Ryan Garcia saw his hopes of a rematch with Devin Haney go up in smoke, as Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero dropped him on the way to taking a points win in their WBA welterweight title fight at Times Square in New York on Friday.
Garcia (24-2, KO20) decked Haney three times on the way to a majority decision win in their clash in April last year, but that victory was changed to a no-contest, after the 26-year-old tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine. Romero (17-2, 13 KOs) came in as a former WBA champion at super lightweight, and widely outscored Manuel Jaimes over ten last September in his last outing.
After a quiet opener where both men studied their opposition, the bout sprang into life in round two, with Romero finding a solid left hook that dumped his rival on the canvas.
Garcia rose shakily, but beat the count, and regained his senses to see out the round.
The third saw a more cagey affair before ‘King Ry’ started to have his success in rounds four and five, but as the fight wore on, he started to fade, allowing Romero to regain control.
Garcia started to go into his shell, offering little as the 29-year-old underdog continued to assert, and with the match going into the championship rounds, Romero was banking rounds simply by outworking Garcia.
There was no urgency from Garcia in the final rounds, and the bout went to the scorecards.
Two judges scored 115-112, and a third tallied 118-109 to ensure Romero scored the upset and took the vacant belt.
Haney labours past Ramirez
Devin Haney kept his side of the bargain on the card, as he moved up to welterweight and dominated former unified super lightweight world champion, Jose Carlos Ramirez (29-3, 18 KOs) in a landslide, but lacklustre win on the scorecards.
Haney (32-0, 15 KOs) ran out the victor over 12 rounds by two scores of 119-109, and a third at 118-110, in a forgettable contest.
Lopez dominates Barboza Jr
Teofimo Lopez retained his WBO super lightweight world title, as he took a clear points win over the previously unbeaten Arnold Barboza Jr (32-1, 11 KOs).
Two scores of 116-112 and a third card of 118-110 confirmed Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs) as the winner, as he defended his belt for a third time.
Tsutsumi makes successful professional bow
Promising amateur standout, Reito Tsutsumi (1-0) made his professional debut, and took a points win over six rounds against Levale Whittington (1-3-1, 1 KO) at featherweight.
