New York’s neon jungle lit up on May 2, 2025, as Ryan Garcia stepped back into the ring after a year-long doping suspension, only to get schooled by Rolando “Rolly” Romero in a welterweight clash that had the crowd buzzing. The outdoor bout, staged in the heart of Times Square, ended with Garcia eating a unanimous decision loss, his record now stained after a turbulent stretch off the canvas.
Romero came out swinging, dropping Garcia in the second round with a pair of vicious left hooks that sent the Californian sprawling. The judges didn’t flinch: two scored it 115-112, while the third saw it as a 118-109 rout, all for Romero. Garcia, once a golden boy of boxing, looked rusty, his punches hesitant, his footwork sluggish—a far cry from the kid who electrified fans with a triple knockdown of Devin Haney back in April 2024. That win, though, was erased, ruled a no-contest after Garcia tested positive for a banned substance, kicking off his year of exile.
The road to this fight wasn’t smooth. Garcia’s suspension, handed down by the New York State Athletic Commission, followed a failed drug test that sparked headlines and hard questions. Then came June 2024, when he was arrested for allegedly trashing a Beverly Hills hotel, racking up $15,000 in damages. A month later, the World Boxing Council barred him from their events after he hurled racist remarks on social media, piling more weight on his comeback bid.
Romero, meanwhile, seized the moment. His victory snagged the WBA welterweight title, a belt greenlit for the fight after Garcia’s suspension was lifted in late April 2025. The win threw a wrench in Garcia’s plans for a rematch with Haney, who kept his own slate clean that night with a unanimous decision over Jose Ramirez in the same Times Square ring.
Garcia’s team stayed mum post-fight, offering no comment on what’s next. Romero, grinning under the Manhattan lights, soaked in the moment, his hand raised as the scorecards sealed Garcia’s defeat.
The fight drew 12,347 fans to the outdoor arena. Garcia’s professional record now stands at 24-2, with 20 knockouts. Romero improves to 16-2, with 13 knockouts.