Times Square turned into a nightmare for Ryan Garcia on Friday as Rolando “Rolly” Romero floored him in round 2 and rode momentum to a wide unanimous decision (116‑111, 116‑111, 115‑112) for the WBA secondary welterweight belt. Garcia never found the left‑hook timing that flattened Devin Haney a year ago; punch‑stats showed him out‑landed 187‑142 and visibly arm‑weary down the stretch.
In the post‑fight presser Garcia told reporters “nothing clicked” during a five‑week camp and said he will poll fans on his next step: immediate rematch with Romero or proceed to the contracted fall return with Haney. Opting for Haney while a fresh loss hangs over him risks momentum and bargaining power, but bypassing Romero could brand him a fighter unwilling to avenge defeat.
Watch the post-fight interviews: Watch
Trainer Derrick James hinted a second Rolly bout makes competitive sense: “We saw what went wrong; with eight‑ten weeks we fix it.” Promoter Oscar De La Hoya echoed the sentiment but conceded the Haney purse remains the bigger draw if broadcasters insist.
Whichever path he chooses, Garcia must address conditioning and confidence. For now the choice is his: run it back to restore credibility, or gamble on star power and chase redemption in a different rivalry.
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