Rolly Romero Stuns Ryan Garcia in Unconventional Times Square Showdown

In a night of boxing that broke tradition and dazzled Times Square, Rolando “Rolly” Romero delivered a stunning upset over Ryan Garcia, winning by unanimous decision and stealing the spotlight in one of the sport’s most unorthodox spectacles.

Garcia, making his return after a year-long suspension for a failed drug test, hoped to make a grand reentry by arriving in a Batmobile and channeling superhero energy. But the theatrics were short-lived. In the second round, Romero landed a powerful left hand that sent Garcia crashing to the canvas, momentarily dazed and staring up at the iconic New York billboards.

“Just Rolly’s night,” Garcia admitted post-fight. “He fought a good fight. Caught me early.”

The 140-pound bout unfolded under the bright lights and swirling chaos of Times Square, marking Garcia’s first match since his win over Devin Haney was overturned due to doping violations. Originally envisioned as a prelude to a Garcia-Haney rematch, the narrative changed swiftly as only Haney emerged victorious from his bout earlier in the evening.

Romero (17-2) looked composed and aggressive, landing sharp counters and gradually overwhelming Garcia (24-2), who never quite found his rhythm. Judges scored the fight 115-112 twice and 118-109 in Romero’s favor.

Despite the victory, Romero showed humility. “Man, I ain’t even thinking about what’s next,” he said. “I think Devin and Ryan should get their rematch and make a big one.”

The night was part carnival, part combat sport. Ring girls were swapped out for celebrity impersonators—Snoop Dogg, Hulk Hogan, and Michael Jackson among them—while Elmo-costumed entertainers and live drummers added to the chaos. Fighters were delivered via themed vehicles, with Teofimo Lopez arriving in a yellow cab and Garcia in the Batmobile.

Lopez (22-1) outclassed Arnold Barboza Jr. with a dominant performance, while Haney (32-0) comfortably defeated Jose Ramirez. But the spotlight belonged to Times Square itself, as Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, which recently acquired Ring Magazine, opted for an unforgettable venue rather than the traditional Madison Square Garden or Barclays Center.

Seventh Avenue remained partially open to traffic, and fans strained to see through orange fencing and flashing lights. Inside the closed-off section, a select few watched as boxing history unfolded in one of the world’s busiest intersections.

“I thought it’d be bigger,” Lopez said of the event’s start. “But by the end? Yeah, it felt like something special.”