By: Sean Crose
After a yearlong suspension for having a banned substance in his system each earlier than and after his battle with Devin Haney again in 2024, Ryan Garcia lastly returned to the ring on Friday evening. His opponent was the rugged and outspoken Rolando “Rolly” Romero. The battle, scheduled for a welterweight 12, was the primary occasion of an odd card that came about smack dab in the midst of Instances’ Sq.. The 16-2 Romero and the 24-1 Garcia instantly took to buying and selling jabs within the first. Romero tried working the physique, nevertheless it appeared the taller Garcia had received the chapter.
A double left hook abruptly despatched Garcia to the mat within the second. Garcia rapidly bought up nevertheless it was clear he wasn’t going to glide his method to a simple victory. The tempo slowed down a bit within the third and issues remained shut. Every man fought warily within the fourth, although Garcia was in a position to land some clear, stinging jabs. Romero was the extra energetic of the 2 fighters within the fifth. Romero centered on the physique within the sixth. It was clear in spherical seven that Romero was giving Garcia actual hassle. Nonetheless, Garcia might effectively have edged the spherical, thanks largely to his jab.
Each fighters remained cautious of one another’s energy within the eighth, although Garcia jabbed effectively. Romero seemed as if he may need been the extra energetic fighter within the ninth. By the tenth it was long gone apparent that the battle was being fought at Romero’s tempo. Even Garcia’s face betrayed some frustration. The eleventh was punctuated by sharp physique photographs from Romero. The twelfth and remaining spherical was shocking in that Garcia didn’t appear notably aggressive. The person was merely lackadaisical. Luckily, there have been no shenanigans from the judges, who after the ultimate bell rewarded Romero with a unanimous choice win.
An infinite upset.
