Shock Garcia Loss Scuppers Haney Rematch

Ryan Garcia suffered a daze points nonaccomplishment to Rolando Romero astatine New York's iconic Times Square, scuppering a planned rematch pinch Devin Haney.

American Garcia, 26, was dropped successful nan 2nd information by a near hook and outboxed successful ample parts of nan welterweight bout.

Underdog Romero, 29, was deservedly awarded a unanimous determination pinch scores of 115-112, 115-112 and 118-109.

"He fought a bully fight; caught maine early. No excuses, man. Congrats to him - he did a awesome job," Garcia said.

Garcia was competing for nan first clip since serving a one-year doping ban aft testing affirmative for banned constituent ostarine pursuing his victory complete Haney successful April 2024, which was overturned into a no-contest.

"A full twelvemonth took a batch of my assemblage physically and mentally," Garcia said, adding that he would now spell "back to nan drafting board".

Earlier, Haney, 26, kept his broadside of nan bargain pinch a unanimous yet underwhelming triumph against chap American Jose Carlos Ramirez.

Haney boxed connected nan backmost ft arsenic neither combatant threw thing of statement successful a forgettable 12-round contest.

In nan capacity of nan night, American two-weight world champion Teofimo Lopez defended his WBO light-welterweight title pinch a stylish points triumph complete compatriot Arnold Barboza Jr.

After a twelvemonth lay-off, an overly cautious Haney, who was dropped 3 times by Garcia past year, ne'er really sewage going successful a below-par showing.

He circled astir nan ring, landing nan occasional lead near hook, but neglected his jab arsenic azygous shots did capable to separator nan rounds.

Defensively, it was a sound capacity by Haney, mostly because gun-shy Ramirez did truthful little.

The judges scored it 119-109, 119-109 and 118-110.

The bout was champion summed up by Scotland's erstwhile undisputed light-welterweight world champion Josh Taylor, who said connected societal media that Haney looked "terrified" and "frantic".

Haney-Ramirez sapped nan 'Big Apple' of its power and vibe but nan early play successful nan header bout lifted nan mood.

Romero landed a stinging double near hook to level Garcia. It was a flush and hurtful punch which he later followed pinch a clubbing correct earlier Garcia regained his senses.

With some fighters unwilling to over-commit, Romero edged nan rounds pinch amended usage of nan jab, coupled pinch Garcia's tentativeness.

"Get busy," trainer Derrick James pleaded pinch Garcia earlier nan title rounds.

The pep talk had nary effect arsenic Romero landed a operation to caput and assemblage successful nan 11th. Haney, now ringside, was near shaking his caput astatine nan last bell.

In a first for nan sport, a ringing was constructed successful nan mediate of nan city's iconic landmark.

Fighters were driven done nan New York postulation successful unique vehicles, including classical yellowish cabs and monster trucks. Garcia arrived successful a Batmobile.

They walked up a short runway and into nan ring, a travel which took nary much than 30 seconds astatine a leisurely pace.

The action was shown connected screens to spectators extracurricular nan venue.

Inside, astir 300 invited guests, including boxing greats Mike Tyson and Roberto Duran, watched arsenic downtown Manhattan's iconic high-rise buildings, dazzling neon signs and LED advertizing provided a celebrated backdrop.

This unprecedented arena whitethorn beryllium a motion of nan future.

Saudi Arabia's boxing powerhouse Turki Alalshikh has expansive plans to big a boxing paper astatine nan notorious erstwhile Alcatraz situation successful San Francisco, California.