Rolando Romero Hands Ryan Garcia a Surprising Defeat at Times Square
No one really saw this coming. On a brisk May night in 2025, Rolando Romero turned heads and threw the boxing scene into chaos as he outpointed Ryan Garcia in a unanimous decision. The fight, staged right in the heart of Times Square, wasn’t just any tussle. It drew an enormous outdoor crowd—estimated at over 400,000—making the atmosphere more electric than a New Year’s countdown.
For Garcia, this wasn’t just another match. This was supposed to be a triumphant return after a rough patch, including an earlier defeat to Gervonta Davis and a much-publicized 2023 drug suspension. Many thought Garcia would use this night as a comeback statement, reestablishing himself atop the welterweight division. Instead, he looked flat and out of sorts, and Romero seized the chance to flip the script.
Boxing’s Big Names Sound Off After the Upset
The reaction from fellow boxers was immediate and blunt. Watching live, Devin Haney couldn’t hide his confusion. The WBA lightweight champ, who also fought that night, went on air and simply asked, “What happened?” He looked genuinely puzzled, reflecting what a lot of fans were thinking as Garcia failed to find his rhythm.
Then there was Conor Benn, who didn’t hold back. Benn, who had once considered Garcia as a possible next opponent, called the performance “terrible” and “very disappointing” in a post-fight interview. His analysis wasn’t just tough—it was final. “Definitely not, not interested,” he shot back when asked about fighting Garcia now. That’s a clear signal that this loss could have real consequences for Garcia’s marketability among top-tier boxers.
Teofimo Lopez might not have said anything, but his presence mattered. Fighting on the same card against Arnold Barboza Jr., Lopez kept his reactions to himself. Maybe he didn’t want to pile on, or maybe he just preferred to let the ring do the talking after his own match. Either way, the silence spoke volumes about the event’s gravity.
- The night also featured Haney vs. Jose Carlos Ramirez, offering fans layers of top-level boxing action.
- For Garcia, this is his first defeat since the Gervonta Davis debacle, and it happened with the world watching, right after overcoming suspension trouble.
- Romero’s stunning win has thrown the welterweight and lightweight title scenes into total disarray, shaking up possible future match-ups and rivalries.
No matter where Garcia goes next, he’s facing more than just questions about his skills. He’s got to navigate a shaken reputation and a hungry crowd of new challengers, while the boxing world buzzes about the changing pecking order in the welterweight division.
