Romero, 26, is currently 22-0, with 12 stoppages and gets the chance after coming through his eliminator against Efrain Esquivas last September to claim the number two spot with the organisation.
25 year-old Lopez upset former champion Takalani Ndlovu to become the IBF’s mandatory challenger a month later and now gets his opportunity to fight for the belt previously owned by Nonito Donaire.
‘Alex’ is set to have massive support behind him for the clash as the fight is slated to take place in the city of his birth in Tijuana on February 16 and Lopez will go into the fight as a slight favourite, despite having lost twice in 26 contests.
