Ryan Garcia vs Rolando Romero Preview May 2nd, 2025
Ryan Garcia of Victorville, California steps back into the ring this Friday, May 2nd to take on Rolando Romero of Las Vegas, Nevada. The 12-rounder from Times Square in New York City is for the WBA ‘regular’ Welterweight Title and can be seen on DAZN pay-per-view in most nations. Garcia last fought a year ago when he fought Devin Haney in a shot at the WBC Junior Welterweight Belt and dropped him in the 7th, 10th and 11th rounds and earned a majority decision. However Garcia failed his drug tests and the fight was called a no-contest with Garcia also receiving a year-long suspension. Romero was last in the ring in September when he beat Manuel Jaimes via a 10-round unanimous decision.
Garcia vs Romero Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Rolando Romero +700
- Ryan Garcia -1250
My Pick
Garcia is 26 years old and owns a fine mark of 24-1 with the no-contest against Haney and 20 Ko’s under his belt. He has plenty of power as 83.3 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage, including seven of his last eight. He measures just under 5-feet-9-inches tall with a 70-inch reach and also possesses tremendous speed and fine boxing skills. He made his pro debut in 2016 and has boxed 112 rounds since. Along the way, he’s captured the vacant NABF Junior Super Featherweight Title, the NABF, and WBO NABO Super Featherweight Crowns as well as the WBO NABO and WBC Silver Lightweight Titles and got up from the canvas in the second round against Luke Campbell in 2021 to stop him in the seventh round for the Interim WBC Lightweight Belt.
Garcia’s lone defeat was a seventh-round KO at the hands of Gervonta Davis in April, 2023. He also has wins over Jayson Velez, Javier Fortuna, Carlos Morales, Jose Lopez, Braulio Rodriguez, Fernando Vargas Parra and Noe Martinez Raygoza. Garcia’s still being groomed to be a world champion by promoter Oscar De La Hoya and appears to have all the tools necessary to succeed and was named the 2017 prospect of the year by ESPN. However, a world title has eluded him so far due to his unbalanced antics outside of the ring.
He also enjoyed a fine amateur career by reportedly going 215-15. Garcia won a silver medal at the USA Junior National (Under-17) Championships in 2014 when he lost to Devin Haney in the final. He also reached the quarterfinals at the USA Youth National (Under-19) Championships in 2015 and lost to Haney once again. However, he did beat Vergil Ortiz in his opening bout. He then won gold at the USA Youth National (Under-19) Championships in 2016.
Romero is 29 years old and has 84 rounds of experience under his belt since making his pro debut in 2016 following his amateur career after starting boxing at the age of 17. He climbs through the ropes with a mark of 16-2 with 13 Ko’s with his first defeat coming at the hands of Gervonta Davis in a shot at the WBA Lightweight Title when he was stopped in the sixth round in May, 2022. he was also halted by Isaac Cruz in the eight round in March of last year. He also possesses plenty of power in his punches as 81.2 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage and has gone the distance just three times as a pro.
He beat Jackson Marinez by unanimous decision in August 2020 for the WBA Interim Lightweight Title and went the distance with Javier Martinez over six rounds back in August, 2018 with Romero earning a unanimous decision. He also went a full 10-rounds with Jaimes in his last outing. Romero has beaten some other good boxers along the way such as Anthony Yigit and Avery Sparrow and was doing well against Davis until he got caught. Romero stands 5-feet-8-inches tall with a 68-inch so is just a half-inch shorter than Garcia and gives up two inches in reach.
Prediction…
Both men are world-class boxers with plenty of skills and power and are moving up to welterweight for this fight. Garcia has a wicked left hook and that could spell trouble for Romero as he’s been stopped twice already. Romero also has the power to win by stoppage but this fight could possibly go the distance. I just think Garcia is the better boxer overall and should be able to leave the ring with another victory on Friday night, likely by stoppage.
Garcia has the overall edge in skills.
Play: Garcia -1250 @ BetOnline.ag
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Rolando Romero betting • Ryan Garcia betting