Ryan Garcia's comeback fight ended in defeat last Friday at Times Square, New York. The former rising star lost to Rolando 'Rolly' Romero, dealing another blow to his boxing career.
Garcia returned to the ring after a year-long suspension. He tested positive for ostarine before a scheduled bout with Devin Haney on April 20, 2024. This setback followed a knockout loss to Gervonta Davis, making the Romero fight crucial for Garcia's reputation.
The fight didn't go as planned for 'KingRy'. He hit the canvas in the second round and spent the rest of the match on the defensive. Garcia looked out of rhythm and overconfident, lacking the sharpness needed for a successful comeback.
Instead of focusing on Romero, Garcia seemed more interested in a rematch with Haney. At the 'Grand Arrivals' event in New York, he even threatened Haney's father, Bill.
"Yes, I'm willing to prove it. I can't wait! I'm also going to beat up his father. It's him I want to beat up, but Devin can win again. I'm going to do the same thing I did last time. Maybe we can run it back in New York. Why not? Let him come back and do what I did to him last time."
Garcia's loss puts him in a tough spot in the boxing world. Bob Arum, head of Top Rank, dismissed the idea of Garcia facing Teofimo Lopez, who recently defeated Arnold Barboza Jr.
"Those are not really competitive fights for Teofimo,"Arum said, delivering a harsh reality check to Garcia's standing in the sport.
This defeat raises questions about Garcia's focus and preparation. His stock has fallen significantly, and major promoters now view him as non-competitive against top fighters. Garcia must regroup and refocus if he wants to regain his position in the boxing landscape.
