NEW YORK—Rolando "Rolly" Romero, the underdog with a chip on his shoulder, turned the boxing world upside down on May 2, 2025, outclassing Ryan Garcia in a unanimous decision upset that left jaws on the floor at Madison Square Garden's Hulu Theater. The lightweight clash, billed as Garcia’s comeback coronation, became Romero’s gritty triumph, derailing the golden boy’s plans for a Devin Haney rematch and shaking up the division.
Romero, 29, came out swinging, landing a thunderous left hook in the second round that sent Garcia sprawling to the canvas. The knockdown set the tone. Garcia, usually a flashy counterpuncher, looked rattled, his rhythm off as Romero pressed forward, relentless. For 12 rounds, Romero’s pressure and sharper punches kept Garcia on the ropes—figuratively and, at times, literally. The judges’ scorecards told the story: 115-112, 115-112, and a lopsided 118-109, all for Romero.
Garcia, 26, entered the fight as the heavy favorite, his star power fueled by a massive social media following and a recent knockout win over Haney. Promoters had already been hyping a lucrative rematch. But Romero, a Las Vegas native with a reputation for unpredictable brawling, had other ideas. He controlled the pace, landing 42% of his power shots compared to Garcia’s 31%, according to CompuBox stats. Garcia’s team admitted post-fight that their fighter struggled to adjust after the early knockdown.
The crowd, a mix of Garcia’s loyal fans and skeptical New York fight purists, roared as Romero’s hand was raised. Chants of “Rolly! Rolly!” echoed through the theater. Garcia, visibly dejected, left the ring without comment, his team later confirming he’d undergo medical evaluation for a possible shoulder tweak sustained in the fifth round.
Romero’s win flips the script in the lightweight division. The WBA, which sanctioned the bout, now lists Romero as a top contender for the vacant 135-pound title. Garcia’s camp, meanwhile, faces tough questions about their next move. The fight, broadcast live on DAZN, drew 8,200 fans to the venue and peaked at 1.2 million viewers online, per early network figures.
Romero, grinning ear to ear in the post-fight presser, kept it short: “I told y’all I’d shock the world. Ryan’s good, but tonight was my night.” Garcia’s promoter declined to discuss future plans, citing the need for a team debrief.
The bout was Garcia’s first loss since 2023. Romero’s record now stands at 16-2, with 13 knockouts. Garcia falls to 24-2, with 20 knockouts. No rematch clause was included in the fight contract. The New York State Athletic Commission reported no disciplinary actions or irregularities during the event.