Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero scored the biggest win of his career on Friday night, upsetting Ryan Garcia by unanimous decision in the main event of a surreal outdoor boxing show staged in the heart of Times Square.
Romero dropped Garcia in the second round with a double left hook and never relinquished control. The three ringside judges scored the fight 115-112 (twice) and 118-109 for the 28-year-old Las Vegas native. (The Guardian had it 116-111 for Romero.)
It was Garcia’s first bout since his victory over Devin Haney last year was overturned due to a failed drug test. He had served a one-year suspension for testing positive for the banned substance ostarine.
Garcia, now 24-2 (1 NC), had spent the layoff battling personal issues, including alcohol use and erratic behaviour on social media, before reuniting with trainer Derrick James. He entered Friday aiming to win his first title – the WBA’s secondary welterweight belt, made vacant after Isaac Cruz withdrew – but left with a major setback instead.
He arrived in Times Square in a Batmobile, a symbol of the spectacle and hype surrounding his return. But the fighter who dropped Haney three times in Brooklyn last April was nowhere to be found. He struggled with timing, speed and output in a fight that featured one of the lowest combined punch totals ever tracked by Compubox.
Romero, now 17-2 (13 KOs), boxed cautiously after the knockdown but was the sharper, more effective fighter throughout. He pressed when necessary, targeted Garcia’s body, and surged late to leave no doubt in the judges’ minds. His performance defied the 6-1 odds against him – and upended plans for a lucrative Haney-Garcia rematch later this year.
Garcia landed just 54 punches across 12 rounds, compared to 65 for Romero. At times, Garcia appeared tentative, unsure of when or how to let his hands go. “He did a great job,” Garcia said afterward. “I’m just happy I made it through and it went 12 rounds.”
The second-round knockdown came on a crisp left hook to the chin, followed by another to the temple as Garcia tried to recover. “Hats off to Rolly,” Garcia added. “I’ll talk it over with the team and see what we’ll do.”
Romero, trained by Ismael Salas, had spoken before the fight about being overlooked and undervalued. His previous run as a titleholder at 140lbs ended in controversy, but the step up to welterweight – and the biggest win of his career – may now earn him the Haney date instead. “Devin and Ryan can have their rematch,” Romero said in the ring. “But I’m going to fight Devin first.”
Haney, fighting in the co-main event, had done his part by dominating José Ramírez over 12 rounds. Judges scored it 119-109, 119-109 and 118-110.
The bout marked Haney’s first since the no-contest against Garcia and his debut above 140lb. After a quiet opening, he took control in the third, using speed and distance to walk the former unified champion and 2012 US Olympian into sharp counters. With Sugar Shane Mosley in his corner for the first time, Haney mixed uppercuts and right-hand leads while evading most of Ramírez’s attacks.
Haney improved to 32-0 (15 KOs), while Ramírez fell to 29-3. Despite the win, Haney appeared subdued at ringside during Garcia’s defeat, realizing the marquee rematch may be off the table – at least for now.
Earlier, Teófimo López opened the DAZN pay-per-view triple bill by defeating Arnold Barboza Jr by unanimous decision to retain his WBO junior welterweight title.
The Bushwick native boxed well over 12 rounds, winning 118-110 and 116-112 on two cards. The 22-1 two-division champion outlanded Barboza 127-71 and appeared more focused than in recent outings. Barboza had his best moments in rounds six and ten, but couldn’t match Lopez’s speed or accuracy.
López now eyes a potential superfight, possibly with unbeaten welterweight Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, as Saudi investment continues to reshape the boxing calendar.
Friday’s card, funded by Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority and staged in partnership with Ring Magazine, was the first major boxing event ever held in Times Square.
Instead of traditional ring walks, fighters were driven in from a nearby hotel – López in a yellow cab, Garcia in a Batmobile. Ring card holders were replaced by celebrity impersonators, including Hulk Hogan, Michael Jackson, Jack Nicholson and Ed Sheeran. Seventh Avenue remained open to traffic, with fencing separating the crowd from the ring.
Spectators without credentials were kept at a distance by chain-link barriers, watching from the street or through gaps between buses. The DAZN broadcast showed curious tourists peering in from behind orange barricades as fighters competed under towering LED screens.
The card was billed as a one-off spectacle. But with Riyadh Season backing and boxing increasingly blending with entertainment, it may not be the last of its kind.
What happens next for Garcia is uncertain. His star power remains, but after a flat performance and a failed drug test on his record, he may need to rebuild from the outside. Meanwhile, Haney remains unbeaten, López is resurgent – and Rolly Romero is suddenly the man with all the leverage.
