Rolando Romero Undermines Ryan Garcia’s Power Ahead of Their Showdown

Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) is not the hardest puncher Rolando Romero (16-2, 13 KOs) has faced.

In a few days, ‘KingRy’ will face Romero in an explosive showdown at Times Square, New York. The fight will mark Garcia’s return to the ring after a year-long suspension following failed tests for PED usage. While Garcia is known for being an exceptional puncher, Romero isn’t particularly worried about catching his hands.

In conversation with the Ring Magazine, Romero quickly dismantled any notion that Garcia has “cinderblocks” for hands.

“Oh, hell no! What the f*ck? I’ve been in the damn ring with Ryan. What the hell you talking about? Hell, no! Not even close. What the f*ck?” he said, taking a dig at Garcia’s punch power. “Bro, I been in the ring with Ryan. What the hell you talking about? Man, not even close. That dude, Barroso, that was the hardest hitter I’ve ever been in the ring with, by far. Doesn’t even compare.”

Romero faced Ismael Barroso at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2023, losing the fight via a 9th-round TKO, and he is certain that no fighter that he faced (or will face) will compare to Barroso’s raw punch power.

“That dude had cinderblocks in his hands, bro,” he said. “I’ll be sleeping sometimes, and I wake up, and I see his face, and I just laugh. But I will tell you this, though, that was a very difficult fight, a very difficult fight.” While he is aware of Barroso’s strength and skill set, he is confident that he would’ve knocked out the Venezuelan had the fight continued.

“You’re In For A Rude Awakening”

Garcia, on the other hand, does not want his opponent to take him lightly. As he spoke during their faceoff, Garcia revealed that he has matured as a fighter and is a version of himself that is undeniably a threat to Romero. In fact, he is almost certain that this might end up being Romero’s last fight.

“You’re in for a rude awakening, and you’re in big trouble now,” he said. “You’re in big trouble because I’m not doing the stuff I was doing when I beat Haney so that just shows where I’m heading.” Garcia urged that he is not addicted to his vices anymore and is a lot more focused on training.

“You’re going to be retiring that night – it’s going to be your last fight,” he said, “One hundred percent believe that. It’s your last hurrah, so you better go out with a bang.”

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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