Ryan Garcia faced a surprising defeat against Rolando “Rolly” Romero on Friday night in Times Square, marking his first fight after a one-year doping ban. The fight ended in a unanimous decision, with the judges scoring it 115-112, 115-112, and 118-109 in favor of Romero. This bout was particularly significant as it was part of the first boxing card ever held in Times Square.
During the match, Romero's powerful double left hook in the second round knocked Garcia down, although the 26-year-old quickly got back on his feet. However, Garcia struggled to regain his rhythm throughout the fight. After the bout, he reflected on his performance, stating, “Just found myself very off after the year layoff. That whole year, it was a lot for me mentally.” He acknowledged the mental challenges he faced, adding, “Just a lot of stuff I’ve got to figure out mentally, and then I’ll get back to it and you’ll see that aggression come out. I just didn’t have that tonight.”
The event was hosted by Saudi-backed Ring Magazine and featured a unique atmosphere. Garcia made a grand entrance in a Batmobile, and instead of traditional ring girls, impersonators of famous figures like Michael Jackson and Hulk Hogan entertained the crowd. Approximately 300 invited guests, including boxing legends Mike Tyson and Roberto Durán, attended the event, according to the BBC. Outside the makeshift arena, a large number of fans gathered to watch the fights on big screens, creating a vibrant atmosphere in Times Square.
Despite the excitement surrounding the event, the fight itself was criticized for its lack of quality moments. Following his second-round knockdown of Garcia, Romero maintained control of the welterweight bout. The match also set a record for the fewest combined punches thrown in a 12-round fight, with only 490 punches recorded since CompuBox began tracking in 1985. Garcia's performance appeared affected by his long hiatus from the ring, having last fought after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug ostarine on the day before and day of his victory over Devin Haney in April 2024. That win was later overturned into a no-contest, and Garcia was subsequently suspended for a year by the New York State Athletic Commission.
Following his loss to Romero, Garcia's professional record now stands at 24 wins, 2 losses, and 1 no-contest. This defeat could potentially hinder his chances for a rematch with Haney, who earlier that day secured a victory over José Ramírez by unanimous decision. With this victory, Romero, now boasting a record of 17 wins and 2 losses, may be positioned to challenge for bigger fights in the future.
