Ryan Garcia returns to the ring for the first time in a year Friday night when he battles Rolando "Rolly" RomeroRyan Garcia returns to action, as he faces Rolando Romero for the WBA (Regular) welterweight title in the middle of Times Square. Garcia vs. Romero seemed likely after Ryan pulled out of negotiations with Devin Haney to pursue this fight. But Oscar De La Hoya stated otherwise, confirming that Romero had demanded too much money. Jose Ramirez was put forward as an alternative, only for Garcia to shut down that suggestion. That left Garcia with serious questions about his next opponent as Romero hit out at the boxer and De La Hoya for trying to make another fight behind his back. Romero then turned his attention to Isaac Cruz.
Click To: Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando 'Rolly' Romero 2025 Live Anywhere Low Price
Click To: Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando 'Rolly' Romero 2025 Live Anywhere Low Price
Ryan Garcia restarts his controversial career this Friday, May 2 against former world champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero. The fight headlines a mammoth card in Times Square, New York. DAZN PPV will screen the event live, with Garcia rival Devin Haney and world super lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez also in action
Ryan Garcia vs Rolando Romero Fight Preview
‘KingRy’ just can’t get it right. Mental health struggles have stalled his career since a breakthrough whipping of Olympic champion-turned-Reform candidate Luke Campbell. The comeback looked on when Garcia defeated the rank-and-file pairing of Emmanuel Tagoe and Javier Fortuna in 2022.
But Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis had other plans, blasting Garcia to bits in seven exciting rounds. But what that painful defeat did do was prove Garcia’s worth as a pay-per-view draw. The fight racked up a whopping 1.2 million buys, a mammoth number for a non-heavyweight bout.
Garcia’s profile skyrocketed. The first truly modern boxing superstar, ‘KingRy’ had built his profile through social media before that concoction implied the faux-fighters of Jake Paul’s ilk. The decent if unspectacular Oscar Duarte fell in eight rounds, allowing Garcia to dream again.
Fighting Devin Haney for the WBC super lightweight title was supposed to be the defining moment of Garcia’s career. Instead, it is a tangled knot of success and failure that has both burnished and tarnished his reputation, depending on who you speak to.
Garcia knocked Haney down three times on the way to victory, though the belt was out of his reach due to missing weight by over three pounds. But the asterisks would not stop there. Once the dust had settled on a career-best majority decision win over ‘The Dream’, Garcia failed drugs tests, with performance-enhancer Ostarine found in his system on both the day-before and day-of samples.
The Haney win, a glistening jewel in Garcia’s crown, was reduced to a No Contest. He was banned. That has now been lifted by the New York State Athletic Commission. Garcia is a free man in boxing terms, but for many the stink persists.
There is also a surprising number of fans who almost dismiss the findings, such is the esteem in which they hold the Haney none-win. The fact Garcia was doping when he routed one of the world’s pound-for-pound best means little to them. That uncertainty seems to be a possible avenue which this card is nudging the protagonists down.
The fact is, Romero did not choose to stop the fight. He is not in control of the officiating. But the win still hurt him, even if it put a world title around his waist. Losing that belt to Cruz in his next fight didn’t help. A unanimous decision win over Manuel Jaimes put ‘Rolly’ back in the win column, but he faces an almighty task to stay there.
In many ways this is a fight of necessity. Garcia needed a decent fight to come back for, but one that won’t expose the 12 months he has spent on the shelf. Romero needs to get back amongst the big names. It is win-win. But only one of them can.
Here’s how to watch Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero and the entire Times Square card, including streaming options and channels to catch the main card.
Ryan Garcia vs Rolando Romero Full Card
Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando "Rolly" Romero
Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez
Teofimo Lopez Jr. vs. Arnold Barboza Jr.
Levale Whittington vs. Reito Tsutsumi
Ryan Garcia vs Rolando Romero Predictions
I like Garcia in this. Romero comes to fight, which plays into the hands of ‘KingRy’. This one could get very tasty. Garcia is a capable all-rounder but he does love a tear-up. Romero, who has swapped haymakers with some of the best at his weight, will be only too happy to oblige.
I think war is what we’re going to get, at least for a while. But I fancy Garcia to thrive on this particular battlefield. I’m going for Ryan in rounds 7-9 at 11/4, taking home a statement win over a strong foe.
Click To: Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando 'Rolly' Romero 2025 Live Anywhere Low Price
Click To: Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando 'Rolly' Romero 2025 Live Anywhere Low Price
Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero start time
- Date: Friday, May 2
- Start time: 5:30 p.m. ET
- Main event start time (approx.): 9 p.m. ET
- Location: Times Square - New York
Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero fight card
- Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero for the WBA (Regular) welterweight title
- Devin Haney vs. Jose Carlos Ramirez; Welterweights
- Teofimo Lopez (c) vs. Arnold Barboza for the WBO and The Ring super lightweight titles
Ryan Garcia restarts his controversial career this Friday, May 2 against former world champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero. The fight headlines a mammoth card in Times Square, New York. DAZN PPV will screen the event live, with Garcia rival Devin Haney and world super lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez also in action
Ryan Garcia vs Rolando Romero Fight Preview
‘KingRy’ just can’t get it right. Mental health struggles have stalled his career since a breakthrough whipping of Olympic champion-turned-Reform candidate Luke Campbell. The comeback looked on when Garcia defeated the rank-and-file pairing of Emmanuel Tagoe and Javier Fortuna in 2022.
But Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis had other plans, blasting Garcia to bits in seven exciting rounds. But what that painful defeat did do was prove Garcia’s worth as a pay-per-view draw. The fight racked up a whopping 1.2 million buys, a mammoth number for a non-heavyweight bout.
Garcia’s profile skyrocketed. The first truly modern boxing superstar, ‘KingRy’ had built his profile through social media before that concoction implied the faux-fighters of Jake Paul’s ilk. The decent if unspectacular Oscar Duarte fell in eight rounds, allowing Garcia to dream again.
Fighting Devin Haney for the WBC super lightweight title was supposed to be the defining moment of Garcia’s career. Instead, it is a tangled knot of success and failure that has both burnished and tarnished his reputation, depending on who you speak to.
Garcia knocked Haney down three times on the way to victory, though the belt was out of his reach due to missing weight by over three pounds. But the asterisks would not stop there. Once the dust had settled on a career-best majority decision win over ‘The Dream’, Garcia failed drugs tests, with performance-enhancer Ostarine found in his system on both the day-before and day-of samples.
The Haney win, a glistening jewel in Garcia’s crown, was reduced to a No Contest. He was banned. That has now been lifted by the New York State Athletic Commission. Garcia is a free man in boxing terms, but for many the stink persists.
There is also a surprising number of fans who almost dismiss the findings, such is the esteem in which they hold the Haney none-win. The fact Garcia was doping when he routed one of the world’s pound-for-pound best means little to them. That uncertainty seems to be a possible avenue which this card is nudging the protagonists down.
The fact is, Romero did not choose to stop the fight. He is not in control of the officiating. But the win still hurt him, even if it put a world title around his waist. Losing that belt to Cruz in his next fight didn’t help. A unanimous decision win over Manuel Jaimes put ‘Rolly’ back in the win column, but he faces an almighty task to stay there.
In many ways this is a fight of necessity. Garcia needed a decent fight to come back for, but one that won’t expose the 12 months he has spent on the shelf. Romero needs to get back amongst the big names. It is win-win. But only one of them can.
Here’s how to watch Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero and the entire Times Square card, including streaming options and channels to catch the main card.
Ryan Garcia vs Rolando Romero Full Card
Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando "Rolly" Romero
Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez
Teofimo Lopez Jr. vs. Arnold Barboza Jr.
Levale Whittington vs. Reito Tsutsumi
Ryan Garcia vs Rolando Romero Predictions
I like Garcia in this. Romero comes to fight, which plays into the hands of ‘KingRy’. This one could get very tasty. Garcia is a capable all-rounder but he does love a tear-up. Romero, who has swapped haymakers with some of the best at his weight, will be only too happy to oblige.
I think war is what we’re going to get, at least for a while. But I fancy Garcia to thrive on this particular battlefield. I’m going for Ryan in rounds 7-9 at 11/4, taking home a statement win over a strong foe.
