NEW YORK — Ryan Garcia’s comeback fight was supposed to be a fiery return, a chance to wipe clean the stain of a doping scandal and set up a blockbuster rematch with Devin Haney. Instead, on May 2, 2025, in the heart of Times Square, Rolando “Rolly” Romero handed Garcia a humbling unanimous decision loss that left the boxing world stunned and Haney’s plans in tatters.
The open-air ring, set where Broadway and 7th Avenue collide at 42nd Street, was a spectacle. Neon signs blazed, Manhattan’s skyscrapers loomed, and about 300 invited guests—including legends like Mike Tyson and Roberto Duran—watched under the city’s electric glow. Garcia, stepping into the welterweight bout at 146.8 pounds, faced Romero, who tipped the scales at 146.6. Both men were hungry, but for different reasons. Garcia, 26, was fighting for redemption after a one-year ban for testing positive for ostarine following his April 2024 win over Haney, later ruled a no-contest. Romero, ranked second by the WBA at 147 pounds, was clawing back from losses to Gervonta Davis and Isaac Cruz.
The fight started with a jolt. In round two, Romero floored Garcia with a sharp combination, sending a ripple of gasps through the crowd. Garcia scrambled up, but the tone was set. Romero, relentless, piled on pressure, landing crisp shots to head and body. By the 11th, a punishing flurry had Garcia reeling. The final bell rang, and the scorecards told a brutal story: 115-112, 115-112, and a lopsided 118-109, all for Romero. Garcia’s record slipped to 24 wins, 2 losses, with 20 knockouts. Romero’s climbed to 17 wins, 2 losses, 13 by knockout.
Earlier that night, Haney kept his end of the bargain, outpointing Jose Carlos Ramirez in a 12-round snooze-fest. The plan was clear: if both Garcia and Haney won, a rematch would light up the boxing world. Romero’s upset blew that script to bits. Garcia, visibly drained, admitted the year-long layoff had sapped him. “A whole year took a lot of my body physically and mentally,” he said, vowing to return to the drawing board. Haney, watching ringside, could only shake his head as his rival’s defeat sank in.
The event, staged by The Ring magazine and backed by Saudi boxing czar Turki Alalshikh, was a historic first for Times Square. Broadcast on DAZN pay-per-view for $59.99 in the U.S., it also featured Teofimo Lopez retaining his WBO super-lightweight title against Arnold Barboza Jr. Alalshikh, never one to think small, is already eyeing a future card at Alcatraz prison in San Francisco.
For now, Garcia faces a long road back. Romero, the underdog, walks away with the WBA welterweight title and a career-defining win. Haney, stuck in limbo, waits for a rematch that may never come. In boxing, one night can change everything.