Rolando Romero ensured a historic night in Times Square ended with drama befitting of the extraordinary surroundings after flooring Ryan Garcia on his way to a seismic upset victory.
Garcia, who was expected to prevail and setup a highly-anticipated rematch with bitter foe Devin Haney in September, was stunned by a second-round knockdown on his headline night in the heart of New York City and never truly recovered as he drifted towards the second defeat of his career via unanimous decision.
After a cagey opener where both men eased themselves into the eeriest of atmospheres, as the faint sound of police sirens and the occasional roaring of fans on the streets locked out from this VIP event murmured in the background, Romero ripped up the script in the second by unleashing a crisp left hook which sent the pre-fight favorite tumbling to the canvas.
Garcia, despite looking on shaky legs when he first returned to his feet, regained composure as the next few rounds went on.
Both men took a breather in the third after the whirlwind that had preceded it, before Ryan slowly began to get into his groove through the fourth and fifth.
Yet as the bout creeped into its second half, the 26-year-old appeared to be feeling the pace while Romero, who initially failed to follow up on his early success, slowly shifted momentum back in his favor.
Ryan Garcia suffered a shock loss to Rolly Romero on Friday as boxing took over Times Square
Romero poses for a photo after defeating Garcia in their WBA Welterweight title fight
Boxing took over Times Square on Friday night but Garcia suffered a shock defeat
Thousands of boxing fans descended on the iconic landmark to savor the unique atmosphere
It was the strangest of declines from Garcia as he allowed Romero to slowly exert his dominance.
The famous left hook and blistering combinations which floored Haney and so many other past victims were nowhere to be seen. Even the right hand was packed away for the night.
Instead, he merely flicked out his jab on occasion while trying to steer out the way of the increasing attacks coming his way.
Under the dazzling lights of New York’s most iconic setting, in a once-in-a-lifetime event we may never witness again, Garcia appeared to have stage fright.
So by the time the contest reached the championship rounds, the underdog was the man in firm control. Garcia, either too sheepish, devoid of ideas or merely gassed, had no answer as he almost sleepwalked to defeat.
Romero essentially clinched this victory, a victory which thrusts him into world-title contention at welterweight out of nowhere, when he upped the ante in the ninth, 10th and 11th, when his impotent adversary seemed to be sleepwalking to defeat.
Even in the 12th and final round Garcia was in no rush to find a hail-mary knockout at the death that could have spared his blushes.
So by the time the final bell sounded, there could only be one winner.
