Rolando “Rolly” Romero will take on Ryan Garcia on May 2nd after Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz opted out of the fight due to his upcoming bout with Angel Fierro on February 1st. Romero, who steps in for Cruz, now has an opportunity to challenge Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) at the Times Square event in New York City, under the promotion of Turki Al-Sheikh.
Cruz had originally been slated to face Garcia, but with his own fight approaching next month, he decided not to commit to another major matchup until after his February bout. Many fans were hoping for a highly anticipated showdown between Garcia and Cruz, believing it would offer a more competitive contest. Instead, Romero, with a record of 16-2, 13 KOs, will face Garcia, despite some critics feeling there were more deserving fighters in the 140-lb division.
Romero, the former WBA light welterweight champion, suffered a knockout loss to Cruz in March 2024 in a lopsided eighth-round defeat. This May 2nd fight presents an opportunity for Romero to rebound and prove himself against Garcia, who has shown some signs of ring rust following a period of inactivity.
The undercard for the event will also feature a highly anticipated fight between Devin Haney and Jose Ramirez, as well as a heavyweight clash between Martin Bakole and Efe Ajagba.
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