SoCal’s Danny Roman Faces Texan Adam Lopez in Atlantic City

ROMAN vs LOPEZ ON SHOWTIME — Danny Roman fought his way through some of Southern California’s best. Now he’s ready to face one of Texas best fighters.

Roman (21-2-1, 7 KOs) meets San Antonio’s Adam Lopez (16-0-1, 8 KOs) in a title eliminator for the WBA super bantamweight division on Friday, Jan. 20. California meets Texas in Atlantic City, New Jersey of all places. Showtime will televise.

“It’s great motivation,” said Roman of fighting in a title eliminator to face WBA champ Nehomar Cermeno. “The winner gets to fight the champion.”

When Roman steps in the boxing ring he represents Thompson Boxing Promotions, one of the smaller but most successful organizations of its size. If there were a pound for pound ranking for promotion companies it would rank extremely high.

Since 2000 the Orange County-based group has uncovered some rare jewels in fighters like Tim “Desert Storm” Bradley, Josesito Lopez, Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera and Yonnhy Perez to name some. Will Roman be the next gem?

“Danny Roman is one of those fighters that you can never count out,” said Alex Camponovo, the director of Thompson Boxing. “He works hard and no one is going to outwork him.”

Roman, 26, grew up in Inglewood, Calif. but now lives in Los Angeles. He’s been fighting under the Thompson banner for a number of years. While others in his weight division fight for other promoters on television against lukewarm competition, Roman has been fighting and defeating beasts that only matchmakers know such as Enrique Quevedo.

“Those guys get a lot of TV recognition so this is my time,” said Roman of his rivals in Southern California who fight for other promoters in the area. “Now that I’m going to be on Showtime I’m willing to fight anybody.”

But first he faces Lopez, an undefeated super bantamweight who in many ways mirrors his own talent.

“He’s a tough guy. He can box and brawl too. It’s an even fight,” said Roman of Lopez who is also 26 years old. “He’s a tough guy, I’m a tough guy. He pays his dues, I pay my dues. It’s time you know. I’m moving up to the next level.”

Lopez feels the same.

“All in all he is a good fighter,” said Lopez. “I am expecting a tough fight.”

The elimination bout takes place at Bally’s Event Center in Atlantic City. It’s the casino playground for the East Coast similar to Las Vegas in the West Coast.

“I’ve never been to Las Vegas,” said Roman.

If he wins on Friday you can bet he may be fighting on a Las Vegas fight card. But first he wants to win his first televised fight. It’s been a long time coming.

“There were rumors about it that they were trying to make the fight on television,” said Roman. “I was glad I was going to be finally on TV and now I will be able to prove myself to the world.”

Check out more boxing news on video at The Boxing Channel.