Ryan Garcia has made his prediction for Saturday’s welterweight world title fight between Rolly Romero and Teofimo Lopez.
Garcia will be an interested observer when Romero defends his WBA belt against two-division champion, Lopez at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, live on DAZN pay-per-view.
The Californian defends his WBC welterweight crown against Conor Benn on September 12 at the same venue and is eager to face the winner in a unification.
Despite heading in off a comprehensive points loss to Shakur Stevenson in January, ‘King Ry’ has backed Lopez to dethrone Romero, in what will be his first fight at 147 pounds.
“I want to fight the winner of Teofimo vs Rolly,” the 28-year-old told Ring Magazine.
“That’s what I want to end my Golden Boy career with.
“Probably Teofimo [is going to win].
“I feel like Teofimo has his number.
“I feel like the sparring is going to play a part in it.
“I feel like they’re both going to have a hesitation because of the sparring.
“He didn’t seem like he was confident with Shakur at all in the lead up, but I think in this fight he knows what to do to Rolly.”
Lopez is the betting favourite to defeat his compatriot, who makes a first defence of his crown.
Garcia captured the WBC belt with a unanimous decision victory over Mario Barrios in February.
The 28-year-old bounced back from defeat to Romero nine months prior and he admits he would like to avenge the loss in the future.
“If I could complete a side mission to redeem myself for that or right that wrong, I will.
“But right now I feel like I have bigger fish to fry and it’s going to happen, but it’s going to happen when I’m like, ‘alright, let me fill this little thing in I have to do.’”
