Romero Says Ryan Garcia Wants to Be a Model, Not a Champion

Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero says he will use a simple approach to defeating Ryan Garcia in their welterweight headliner on May 2nd at Times Square in New York City. Rolly (16-2, 13 KOs) states that he’s just going to go out and “punch him in the face.” That’s all it’ll take.

Romero says Ryan (24-1, 20 KOs) just “wants to be a model,” and is not interested in being a champion. He points out that Garcia has never won a world title. So, it’s a sign that he’s not as good as he believes he is.

Rolly’s Rage

Ryan has gotten Rolly all worked up, saying that it’s going to be an easy fight for him, and he’s going to knock him out on May 2nd. It might be if he can land the same kind of shots that Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz did last year when he knocked out Rolly.

“I don’t think he evolved as a fighter. He does the same s***,” said Rolly Romero to Ring Magazine, reacting to being told that Ryan Garcia said that he hasn’t ‘evolved’ as a fighter since their sparring session many years ago.

As you can see, Rolly is still touchy about Ryan and trainer Abel Sanchez saying that he’s stagnated, and hasn’t evolved as a fighter since their sparring session.

Indeed, Romero is still using the same brawling, mad man style that he had when he first turned pro nine years ago in 2016. That’s what got Rolly knocked out in his fights with Isaac Cruz and Gervonta Davis. There’s nothing for Rolly to be ashamed of about him not evolving. That works for him, and it wouldn’t make sense for him to try and box.

Ismael Barroso would have stopped him in their fight in 2023 if not for the referee Tony Weeks stopping the fight out of the blue to give him a ninth round TKO. That was a very questionable knockout.

Romero’s Truth

“I got him far, but it didn’t work on me. When I sparred him, I had only been boxing for three years,” continued Rolando about his sparring with Kingry a long time ago. “I started boxing at 17. A multi-national. He started boxing at five. Damn, it took him that long to evolve somewhat.

“I’m very impressed, but he still hasn’t been a champion, though. The only time he had an opportunity to be a champion was against Gervonta, but instead of trying to sacrifice the extra pound to try and make 135, he [Garcia] decided not to.

“With Devin, we clearly know he didn’t try to and he doesn’t want to be a champion. He wants to be a model. The only thing I’m interested in is Ryan Garcia at this moment,” said Rolly.