Ryan Garcia vows to learn from mistakes as he seeks blockbuster Devin Haney rematch

Ryan Garcia is set to make his in-ring return against Rolando Romero this May as part of Riyadh Season's blockbuster 'Fatal Fury' card in New York City, and has vowed to right his past wrongs as he chases a mouthwatering rematch with long-term rival Devin Haney.

After a controversial and career altering 2024, Ryan Garcia has vowed to put last year’s chaos behind him and act as an inspiration to others.

At a press conference in New York on Tuesday night, Garcia was joined by Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez, Rolando Romero, Jose Carlos Ramirez and Arnold Barboza Jr to speak ahead of the hat-rick of main events which feature on the ‘Fatal Fury’ card at New York's iconic Times Square, on Saturday 2nd May, 2025.

Eleven months ago Garcia and former undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney brought their rivalry to boiling point, and faced one another at the Barclays Centre, Brooklyn.

In a wild fight matching the wild build-up, Garcia prevailed on points after 12 rounds during which Haney was dropped three times.

However, the result would later be declared a No Contest after it was revealed Garcia had tested positive for the banned substance ostarine, with the Los Angeles star was eventually banned for one-year and forced to forfeit his seven-figure purse.

Victory for Garcia against Rolando Romero this spring however, could lead to a colossal autumn rematch with Haney, whilst there is also the potential for a future blockbuster world title clash with Lopez, although he first needs to see off Barboza Jr in his latest WBO super-lightweight title defence.

"I want to be great. I’ve always wanted to fight the best fighters in the sport," Garcia said at the press conference.

"As far as my problems outside the ring go, well I’ve always had those problems - I don’t know who else struggles with stuff like that… that’s just something I was struggling with.

"I want to show everybody that you can come back from anything and I want to show my dedication to the sport and be a true professional.

"I admit to my wrongs and I don’t want anybody to take my actions of the drinking and smoking before the fight, and try to think that’s a way to handle yourself as a professional.

"I came here to change that and this is my first fight to get respect back and then prove everybody that [the first fight] wasn’t a fluke. I'm ready to do it."

Haney, who will also campaign at welterweight for the first time in May, has also been out of the ring since his showdown with Garcia almost 12 months ago, although he says his absence from the ring was always planned as he prioritised time with his family, including his newborn baby.

The American is understandably still feeling the affects of his defeat and subsequent controversy surrounding the fight, and says his one and only focus now is on overcoming Jose Carlos Ramirez and preserving his unbeaten professional record.

"At the end of the day I fought someone who had taken something which they shouldn't to enhance their own performance, and that’s how that fight was," Haney stated.

"We move forward and now the world wants to see what Devin Haney is going to show up. I look forward to providing all of the answers against Jose Ramirez on May 2nd."

Shaun Brown

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