Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero: 8 Years of History Comes to a Head on Cinco de Mayo

"Eight years in the making—before the fists fly and legacies collide, the ring waits in silence for Ryan Garcia and Rolly Romero to settle the score.

Cinco de Mayo weekend is upon us, and that can only mean one thing: a marquee boxing event featuring Canelo Álvarez. But this year, boxing fans are in for a real treat—with not just one, but three stacked cards. Chief among them is the long-anticipated main event between Ryan Garcia and Rolando "Rolly" Romero.

Most fans have seen the now-famous sparring footage of Garcia and Romero from eight years ago. While it’s important not to place too much weight on old sparring—after all, sparring isn’t about wins and losses, it’s about learning and growth—it gave us a fascinating glimpse into their early styles.

Romero was aggressive, athletic, and antagonistic with every shot. Garcia, on the other hand, was patient, precise, and particular. It’s fascinating how those contrasting styles brought both men to the elite level of the sport. What’s even more interesting is how both fighters have evolved by incorporating aspects of each other's style over time.

Ryan Garcia, for instance, showed his resilience against Luke Campbell, bouncing back from a second-round knockdown to score a knockout in the seventh. That fight answered lingering questions about his toughness—questions that resurfaced after his loss to Gervonta "Tank" Davis, but were quieted again following his dominant performance against Devin Haney (a result now overshadowed by a failed drug test, which I won’t delve into here).

Rolly Romero’s rise has been equally compelling. He’s held both the WBA interim lightweight and super lightweight titles. Despite his knockout loss to Tank Davis, Romero performed admirably—pressuring Davis and making it a competitive fight until he was caught coming in. His recent bout against the relentless Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz highlighted his adaptability, especially after getting rocked early. Romero showed he could fight on the back foot and survive adversity.

However, the damage he’s taken in recent fights hasn’t gone unnoticed. In a recent DAZN "Face Off," Garcia remarked, “He’s not handling punches that well—that’s the bitter truth of the sport. Sometimes when you get knocked out, your chin gets weak.” That’s a fair point. History has shown that fighters can become more vulnerable after heavy knockouts—and Garcia, with his lightning-fast speed and power, will undoubtedly try to exploit that.

Keys to Victory:

For Rolly Romero: He must turn this into a fight—but do it tactically. Charging in recklessly will only get him caught by Garcia’s lethal left hook or sharp counters. Instead, Rolly should use feints, cut off the ring, and apply smart pressure. He must be unpredictable and avoid staying at mid-range, where Garcia’s timing and reach are at their best. Once inside, Rolly needs to let his hands go—even if Garcia clinches.

For Ryan Garcia:He needs to keep Romero at the end of his jab, mixing levels and targeting the body to sap Romero’s explosiveness. Early investment to the body—whether with straight rights or hooks—can open up the head later. Garcia also seems confident in the clinch, stating during the DAZN Face Off: “I’m bigger than you now. None of that wrestling’s gonna work this time—I promise you.”

Final Thoughts:

Regardless of the outcome, this fight promises to be a spectacle. It’s been brewing for nearly a decade, and both fighters have matured in and out of the ring. It also speaks to a refreshing shift in boxing: fighters no longer need to remain undefeated to stay relevant.

Names like Teofimo Lopez, Ryan Garcia, Rolly Romero, Dmitry Bivol, and Artur Beterbiev prove that resilience and comebacks matter just as much as perfect records.

Boxing is thriving—and this Cinco de Mayo, it’s personal.