SAN DIEGO, Calif. – (April 17, 2025) – Welterweight contender and international superstar “King” Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) of Los Angeles, Calif., hosted a media workout at The BXNG Club in San Diego, Calif., ahead of his fight in Times Square against Rolly Romero (16-2, 13 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nev., for the WBA Welterweight World Title on Friday, May 2, live worldwide exclusively on DAZN. The historic three-fight card is the first-ever in the United States presented by Ring Magazine, titled “FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves,” brought to you by SNK Corporation in association with Oscar De La Hoya for Golden Boy Promotions and Eddie Hearn for Matchroom Boxing.
Also featured on May 2 are two-division world champion Devin “The Dream” Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) facing former unified titleholder Jose Carlos Ramirez (29-2, 18 KOs) in a battle of elite super lightweights, and Teofimo “The Takeover” Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs), the reigning WBO Super Lightweight Champion and former unified lightweight king, defending his title against unbeaten contender Arnold Barboza Jr. (32-0, 11 KOs).
For one night only, New York’s iconic Times Square will be transformed into a world-class boxing venue, providing the perfect backdrop for Ring Magazine’s first American event, playing host to some of the biggest stars in the game.
The broadcast will be available worldwide exclusively on DAZN PPV over Cinco de Mayo weekend together for only $90 (pricing varies by market). Events can be purchased individually for $59.99, but the bundle offers fans a chance to experience boxing’s biggest weekend at unbeatable value. Those interested in the bundle are encouraged to purchase at the following link: https://www.dazn.com/en-US/p/boxing
Prior to the workout, this is what Garcia, trainer Derrick James, and Golden Boy Chairman & CEO, Oscar De La Hoya had to say ahead of the bout:
RYAN GARCIA:
On going from his Tijuana debut to Headlining Times Square
“To be honest, I didn’t even dream about it. It was not even a thought in my head. Times Square? I’m just happy to be part of history. It’s a big opportunity for me to do something amazing at a historic event. There’s a little added pressure, but this is what we do, this is why we’ve trained since we were young, for these super mega events. I’m blessed.”
On fighting for a world championship and his hunger for it
“As I grew up, I’m like, ‘it would be nice to get a championship under my belt,’ but I don’t want to say anyone can become a champion, but it’s pretty watered down at the moment. For me, quality opponents, how I perform, how I look, and how much money I’m making really determine how good of a fighter you are.”
“You’re called a prize fighter, but we’re fighting for a prize. It’s still in my heart to become a champion. I believe I’m fighting for a 147-pound championship, so I will be a world champion. I’m excited, but do I want to fight somebody else that would make me feel more like a champion? Whoever the champions are, Jaron Ennis, Brian Norman, Mario Barrios, any of those guys. I will win the world championship if I beat any of those guys.”
On never shying away from fights
“Yeah, 100 percent, that’s always how I’ve been. I feel like with my talent, any fight I’m in, no matter how good they are, I’m right there with anybody.”
On his antics vs Haney compared to Rolando
“You got to know that Devin is a much different fighter than Rolando. Rolando wouldn’t get offended by antics, he actually would love that. It’s a whole different situation. I got to be sharp the whole way through. He only throws bombs, that’s all he knows how to throw, so if I’m not sharp the whole way through, I could get caught and that’s not something I want to do so for me, it’s about having my technique right, and that’s what we’ve been working on just technique, making sure our hands get back, watching what he’s doing at all times, and we should do the job.”
On sparring with Rolly years ago…
“As I’ve matured, for me it’s just another fight. After the year layoff, it just so happened to be Rolando. I really just want to get sharp again and prepare for the next fight, but I can’t look past Rolando obviously. I’ll be looking to shake off some of the rust and get right for the next fight because I got a lot to prove with the Devin Haney rematch.”
On Devin Haney rematch…
“I want the Devin Haney rematch 100 percent. I need it and I’m going to do it for USADA this time. I want the Devin Haney rematch so bad. I really want it. There’s some personal bad blood there but it’s not going to overrule me but it’s got some extra oomph in there, you know, when you’re fighting and put it on him even more. Then you got Bill’s [Haney] crazy antics, and he’s constantly talking nonstop, and that makes me want to put a whooping in a little bit more. This is an opportunity to do it again, and I think after that, I’ll put a stamp on that and move forward.”
On his background…
“A lot of us, we don’t come from a rich background. A lot of boxers have to work from the dirt and get to the top, that’s the dream of a fighter. Most of us don’t have money. Why would you want to box if you got money? At the end of the day, I’m just that story of a young kid from a tough neighborhood, but when you have talent, you can make it anywhere, and if you work hard, you can reach the top. I think that’s what I’ve been proving, and no matter if I’m underestimated, which I am most of the time, my talent prevails, my hard work shows out, and that’s why I’m going to be ready to go again on May 2.”
On being in a different headspace…
“I am in a different mental space, every fight has its challenges, every camp has its own challenges. I just felt like playing mind games with them, they like to play mind games with you. Bill Haney liked to talk about a lot of crazy things to throw you off, but I was going to out-crazy the crazy. I took it a little too far, but I did win.”
On how the year has been for him
“It’s been good, a couple ups and downs, but I’m excited to be in the ring and in my element. It’s where I produce the best version of myself when preparing for a fight, so I’m excited.”
On what he has been working on with Derrick James
“I just have to take the advice of my coach. He likes to keep everything low-key, but we’re prepared for whatever Rolando brings. We’re not expecting an easy fight. He’s a power-puncher, and he’s going to try to knock me out and make the fight rough. I just have to be well-conditioned and have a good gameplan.”
On Oscar saying the fight will end quickly
“You know, when you say that it usually doesn’t happen. So for me, I’m just doing my thing. If I see the shot open, I’m going to take it, but if not, I’m ready to go 12 rounds.”
On his time and struggle away from boxing
“I did a lot of things, but for me it was more mental. Everything was mental. It took a toll on my mentality because I know I didn’t take steroids or anything like that. It was tough for me to overcome that, but throughout the year I got over it, refocused myself, and got blessed with this opportunity. I felt that this is my chance to come back and show everybody I can really fight.”
On his training during the time off
“Derrick and I had a couple of training sessions preparing for that fight in Japan. Obviously, it didn’t work out, but we were in the gym preparing for another opponent. It is what it is, but now we’re here.”
DERRICK JAMES:
On how Ryan Garcia has been training this month
“He’s been good. Mentally, he’s good, and he’s strategizing well.”
On what Ryan Garcia needs to work on the most
“With boxing, it’s everything. When you lack in one area for so long, you start to lack all over. Ryan’s belief in himself is so amazing. The technique is what I work with him on, and when you work with the technique, everything rises. Because mentally, you feel you have everything together. So, for me, it’s skillset, technique, and he’s good.”
On what he’s doing about Ryan Garcia’s shoulder roll
“He’s good.”
On allowing Ryan to be himself
“All the fighters want to be able to be themselves. He wants to be able to do what I want him to do and do what he can do best, also. It’s a blend of the two. His skill set is speed, athleticism, and technique, and there’s some defense in there. Most fighters want to be complete. Regardless of how they feel about themselves, they still want to be complete. With Ryan, he wants to be a complete fighter where he has the speed and so many other things, but it’s like, ‘What do you bring and how can you make me be better?’”
On if he saw anything different with Ryan from his first camp to now
“Ryan is really focused and really tuned in. Last camp, it was whatever it was. But then being really focused on what he wants and what his desires are right now, and that’s what he’s doing. He’s really focused on everything. When I say everything, we had a discussion the other day… we’re talking, and he says, ‘I have it. I know what you want.’ I told him, ‘Listen, you’re good. We don’t want to be good. We want to be better.’ I’m not bashing because he was good, but we want to be better.”
On not seeing Ryan Garcia inside fight
“Don’t worry about that. When I say don’t worry about that, I’m saying it’s not going to be an issue. Inside fights are something that is always a possibility. If you keep them on the outside boxing, that’s what you do. It all eventually comes to this. Every now and then whether it’s this fight or some other fight, you’ll see. In a perfect world, you can fight the fight you want to fight, but in reality, it always happens. So we have to master that also. In life, you want to get what you want, and if you can box him or you can box on the inside, it is what it is.”
On choosing to train at the camp in San Diego instead of Dallas
“It’s about the atmosphere you create. You come into a shrine of great fighters, you’re going to get some great activity. We use fighters from all over. We don’t necessarily use local or homegrown. Here in San Diego, we use some local guys. When you have this beautiful area, you ask yourself mentally, ‘Where’s your reflection?’ How can I reflect on the beach or somewhere that is really mild? Sometimes that’s how you have to reflect and reach back and say, ‘What did I fight through to get to where I’m at right now?’ Every day, we can remember all of the days that were good, but we forget about the days that we had to push through.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA:
On the May 2 fight and how it happened
“We were having a conversation with His Excellency and a few other people. We’re all about making big events in strange places that no one has ever thought of. Collectively, we thought, why not Times Square? Why not outdoors and free for the public, where everyone can watch. It’s the media capital of the world. It was about time. So, Golden Boy, Turkey came together and we made it happen.”
On if he has any concerns about the event
“You have your reservations, and you’re thinking about the weather and outdoors, and things can happen. We’re very optimistic. We feel May 2 is going to be perfect. Hopefully, the weather is beautiful for everyone to watch. We’re expecting over 200,000 people there to watch. All eyes are going to be on boxing and on Ryan Garcia and all the other fighters on May 2. That’s the plus of the sport.”
On who will steal the show between Arnold Barboza Jr., Jose Ramirez, and Ryan Garcia
“The real theme of the Barboza fight is that it’ll be intense. It’s going to be a back-and-forth battle until it lasts. I really do think that Ryan vs. Rolly Romero is going to be short and sweet. Ryan is coming back after a layoff, and he’s anxious and ready and wants to prove to the world he hasn’t skipped a beat. I saw Rolly the other day, and he’s looking in beast mode. It’s a dangerous fight if you keep your head straight. One thing about Ryan is that he has fast reflexes. He is a fighter that is out to prove something. Ryan is going to go out there and take care of business, but make it one of the most exciting short fights ever.”
On Ryan Garcia’s popularity
“Ryan is a superstar. When he first went to my office with his parents, he was 17 years old. We were talking about his career and what he can do, and look at him now. That’s exactly what we do collectively as a team, and we’re very, very proud of being in his corner and promoting him. And also working things out to a point where he is a global superstar. May 2 couldn’t happen without Ryan Garcia. Ryan Garcia is the sport of boxing.”
On standing by Ryan Garcia
“One thing about us, we’re loyal. We work hard. We’re a team to everyone. When we see talent, we embrace it and we try our best. As long as Ryan wants to do this and as long as he wants to show up and fight, we’re going to be in his corner 1000 percent. I strongly feel Ryan is back with a vengeance. His demeanor is different.”
On the advice he gives Ryan
“As long as I say it, if they listen or not. It’s up to them.”
On what Ryan has to look for in his fight with Rolly
“Mallorca was a strong fighter and talker. He can knock you out with any punch. Punches are coming from different angles. Ryan has to keep his cool, be calm and collected. Wait for the opportunity and the openings. Ryan is a much taller fighter and he’s more skilled than Rolly. The punches that are going to be coming at Ryan are going to be wide and strong and fast, but I think Ryan is the type of fighter who instinctively can overcome Rolly and eventually knock him out.”
On what else he plans for 2025
“There’s a lot we’re planning for this year. There are a lot of events this year that we can’t discuss right now, but it’s going to be very exciting. We’re talking about doing another Latino night fairly soon. We’re talking about working with DAZN and bringing the best fights we can. Boxing right now is thriving and on the verge of really great things. We have to collectively work together as a team. The whole sport of boxing has to figure out how to work together. We have to navigate how to work with every promoter. Right now, things are coming together for boxing. That’s what matters. We have the best fights taking place. May 2 is a global event. That’s what boxing needs. We must continue giving fight fans the best fights.”
For additional information, please visit DAZN.com/boxing.