The PPV audience around the world really could not understand what was happening as Ryan Garcia lost to Rolly Romero in Times Square. And neither could Eddie Hearn.
Garcia fell to 24-2 with a baffling performance on a night where he was supposed to finalise that eagerly-awaited rematch with Devin Haney.
Thirteen months ago many fight fans and experts feared for Ryan’s wellbeing in the build-up to his first bout with Haney at Barclays Center in New York, due to his bizarre behaviour in the countdown to the fight.
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On the night Garcia would confound the critics by handing Haney his first ever pro loss, but the result was later changed to a no contest when it was revealed Ryan had returned a positive drugs test.
After being suspended by the New York State Athletic Commission, it appeared the 26-year-old superstar from Los Angeles had turned his troubled life around. He looked good as he prepared to face Romero as boxing hit Times Square for the very first time.
Things did not go according to plan though as Rolly tore up the Garcia/Haney 2 script, and punched his way to a unanimous decision victory (live on DAZN PPV). Ryan meanwhile thew only 210 punches in the entire 12 rounds, connecting with only 66. It was a miserable performance.
Hearn on Garcia vs Rolly
Hearn discussed the shock result with Chris Mannix on YouTube, and said: “It was just bizarre. I mean, no one really did anything. And you know I was sad for Ryan, actually, because I think he’s done incredibly well to get himself back in the game. Like, he was mentally shot to pieces in the Devin Haney fight, and now he looks great, you know, he’s fresh-faced again, and all this kind of stuff.
“But I don’t know what he was doing. Like, was it just that he got dropped? I mean, there is definitely an element of that weird – and I said it in the build-up to his fight – I said, “It’s hallucinogenic out there. You’re pulling up in a Batmobile in Times Square, your face is all over these screens, then you go down this little thing and you walk out and there’s like 150 people there, and you’re thinking, what on earth is going on here?” Then you’re flat, then you can’t really get yourself up for it, but – these are all the sorts of things you’ve gotta prepare for pre-fight. And you can’t just let it pass you by on the night and then go, “Oh, well, the atmosphere was weird.”
Good advice, no execution
Hearn felt Garcia, who suffered that crucial knockdown in Round 2, was getting good advice from his corner, but for whatever reason was unable to execute the gameplan.
“Derrick James was telling him the right things to do, but he never really tried. And I don’t know, is that the moment, the confidence? Has he fallen out of love with it all? Did he get hurt and think, ‘I don’t wanna engage?’ None of ’em are particularly encouraging. But Rolly really didn’t do anything, you know? It was just a weird fight.”
Garcia vs Haney 2 ruined
So that Garcia/Haney rematch will surely now have to wait, any time would be a very tough sell after what we saw in Times Square. As Hearn was quick to point out.
“Haney was getting in the ring after to do the face-off, you’ve got the big rematch. Now the rematch is in tatters. it’s not of no value, but nowhere near the value that it was. And I think both guys need another fight, if I’m honest.
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“I mean, Ryan has to. I don’t know if there’s a rematch clause, and again, you’re not gonna be screaming to see both guys any time soon. They’ve gotta go out there and put a performance together.”
