James Toney backs Rolly Romero to beat Teofimo Lopez on size in Las Vegas

James Toney has picked Rolly Romero to defeat Teofimo Lopez, placing greater importance on the champion’s size and strength than Lopez’s technical ability and experience. The two Americans meet at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Romero enters the bout as the WBA welterweight champion. He first won the organisation’s Regular title in May 2025, when he dropped Ryan Garcia and secured a unanimous decision. He has since been recognised as the full WBA champion.

The victory over Garcia marked Romero’s move into a more physically imposing role after earlier campaigns at lightweight and super-lightweight. His growing presence at 147 pounds is central to Toney’s prediction, with the Hall of Famer viewing the champion’s physical advantages as decisive.

Lopez is moving into the welterweight division after losing his WBO super-lightweight title. A win would make him a world champion in three weight classes, but he arrives seeking to recover from a unanimous decision loss to Shakur Stevenson in January.

That defeat was especially damaging because Stevenson controlled the contest more thoroughly than many had expected. Lopez had previously built a reputation at the highest level, but he now faces a larger opponent while trying to re-establish himself in a new division.

Lopez’s recent record also includes limited knockout success since his move up from 135 pounds. He has recorded only one stoppage during that period, ending Pedro Campa’s challenge in the seventh round. Romero’s size, meanwhile, has become a defining part of the champion’s profile as he prepares for his first defence of the full WBA title.