Ryan Garcia Impresses At Open Workout 

Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) is set to make his return on May 2nd, against Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero (16-2, 13 KOs) in a historic bout at Times Square. Garcia is returning from his yearlong suspension for having tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug Ostarine in the April 20th bout against Devin Haney. He’s had time to better himself mentally and physically, and at Thursday’s open media workout at The BXNG Club in San Diego, California, he demonstrated his much-improved boxing skills.

Known for his power and that deadly left hook, Garcia showed improved skills, which will make him a better overall boxer. He demonstrated much better footwork and an improved ability to utilize angles. In his time away from the ring, Ryan worked briefly with his old trainer, Eddy Reynoso, but eventually returned to the trainer he’s been with for the past two fights, Derrick James.

Their goal is to be boxers who can fight on the inside and box on the outside as well.  Against a puncher like Rolando, it appears their strategy will be to box on the outside more.  James said of Ryan Garcia fighting on the inside, “Don’t worry about that. When I say Don’t worry about that. I’m saying it’s not going to be an issue. Inside fights are something that is always a possibility. If you keep them on the outside boxing, that’s what you do. It all eventually comes to this. Every now and then, whether it’s this fight or some other fight, you’ll see. In a perfect world, you can fight the fight you want to fight, but in reality, inside fighting always happens. So we have to master that also. In life, you want to get what you want, and if you can  box him or you can bang on the inside, it is what it is.”

Being able to adapt and change tactically makes Garcia a more challenging opponent for anyone. Ryan and James feel Rolly is a tough opponent and have been preparing for a difficult match. Garcia said of his upcoming bout, “I just have to take the advice of my coach. He likes to keep everything low-key, but we’re prepared for whatever Rolando brings. We’re not expecting an easy fight. He’s a power puncher, and he’s going to try to knock me out and make the fight rough. I just have to be well conditioned and have a good game plan.”

Rolly’s last match was against Manuel Jaimes last September, whom he defeated by unanimous decision on the Canelo Alvarez-Edgar Berlanga card. Prior to that match, he lost his WBA super lightweight championship to Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz via an 8th-round technical knockout. Romero was unusually silent for the New York and Los Angeles pressers and appears to be fully focused

on this fight. He has a 2-2 record in his last four matches and needs a major victory against a top contender like Ryan to set him back on the winning path.

The co-main event to this epic Ring Magazine card will also feature Devin Haney’s return to the ring against Jose Ramirez. If both Garcia and Haney are victorious, it’ll set up a match between the two for what is being projected as an October match in Saudi Arabia. There is much interest in seeing how both fighters will perform after what transpired between the two last April. We got a glimpse of Ryan today, and he’s much improved.