Ryan Garcia has had no respite. After being emotionally knocked out by a tough defeat against Rolando “Rolly” Romero, the 26-year-old boxer faced the operating room in the hope of correcting an injury he had kept quiet about. But instead of relief, what he found afterwards was uncertainty: his immediate future in boxing is more clouded than ever.
Despite going into the fight against Romero at a physical disadvantage, Garcia opted to step into the ring and complete the 12 rounds. He did not make his problems public until long afterwards. Days after the surgery, when he confirmed that his right hand had been operated on, the announcement did not generate widespread support, but doubts about whether his silence was prudence or strategy.
A silence that costs dearly
Ryan Garcia chose to remain silent. He never spoke of discomfort before the fight, did not justify his performance and did not blame anyone. Only when the result was already written, he shared: “I had surgery on my hand… I never used it as an excuse”
His team, on the other hand, did recognize the impact of the injury. Guadalupe Valencia, his lawyer, said that the affected hand directly influenced the fight against Romero, although he insisted on not making excuses. The strategy now seems clear: reconstruction. Garcia’s camp is aiming for a strong comeback in the fall, but medical details and recovery times are still uncertain.
De La Hoya wants to put his pupil’s career on hold
Oscar De La Hoya, his longtime promoter, does not look favorably on a hasty return. From Las Vegas, where he was attending another card, he was blunt: “I would like Ryan to take the whole year off”. For De La Hoya, the problem is not only physical, but also emotional. He has lived the wear and tear of stardom firsthand and wants to prevent Garcia from falling into the same cycle.
In addition, he showed concern about the circles in which the fighter moves, and even suggested staying away from certain trainers. His comment about Eddy Reynoso‘s camp was blunt: “I’d hate for him to be the seventh fighter to be busted”. What seems like fatherly advice also hints at a fracture in trust with those around Garcia.
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