The stage was set for a blockbuster night of boxing in Times Square, but the main event didn’t deliver the comeback story Ryan Garcia had hoped for. Returning from a one-year doping suspension following his controversial fight against Devin Haney in 2024 – in which he tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine – Garcia faced Rolando “Rolly” Romero in a welterweight bout. The fight, which took place in the heart of Manhattan’s iconic plaza, saw Garcia struggle as Romero knocked him down in the second round with a pair of sharp hooks. Despite getting back on his feet, Garcia couldn’t find his rhythm and Romero dominated to earn a unanimous decision victory by scores of 115-112, 115-112 and 118-109.
De La Hoya’s Undercover Stunt Falls Flat
In a playful attempt to drum up excitement, Oscar De La Hoya went undercover as “Fredrick,” a quirky foreigner, in Times Square yesterday to promote the undercard of Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero. The boxing event, which also featured Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez, was meant to hype Garcia’s return from a one-year doping suspension. The video shows De La Hoya, disguised and with a heavy accent, mingling with fans to spread the word about the fight.
But despite the hilarious stunt, De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions fighters went 0-3, with none of his boxers winning their fights. It appears that the “Fredrick” disguise may remain in place to help De La Hoya avoid recognition in the midst of a disastrous night for his fighters in New York. De La Hoya has remained silent on the matter – what can he say after such a debacle? He’d be wise to focus on finding new talent, as Golden Boy Promotions clearly needs a fresh start.
For Garcia, a California native of Mexican descent, the loss marked a bitter comeback clouded by the lingering doping scandal that cost him a title shot against Haney last year.
What’s Next for Garcia and De La Hoya
Garcia’s loss to Romero not only dashed hopes of a high-profile rematch with Haney later this year, but also raised questions about his future in the sport. He looked off-tempo and out of sync, a far cry from the dynamic fighter fans once knew. Meanwhile, the night wasn’t a total wash for the card – Haney beat Jose Ramirez in a lackluster decision (119-109, 119-109, 118-110) that felt more like a marathon than a fight, and Teofimo Lopez successfully defended his WBO junior welterweight title against Arnold Barboza Jr. with a unanimous decision (116-112, 116-112, 118-110).
But the losses stung for Golden Boy. Adding to the tension, De La Hoya’s old rivalCanelo Alvarez fights William Scull tonight in Saudi Arabia – a reminder of their fractured history, as De La Hoya once launched Canelo’s career before their bitter fallout.
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