Ryan Garcia has long been a polarizing figure in boxing, blending social media celebrity with genuine ring talent. Bursting onto the scene with lightning-fast hands and a knack for dramatic finishes, Ryan Garcia quickly became one of the most talked-about fighters in the sport. But the past two years have thrown serious punches back his way, both inside and outside the ring. From a no-contest scandal to a recent disappointing loss, Ryan Garcia’s once rocketing career now finds itself on shaky footing. Fans and critics are asking: Where does Ryan Garcia go from here?
Ryan Garcia’s Loss to Romero
Garcia stepped back into the spotlight on May 2, 2025, in New York City’s Times Square, taking on Rolando “Rolly” Romero in what was billed as a potential career-defining fight. With a vacant WBA regular welterweight title up for grabs, both men had something to prove. Garcia, returning from a suspension, needed a statement win to reassert his status as a top contender. But instead, he was caught off guard early, suffering a knockdown in the second round that seemed to derail his game plan entirely. The crowd sensed it as Garcia was not the same fighter who once electrified arenas.
The judge’s unanimous decision told the story: 115-112, 115-112, and 118-109, all in Romero’s favor. More than the score, though, it was Garcia’s apparent lack of urgency that caught the boxing world’s attention. His movement was hesitant, his combinations infrequent, and the trademark quickness he built his name on was largely absent. Critics pointed to ring rust, while others questioned his conditioning and the training camp tragedy. Garcia, a fighter who is used to being the aggressor, spent most of the fight reacting rather than dictating the pace.
This performance raised uncomfortable questions. Had Garcia been out of the ring too long? Was the weight cut too severe? Or was the confidence shaken from months of controversy and criticism? Whatever the answer, Garcia’s long-awaited return did not offer the redemption story many fans had hoped for. Instead, it reinforced doubts that have slowly accumulated around his focus and preparation over the past two years.
The Suspension Before the Fight
Garcia’s absence from the ring was not voluntary. After a thrilling majority decision win over Devin Haney in April 2024, a fight where Garcia knocked Haney down three times and seemed to reclaim his momentum, post-fight drug tests found traces of ostarine, a banned performance-enhancing substance. Though Garcia maintained his innocence, insisting he never knowingly took anything illegal, the New York State Athletic Commission stripped the victory and changed the result to a no-contest.
The repercussions were swift and costly. Garcia was handed a one-year suspension from professional boxing and fined a staggering $1.1 million. This was a reputational blow. Fans who had supported his comeback questioned his ethics, and longtime critics saw the failed drug test as confirmation of their doubts. Sponsors grew quiet, media coverage shifted from praise to scrutiny, and Garcia’s credibility within the sport suffered a major dent. Even for someone with his social reach, the damage was visible.
The failed test and subsequent punishment also placed Garcia’s physical condition and training methods under a microscope. Analysts speculated about shortcuts in weight cutting or recovery strategies, while others debated whether the pressures of fame had pulled him too far from the fundamentals of boxing. Add a time when he was trying to rebuild his reputation as a serious contender, Garcia found himself fighting a different kind of opponent: public perception. The suspension left a void in his career, one that his recent performance against Romero failed to fill.
Ryan Garcia at a Crossroads
Ryan Garcia now stands at a crossroads. Still only in his mid-20s, he has time to rebuild, but the road will not be easy. The boxing world is less forgiving with every misstep. If Garcia wants to silence the doubters and reclaim his spot among the elite, he will need more than charisma. He will need clarity, discipline, and fire. Whether he is ready to put in that kind of work remains to be seen. But one thing is for certain: Ryan Garcia’s next chapter will define whether his story is one of redemption or simply a missed opportunity.
