Ryan Garcia's unexpected loss to Rolly Romero in New York's Times Square has thrown the boxing world into disarray. The upset occurred during what was supposed to be a routine tune-up fight for Garcia, disrupting planned events and shifting the spotlight to Canelo Alvarez.
Garcia, 26, made a theatrical entrance in a Batmobile at Times Square, appearing calm and confident. However, his performance in the ring didn't match his entrance. Romero floored Garcia with a left hook in the second round, a punch Garcia is known for himself. After that, Garcia never regained his rhythm.
Romero controlled the tempo and landed meaningful shots throughout the fight. The judges awarded him a unanimous decision victory, stunning both Garcia and the crowd.
"TURKI PED OFF THAT RYAN GARCIA IS FING UP THE HANEY REMATCH,"
One fan tweeted, highlighting the frustration felt by many, including event curator Turki Alalshikh, who was visibly upset after Garcia's loss.
The defeat has derailed Garcia's momentum and possibly cancelled a hyped matchup with Devin Haney. It's also renewed scrutiny over Garcia's previous positive test for Ostarine. Some fans on social media didn't hesitate to bring this up, with tweets like:
"NO OSTARINE, NO WIN"
and
"Was it the lack of ostraine?"
The weekend, curated to celebrate boxing's brightest stars, has so far fallen short of expectations. Devin Haney's performance against Jose Ramirez was a dull, low-volume decision win that left fans and critics disappointed.
"Three stars on one card doesn't guarantee action... dreadful show. Hopefully Canelo and Monster can wash the taste of that s**t out of our mouth,"
Another fan tweeted, expressing the general sentiment of disappointment.
With these disappointing performances, all eyes are now on Canelo Alvarez. He's set to face William Scull on Saturday night in Saudi Arabia. Alvarez has become boxing's last hope for redemption after a weekend of letdowns.
The sport needs a hero, and Canelo Alvarez is seen as the last shot at salvaging what has been a disappointing showcase. Fans and organizers alike will be watching closely, hoping for a performance that can erase the memory of the previous upsets and lackluster fights.
