CNN
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Ryan Garcia went through a shocking defeat at the hands of Roland “Rolly” Romero on Friday night at Times Square, losing points in his first fight since returning from a year’s doping ban.
Romero’s double left hook in the second round dropped Garcia and the 26-year-old stood up straight, but he struggled to find a rhythm, and his opponent was awarded a unanimous decision with scores of 115-112, 115-112, 118-109.
“After a year of layoffs, I realized I was very off myself, and that year was so much mentally,” Garcia said afterwards.
“There’s a lot of things I have to understand mentally. Then I’ll go back to it and you’ll see the attack come out. I didn’t have it tonight,” he added.
The match came as part of the first boxing card held at Times Square, with Garcia arriving at Batmobile and Ring Girl, replacing impersonators such as Michael Jackson and Hulk Hogan.
The event, hosted by Saudi Arabia’s Ring Magazine, was viewed in person by just 300 invited guests, including Mike Tyson and Roberto Duran, according to the BBC. Meanwhile, outside the makeshift arena, fans gathered to see the seizures on a large screen built in Times Square.
Romero kept his welterweight match in control following his second round hook, but it was a lackluster fight in a quality moment. The 490 total punch represents the third fewest in a 12-round battle since Compubox began its punch record in 1985.
Garcia looked like Rusty on his first outing as he tested positive for Ostarin, a drug that improves performance the day and day before his victory over Devin Haney in April 2024.
At the time, Garcia denied the allegations, saying, “I’ve never taken steroids. …I don’t even know where to get them at the end of the day…I barely take supplements.”
His loss to Romero on Friday could leave him on record for 24-2 and one contest, potentially destroying plans for a rematch with Haney. It could be Romero (now 17-2) who replaced him, having achieved the biggest victory of his career.
Haney supported the bargain end early on Friday, beating Jose Ramirez by unanimous decision.
