Ryan Garcia goes down as $77m plan goes up in smoke after boxing boilover
Ryan Garcia has suffered a stunning upset at the hands of Rolly Romero which has put his rematch with Devin Haney on ice.
Boxing/MMA
Don't miss out on the headlines from Boxing/MMA. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Ryan Garcia has suffered a stunning upset at the hands of Rolly Romero which has put his rematch with Devin Haney on ice.
Romero produced a knock down in Round 2 and then slowed down the pace of the fight from that point onwards and Garcia walked right into the trap.
Canelo vs Scull | SUN 4 MAY 9AM AEST | Canelo will look to regain the undisputed super-middleweight crown against current IBF title holder Scull. | Order now on DAZN
The final punch stats showed Romero as the aggressor, throwing 267 punches to Garcia’s 207 but landing 11 less total punches than “King Ry.”
The judges scored it 115-112, 115-112, 118-109 and it marks just the second loss of Garcia’s career.
It was supposed to be the stepping stone fight to a rematch with Haney who beat Jose Ramirez on the undercard in New York. Garcia previously claimed he made $50 million ($77 AUD) from their first fight after betting on himself.
In April of last year, Ryan knocked down Haney three times on the way to a decision victory, but that result was wiped out and the bout declared a no-contest after it was revealed Garcia failed a pre-fight drug test.
In June Garcia was arrested for reportedly causing some $15,000 worth of damage at a hotel in Beverly Hills and a month later he was suspended from World Boxing Council events for making racist comments on social media.
He had planned a New Year’s exhibition against kickboxing champion Rukiya Anpo, but that fell through when Garcia suffered a wrist injury in training.
Romero paid tribute to Garcia after the fight.
Devin Haney cannot believe his eyes watching Ryan Garcia vs Rolly Romero 😳
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) May 3, 2025
Buy @FATALFURY_PR: City of the Wolves out now and watch The Ring’s Times Square card LIVE on DAZN NOW 🿠pic.twitter.com/p2PZMdECct
“Knock downs always help win the fight but he’s a warrior and he got up and finished the fight,” Romero said on Main Event.
“I ain’t even thinking about who is next. I think Devin and Ryan should get their rematch and get a big one (payday).”
Garcia was gracious in defeat and said he was beaten by the better man on the way.
“Rolly fought a good fight, he caught me early and no excuses, congrats to him, he did a great job and that’s that,” Garcia said.
“Hats off to Rolly.
“I just need to go to the drawing board with my team, we’ll talk it over and see what’s next.”
HANEY WINS BUT ‘NIGHTMARE’ HANGOVER REMAINS
It was far from a “Dream” but Devin Haney is back in the win column.
After a year layoff from suffering three disastrous knockdowns against Ryan Garcia in a no contest last April, the “Dream” returned to action Friday night, producing a unanimous decision over Jose Ramirez at The Ring’s Fatal Fury: Times Square in New York City.
There, judges scored it 119-109, 119-109 and 118-110 all in Haney’s favor, though his performance was far from special.
The final punch stats showed Haney threw 224 punches, only landing a total of 70 consisting of 45 power shots and just 25 jabs.
Haney started the bout Friday night looking extremely tentative, going several seconds without throwing a single punch and appearing to still be facing the mental effects of the loss he took to Garcia that was later changed to a no-contest after the latter failed a drug test.
Midway through the fight, though, Haney began opening up his offense a bit by unleashing stinging combinations and crunching uppercuts, though he didn’t mash the dash and capitalize on any of his output.
Ramirez was bullishly pressuring, as expected, and managed to land some pounding shots though it was clear he was a step behind Haney’s speed.
It was far from a highlight win but Haney did more than enough to win.
Via DAZN News
RESULTS
Rolly Romero def. Ryan Garcia - unanimous decision
Devin Haney def. Jose Ramirez - unanimous decision
Teofimo Lopez def. Arnold Barboza Jr. - unanimous decision (retains WBO and The Ring super lightweight world titles)
Reito Tsutsumi def. Levale Whittington - unanimous decision
FDNY’s James Gennari defeated NYPD’s Joel Allen - unanimous decision
Originally published as Ryan Garcia goes down as $77m plan goes up in smoke after boxing boilover
Aussie’s last minute call up for shock ‘Rocky-like’ world title shot
Like a scene out of a Rocky movie, Justis Huni could soon be a world champion after a shock call up to fight for a heavyweight world title.
From racing royalty to the ring: Leek all in on boxing greatness
Mitch Leek is used to ride horses on the morning of his fights and was prepared to follow in his ancestors racing footsteps, but he’s now all in on his rising professional boxing career.