Garcia: Times Square fight 'didn't feel authentic'
Ryan Garcia didn't like fighting Rolly Romero in Times Square.
Garcia suffered a shocking unanimous decision loss in Friday's welterweight main event in New York.
"I wasn't a fan of that at all," Garcia said at the postfight press conference of the event's quiet atmosphere. "It felt like a sparring match, and it felt like you could hear everybody. It just didn't feel authentic to me. But no excuses. It is what it is."
The event - put on by Turki Alalshikh and The Ring in the middle of Times Square - was invite-only, with around 300 VIP guests in attendance.
Garcia, one of the biggest stars in boxing, competed for the first time since he was suspended for one year by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) for multiple failed drug tests.
Garcia was coming off a no-contest against former WBC junior welterweight champion Devin Haney in April 2024, originally a majority decision victory that was later overturned.
Romero scored the only knockdown of Friday's fight, as he dropped Garcia with two left hooks in the second round. It was a rather uneventful matchup, with Garcia edging out Romero 66-57 in total punches.
"It was a pretty off night," Garcia said. "Rolly did what he does. He does a lot of good power shots, caught me in the second round. But just even at the start of the fight, it just didn't feel like my feet were under me, like I had anything. But I just had to fight through it, and just found myself very off after the year layoff."
He added: "I just didn't feel there. Didn't feel there at all. ... I just didn't let my hands go in any way, shape, or form. It's as simple as that."
The 26-year-old fell to 24-2 (1 NC) after the first decision loss of his professional career.
"That whole year (during the suspension), it was a lot for me, mentally. So the fact that I got here and I'm in the position I am and my mind is as clear as it is, is a victory for me, I would say," Garcia said. "But I'm extremely disappointed in the way I fought. It definitely isn't my best in any way."