimo Lopez Undercard Odds
Odds as of Aug. 22, 2026, on DraftKings Sportsbook. Check out the best boxing apps in 2026 to place a wager.
Yoenli Hernandez vs. Francisco Veron Best Bet
Yoenli Hernandez and Francisco Veron simultaneously face the toughest tests of their respective careers against each other in the Romero vs. Lopez co-main event. Hernandez has yet to deal with a boxer like Veron, and the Argentinian has never faced anyone who brings the same type of suffocating pressure as ‘El Diablo.’
Hernandez’s pressure is a problem for anyone in the division, but Veron’s footwork and movement could give the undefeated contender trouble early. To this point, Hernandez has had a lot of success smothering flat-footed opponents who do little more than move back and forth in a straight line. Veron likes fighting long behind his jab while combining lateral footwork with subtle angle-cutting. The 27-year-old makes up for his lack of speed and power by remaining disciplined and being very difficult to hit cleanly from start to finish.
Hernandez has solid footwork and boxing himself, requiring Veron to remain perfect for all 30 minutes to get the victory. While that might be a tall task, Veron has the cardio and defense to make Hernandez work for his 11th victory.
Skill for skill, Veron might be a slight step back for Hernandez following his last win over Terrell Gausha. Yet, the style matchup could lead to Hernandez’s second career decision instead of another highlight knockout.
- Boxing Picks: Fight Goes the Distance (+128 on BetRivers)
Victor Santillan vs. Gary Antonio Russell Prediction
Two southpaws battle for the WBA interim super bantamweight title as Victor Santillan puts his new belt on the line against Gary Antonio Russell on the Romero-Lopez undercard. A clear path to victory exists for both men, but Russell appears to have the inside track to become the next world champion in his family.
Santillan, a former Pan American medalist, is a champion for a reason. His constant upper-body movement can be difficult to pin down, and his unorthodox defense is backed by a granite chin. Beating him requires a constant flow of offense and precise counter-punching.
Russell will not only fight with a two-inch reach advantage; he is the better boxer with cleaner and more accurate punches. Neither Santillan nor Russell are great defensively, but the challenger’s fundamentals and mechanics tend to be in better form. The 33-year-old has historically struggled with the type of speed that Santillan does not possess.
As the better boxer, Russell’s counter-punching could be a big factor against Santillan’s wide attacks. Both fighters are durable and will fight until the final bell, so expect Russell to win his first world title on the cards.
- Boxing Picks: Gary Antuanne Russell Moneyline (-180 on DraftKings)
Carlos Utria vs. Israel Mercado Best Bet
Carlos Utria has a golden opportunity to stake his claim as the next rising star in the super lightweight division against Israel Mercado on the Romero vs. Lopez undercard. Utria opens the main card with an excellent chance to improve his 79 percent knockout rate.
Utria is an excellent, young boxer with fast hands who loves targeting the body to set up his knockouts. The Colombian’s game can be limited, as he prefers to pick his shots and throw with full power instead of fighting behind a jab, but he shows maturity well beyond that of a typical 22-year-old.
Utria’s next test comes against Mercado, who brings an unorthodox approach to the table. Mercado wants to make the fight scrappy, but he does so by rushing in with an open guard while reaching on many of his punches. Givng those openings to Utria is a very dangerous game.
While cardio has been an issue for Utria in the past, he has a very hittable opponent in front of him who has already hit the canvas twice in his career.
- Boxing Picks: Carlos Utria by KO/TKO (-150 on theScore)
Marco Romero vs. Kahlil Mitchell Prediction
After amassing one of the most impressive amateur resumes in recent American boxing history, Marco Romero looks to remain undefeated in the biggest featured spot of his career against Kahlil Mitchell. The 20-year-old has been one of the most consistently destructive prospects in the sport, with 11 of his 12 knockouts coming within the first two rounds.
Mitchell, 30, has half the amount of professional fights as Romero despite being a decade older. The Tennessee native is just 6-1 as a professional without a traditional amateur record to his name. Mitchell has just two wins over fighters with winning records, with his last two opponents owning a combined record of 6-48-3.
Romero is in this position to perform one job and has been given the right opponent to help him pull it off. But without many prop lines available for this fight, oddsmakers are all over him and not ceding any value.
- Boxing Picks: Marco Romero Moneyline (-5000 on DraftKings)
