BITTER rivals Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney are set to return to the ring on May 3 (Manila time) in New York against separate opponents. The mission order is simple: Win, so they can face each other again in a very lucrative rematch later this year.
Haney and Garcia first crossed paths on April 20, 2024 in Brooklyn, New York. The fight was supposed to be for Haney’s WBC junior welterweight (140 pounds) title but Garcia showed up overweight. In the fight proper, Garcia soundly battered Haney, knocking him down three times to win via decision. As he was overweight, Garcia did not win the WBC crown.
Things took a turn for the worse for Garcia when he tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine. The New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) overturned the original result and declared the fight a No Contest.
Haney’s loss was set aside and his unbeaten mark (31-0) was restored. Garcia was slapped a hefty fine and his boxing license was also suspended for one year.
While Garcia was serving his suspension, Haney surprisingly vacated the WBC belt. It was a strategic move: instead of defending the WBC crown, Haney opted to abdicate and wait for Garcia’s return for a megabuck rematch.
Defending the WBC title would have put the rematch at risk.
The NYSAC recently lifted Garcia’s one-year suspension and this paved the way for Garcia’s return to action on May 3. As expected, with Garcia’s reinstatement, Haney also scheduled a fight on May 3. The two are appearing on the same card.
Garcia is booked to face Rolando “Rolly” Romero while Haney will square off with Jose Ramirez.
Garcia is treading a safer route. Romero offers power but has a chin made of porcelain. Haney, on the other hand, is facing Ramirez who was a former unified junior welterweight champion.
Garcia, 24-1 with 20 knockouts, claimed the time-off gave him the chance to rededicate himself to the sport. He also agreed to random drug tests to ensure that he will be “clean” for his return.
Romero, 16-2 with 13 knockouts, went unbeaten in his first 14 fights by feasting on human punching bags. In May 2022, Romero finally faced a stern test and flunked miserably. American Gervonta “Tank” Davis knocked out Romero with one counter left in the sixth round.
Despite the brutal loss to Davis, Romero was surprisingly allowed to fight for the vacant WBA junior welterweight crown opposite Venezuelan Ismael Barroso in May 2023. Romero was trailing on the scorecards when he knocked down Barroso in the ninth round with a left hook. Romero was flailing away at Barroso when the referee stepped in and stopped the fight in the said round. Not a few thought the stoppage was premature.
Romero’s reign was short-lived. In March 2024, he was battered in eight rounds by Mexican Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz.
Garcia-Romero figures to be explosive given their innate punching power. Garcia is the favorite as he offers a more polished style. A conditioned Garcia is the pick to win by stoppage within the early rounds.
Unlike Garcia, Haney is facing a more dangerous opponent in Ramirez.
Ramirez offers Olympic pedigree (2012 Olympics), world-championship experience (former unified WBC-WBO junior welterweight champ) and a swarming style that can disrupt Haney’s pure boxing approach.
Ramirez was apparently picked by Haney’s camp on the belief that the former had seen better days. In May 2021, Ramirez faced Josh Taylor for the undisputed (WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF) junior welterweight belts and lost by unanimous decision. Ramirez was knocked down twice and totally outclassed.
Ramirez was never the same fighter after the Taylor fight, but many believe he remains a tough nut to crack. He absorbed another loss last November, getting outpointed in 10 rounds by Arnold Barboza Jr.
Ramirez totes a record of 29-2 with 18 knockouts. He has looked slow in his last few fights and his work rate has not been the same. Still, he has never been knocked out.
Haney’s confidence after the disastrous showing against Garcia is also a question mark. While Haney was able to have the win by Garcia overturned and his unbeaten record restored, there is no denying the fact that Garcia battered him to a pulp. Ramirez is expected to take a page off the strategy used by Garcia. The idea is to throw a lot of left hooks and put a lot of pressure on Haney.
Boxing fans will be keeping a close watch on how Haney and Garcia will perform this weekend. Amid the controversy in the result of the first fight, the best way for the two to settle the score is by facing each other again in the squared circle.