Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero Fight – Time, Schedule, Results, and Full Card Breakdown
May 2, 2025: A Night of Upsets and Redemption in Times Square
Event Overview
The historic "Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves" boxing card, held on May 2, 2025, in New York City’s Times Square, delivered high stakes and unexpected outcomes. Headlined by Ryan Garcia’s comeback bout against Rolando "Rolly" Romero, the event marked the first boxing card hosted in the iconic location and drew global attention. Garcia, returning after a one-year suspension for a failed drug test, aimed to reclaim his standing in the sport but fell short against Romero, who secured a unanimous decision victory to claim the WBA welterweight title.
The co-main event featured Devin Haney’s cautious victory over Jose Ramirez, while Teofimo Lopez dominated Arnold Barboza Jr. to retain his WBO super lightweight title. Below, we break down the fight’s schedule, results, ticket details, and implications for the future.
Fight Card and Results
The stacked card included three high-profile bouts and undercard matches, blending technical mastery and dramatic upsets.
Main Card Results
WBA Welterweight Title Fight
Rolando "Rolly" Romero def. Ryan Garcia
Result: Unanimous Decision (115-112, 115-112, 118-109)
Key Moments: Romero dropped Garcia with a left hook in Round 2 and dominated with body shots, stifling Garcia’s offense. Garcia admitted post-fight that his layoff impacted his performance .
Welterweight Co-Main Event
Devin Haney def. Jose Ramirez
Result: Unanimous Decision (119-109, 119-109, 118-110)
Analysis: A low-action fight where Haney relied on lateral movement and jabs to outpoint Ramirez, recovering from his 2024 loss to Garcia .
WBO Super Lightweight Title Fight
Teofimo Lopez def. Arnold Barboza Jr.
Result: Unanimous Decision (116-112, 116-112, 118-110)
Highlight: Lopez showcased elite footwork and sharp counterpunching, surviving a brief scare in Round 6 .
Undercard Results
Reito Tsutsumi def. Levale Whittington (Unanimous Decision)
James Gennari def. Joel Allen (Unanimous Decision) .
Fight Time and Schedule
The event’s timeline was staggered to accommodate global audiences:
Start Time: Coverage began at 6:00 PM ET (DAZN PPV).
Co-Main Event (Haney vs. Ramirez): Ring walks at 7:00 PM ET .
Main Event (Garcia vs. Romero): Ring walks at 8:00 PM ET .
Total runtime spanned six hours, concluding around midnight ET.
Ticket Information
The fight was hosted in a custom-built outdoor arena in Times Square. While initial promotions suggested public ticket sales, most seats were allocated to sponsors and VIPs. Limited general admission tickets were reportedly priced from 5,000, though official sales channels (e.g., The Rabbit Hole in Astoria) listed the event as "Tickets Not on Sale" 1014.
Fighter Backgrounds and Pre-Fight Context
Ryan Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs)
Return After Suspension: Garcia’s last fight (April 2024) saw his win over Devin Haney overturned due to a positive test for ostarine, leading to a one-year suspension and fines 714.
Weight Class Shift: This bout marked Garcia’s welterweight debut after competing at lightweight and junior welterweight 14.
Rolando Romero (17-2, 13 KOs)
Career Resurgence: Romero rebounded from a 2024 TKO loss to Isaac Cruz, using his power punching and aggression to outwork Garcia 711.
Title Aspirations: The win earned Romero the WBA welterweight title, revitalizing his reputation 3.
Devin Haney (32-0, 15 KOs)
Bounce-Back Victory: Haney’s cautious win over Ramirez aimed to erase memories of his controversial loss to Garcia 314.
Teofimo Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs)
Champion’s Display: Lopez’s technical mastery against Barboza reinforced his status as a pound-for-pound elite 11.
Post-Fight Analysis and Highlights
Garcia’s Struggles
Garcia’s hesitation to engage, likely due to Romero’s counterpunching threat, allowed Romero to control the pace. Trainer Derrick James urged Garcia to increase output, but the 26-year-old struggled to find rhythm 3.
Romero’s Strategy
Romero’s bodywork and early knockdown set the tone. “I knew I had to break him down early,” Romero said post-fight, emphasizing his focus on Garcia’s midsection 3.
Future Matchups
Garcia-Haney Rematch: Initially planned for October 2025, Romero’s win disrupted this narrative. Garcia hinted at a return: “I’ll come back stronger” 3.
Lopez vs. Jaron Ennis: Lopez called out welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis, with talks underway for a superfight 11.
How to Watch Replays
The event streamed globally on DAZN PPV at **89.99) including the Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull fight on May 3. Subscribers can access replays via DAZN’s on-demand library.
Conclusion
The May 2 card in Times Square underscored boxing’s unpredictability. Romero’s upset and Haney’s cautious win reshaped the welterweight landscape, while Lopez solidified his legacy. For Garcia, the loss raises questions about his post-suspension trajectory, but his star power ensures future opportunities. As the sport looks ahead, potential matchups like Lopez-Ennis and Garcia-Romero II promise to keep fans engaged.
Keywords: Ryan Garcia vs Rolly Romero results, Garcia fight time, Times Square boxing schedule, DAZN PPV cost, Teofimo Lopez vs Barboza.
For full fight highlights and updates, visit DAZN or Sportskeeda
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