Ryan Garcia`s highly anticipated return to the ring proved disastrous. On Friday night, in his first bout since his suspension following the 2024 fight against Devin Haney (which was later ruled a no-contest), Garcia faced Rolando “Rolly” Romero in the main event of the “Fatal Fury: City of Wolves” card. The fight was widely expected to serve as a tune-up before a potential rematch with Haney, but Romero had other plans.
Entering the fight as a significant underdog, Romero demonstrated superior poise and confidence throughout the contest. He effectively neutralized Garcia for large portions of the fight, notably scoring a knockdown over “King Ryan” in the second round. From that point on, Romero maintained control, strategically landing power shots and dictating a slow pace. The twelve-round affair ultimately saw one of the lowest punch counts in boxing history. Romero secured a clear victory via unanimous decision with scorecards reading 115-112, 115-112, and 118-109.
Post-Fight Reactions
Following the fight, Garcia displayed good sportsmanship, acknowledging Romero`s performance. “He fought a good fight, caught me early,” Garcia stated. “No excuses. Congratulations to him, he fought a good fight, and that`s that.” He also reflected on the challenges he faced leading up to the fight, adding, “I just think that whole year took a lot off my body physically and mentally. I`m just happy I made it to the ring and went 12 rounds.”
Romero was humble in his victory. While his win potentially disrupts plans for a Garcia-Haney rematch, Romero expressed his desire to see that fight still happen. “I ain’t even thinking about what’s next,” Romero said. “I think Devin and Ryan should get their rematch and make a big one.”
Given Devin Haney`s perceived struggles in his own win earlier on the same night against Jose Ramirez, Romero`s suggestion that the rematch could still occur might prove prescient.
