The stage was set for a blockbuster night time of boxing in Instances Sq., however the principle occasion did not ship the comeback story Ryan Garcia had hoped for. Coming back from a one-year doping suspension following his controversial combat towards Devin Haney in 2024 – during which he examined constructive for the banned substance Ostarine – Garcia confronted Rolando “Rolly” Romero in a welterweight bout. The combat, which came about within the coronary heart of Manhattan’s iconic plaza, noticed Garcia wrestle as Romero knocked him down within the second spherical with a pair of sharp hooks. Regardless of getting again on his toes, Garcia could not discover his rhythm and Romero dominated to earn a unanimous choice victory by scores of 115-112, 115-112 and 118-109.
De La Hoya’s Undercover Stunt Falls Flat
In a playful try and drum up pleasure, Oscar De La Hoya went undercover as “Fredrick,” a unusual foreigner, in Instances Sq. yesterday to promote the undercard of Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero. The boxing occasion, which additionally featured Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez, was meant to hype Garcia’s return from a one-year doping suspension. The video exhibits De La Hoya, disguised and with a heavy accent, mingling with followers to unfold the phrase in regards to the combat.
However regardless of the hilarious stunt, De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions fighters went 0-3, with none of his boxers successful their fights. It seems that the “Fredrick” disguise might stay in place to assist De La Hoya keep away from recognition within the midst of a disastrous night time 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 smart to deal with discovering new expertise, as Golden Boy Promotions clearly wants a recent begin.
For Garcia, a California native of Mexican descent, the loss marked a bitter comeback clouded by the lingering doping scandal that price him a title shot towards Haney final 12 months.
What’s Subsequent for Garcia and De La Hoya
Garcia’s loss to Romero not solely dashed hopes of a high-profile rematch with Haney later this 12 months, but in addition raised questions on his future within the sport. He regarded off-tempo and out of sync, a far cry from the dynamic fighter followers as soon as knew. In the meantime, the night time wasn’t a complete wash for the cardboard – Haney beat Jose Ramirez in a lackluster choice (119-109, 119-109, 118-110) that felt more like a marathon than a fight, and Teofimo Lopez efficiently defended his WBO junior welterweight title towards Arnold Barboza Jr. with a unanimous choice (116-112, 116-112, 118-110).
However the losses stung for Golden Boy. Including to the stress, De La Hoya’s outdated rivalCanelo Alvarez fights William Scull tonight in Saudi Arabia – a reminder of their fractured historical past, as De La Hoya as soon as launched Canelo’s profession earlier than their bitter fallout.
