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Ryan Garcia Wants Rematch With Rolly Romero

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Robert LaMar | Last updated Jul 28, 2025 9:55 PM ET

One of the year’s most surprising results may soon get its sequel. Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero has always been a powerful puncher. He put that power on display. After suffering a unanimous decision loss to Rolando Romero in May a result that derailed plans for a blockbuster rematch with Devin Haney Ryan Garcia is already pushing for redemption. Despite being a heavy favorite going into their first encounter, Garcia was uncharacteristically flat, struggling to find rhythm and timing against the unorthodox Romero. The defeat not only shocked fans and pundits, but also raised questions about Garcia’s readiness to compete at the elite level after periods of inactivity, mental health breaks, and injuries.

Ryan Garcia and Rolly Romero are in advanced talks for a rematch that could take place as early as December, sources tell The Ring. pic.twitter.com/50O4Y1UziL

— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) July 26, 2025

Change of heart

Shortly after the fight, Garcia underwent surgery on his right hand his second in four years adding to concerns about his long-term durability. But Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs, 1 NC) says he’s refocused, healing well, and laser-focused on avenging the Romero loss.

“That just wasn’t me that night,” Garcia said. “I had hand problems on both of my hands, coming off a one-year layoff, and a weird training camp, training just four weeks with Derrick James, and fighting in front of a small crowd. I had a severely swollen knuckle on my left hand going in, two weeks before the fight. Anything I did flared it up. I was basically fighting with no hands, and that’s why you saw me barely throw any punches.

Mentally not there?

“It was the first time that’s ever happened in any of my fights. It was hard for me to accept during the fight. I cried after the fight not because I lost, but because I was defenseless. It sucks when you’re a competitor, and I was actually shocked Rolly was not attacking me. It was a weird night and just a mess all the way through.”

It’s a little surprising that Ryan Garcia actually wants to fight Romero again. Considering the fact that the moment Garcia felt Romero’s power, he became a scared fighter in the ring and didn’t really want to take too many too many chances moving forward. So I’m very shocked that he actually wants a rematch. But maybe the hand was really actually bothering him and that could be a valid excuse.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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