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Rising Stars & Top Contenders Enter The Ring For
Explosive Rolly vs. Teofimo PPV Undercard Aug. 22
Three exciting pay-per-view undercard bouts featuring rising
stars and top contenders across the middleweight, super
bantamweight and super lightweight divisions will lead up to
the Rolly Romero vs. Teofimo Lopez main event on Saturday,
August 22 in a PBC Pay-Per-View event available on DAZN and
Prime Video from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
In the co-main event, undefeated middleweight star Yoenli
Hernandez will duel veteran Argentina contender Francisco
Daniel Veron in a 10-round attraction, plus Interim WBA
Super Bantamweight Champion Victor Santillan squares off
against top contender Antonio Russell and sensational
prospect Carlos Utria will make his U.S. debut in a 10-round
battle against super lightweight contender Israel Mercado
opening the pay-per-view at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
The four-fight pay-per-view card is topped by WBA
Welterweight World Champion Rolly Romero making the first
defense of his world title against two-division world
champion Teofimo Lopez in a matchup of two of this
generations’ most compelling champions.
The event is promoted by TGB Promotions, in association with
Takeover Promotions.
**YOENLI HERNANDEZ VS. FRANCISCO DANIEL VERON**
The number one-ranked WBA and WBO, plus number two-ranked
WBC contender, Yoenli Hernandez will look to continue to
show his star ability in a 10-round showdown against the
veteran slugger Francisco Daniel Veron that serves as the
co-main event on August 22.
Hernandez (10-0, 9 KOs) is yet another in a long line of
sensational amateur fighters to come from the Cuban program,
with his long resume before turning pro featuring a 2021
gold medal at AIBA World Boxing Championships. Originally
from Camaguey, Cuba and now fighting out of Providence,
Rhode Island, Hernandez turned pro in May 2022 with a pair
of stoppage victories and continued to dominate his
competition as he rose up the rankings. The 29-year-old
scored three victories in 2025, including a shutout
unanimous decision over top contender Kyrone Davis in May of
that year. Most recently, Hernandez turned away his most
experienced opponent to date, earning a fourth-round TKO of
U.S. Olympian and title challenger Terrell Gausha in March.
“I’m preparing very hard for this fight, because I know that
I have an extremely tough opponent in front of me,” said
Hernandez. “I have to continue to train that hard fight
after fight and prove to everyone what I’m capable of. You
can expect to see more of the same from me on August 22 in
Las Vegas.”
The 27-year-old Veron (17-1-1, 10 KOs) enters this fight on
an impressive three-fight winning streak, including most
recently besting Raul Garcia via unanimous decision in April
of this year. Prior to that Veron had turned away tough
veteran contenders Roiman Villa and Vladimir Hernandez in
2025, beating both by unanimous decision. A native of Villa
Libertador, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Veron also owns a draw
against middleweight contender Jahi Tucker. He will be
making his Las Vegas debut on August 22, with the only other
blemish on his record coming via a close decision loss to
longtime top contender Brandon Adams in 2024.
“This is one of the toughest fights of my career, but we’re
well prepared for anything he bring,” said Veron. “I’m here
to face the best and I’m not ducking anyone. We’re going to
give people a lot to talk about when this fight is over. I’m
coming to represent my Argentine people on August 22.”
**VICTOR SANTILLAN VS. ANTONIO RUSSELL**
In a matchup of two top contenders at 122 pounds, Victor
Santillan and Antonio Russell will look to show their
championship mettle in a 12-round matchup as Santillan
defends his Interim WBA Super Bantamweight Title for the
first time.
A native of La Romana, Dominican Republic, Santillan (16-2,
7 KOs) picked up his interim title in February by stopped
Noel Reyes Cepeda in the third round. The triumph made it
back-to-back wins for Santillan, who’s only two defeats have
come via decision on the road against top Japanese
contenders. A pro since 2018, Santillan won the bronze medal
at the 2015 Pan American Games, amongst his amateur
accolades. The 30-year-old began his career with 13-straight
wins and will return to fight stateside for the third time
as a pro.
“It is an honor for me to be defending my title against
Antonio Russell,” said Santillan. “He is a good boxer who
comes from a family of good fighters. I love this fight
because the real winners are going to be the fans. We’re
gonna put on a show.”
Part of one of the sport’s most renowned fighting families,
Russell (21-1, 13 KOs) will look to pick up his first belt
at 122 pounds and join his brothers as champions alongside
Gary Antuanne (WBA Super Lightweight World Champion) and his
lead trainer Gary Jr. (former WBC Featherweight World
Champion). The 33-year-old previously fought to the top of
the 118-pound division, but came up short in his most
notable fight, an October 2022 matchup against former
champion Emmanuel Rodriguez. The Capitol Heights,
Maryland-native does own a technical decision victory over
former world champion Juan Carlos Payano in December 2020
and has won back-to-back fights at 122-pounds, including
most recently besting Dervin Rodriguez by unanimous decision
last August.
“I’m excited to be back in the ring and grateful for the
opportunity to showcase my talent,” said Russell. “Me and my
brothers have been putting in the work every day in the gym,
staying focused. It’s almost that time to compete. I’m ready
to bring another title home.”
**CARLOS UTRIA VS. ISRAEL MERCADO**
One of boxing’s most acclaimed prospects the undefeated
Carlos Utria will look to make his U.S. debut in style, as
he takes on tough contender Israel Mercado in the 10-round
super lightweight opening attraction.
The 22-year-old Utria (14-0, 11 KOs) most recently emerged
victorious in the WBC Boxing Grand Prix and earning a top 10
ranking at 140-pounds, and more. The five-victory run
culminated in a unanimous decision over Mujimillo Tursunov
in December, with his championship-winning run leading to
him being named Boxing Scene’s 2025 Prospect of the Year. A
native of Soplaviento, Colombia, Utria has fought
professionally since 2023 and will look to continue his
momentum stateside.
“I’m facing a strong opponent who’s coming to win,” said
Utria. “That’s the perfect opponent for my U.S. debut. We’re
prepared for whatever comes and ready to put on a dominating
performance for everyone watching.”
A native of Pomona, California, Mercado (13-1-2, 7 KOs) is
unbeaten in last six outings, with four wins a two draws in
that span. Mercado has faced four unbeaten fighters in his
career, with two wins, a draw and a decision to defeat to
Arthur Biyarslanov in 2024 amongst that run. Mercado was won
each of his last two outings, with decision victories over
Jonathan Jose Eniz in April 2025 and Branden Pizarro in June
2025.
“I’ve been patient, I’ve put in the work, and now I’m ready
to show the fight fans what these hands can do,” said
Mercado. “I’m built for this stage. I can’t wait to give
everyone a great show and deliver a fight they won’t
forget.”
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