(Video) Ryan Garcia vs Rolly Romero gets memed for lack of action

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What was billed as an explosive showdown between Ryan Garcia and Rolando “Rolly” Romero quickly became fodder for social media mockery as fans expressed their disappointment with the glacial pace and lack of engagement.

The bout, which took place Friday night in Times Square, has gone viral for all the wrong reasons after footage emerged showing both boxers circling each other with minimal action. Set ironically to the triumphant “Pomp and Circumstance” graduation march, a widely shared video clip shows the combatants cautiously moving around the ring without throwing punches—a sequence that perfectly encapsulated the evening’s underwhelming action.

 

Social media erupted with criticism shortly after the bout concluded. One user commented, “Reminds me of the old school Shamrock vs Severn rematch, where they did this for 15 mins straight,” while another asked, “Nahh man this a 30 second at full speed 😭 was this a whole round.”

The statistics tell the story: between both competitors, only 123 punches landed out of 490 thrown through 12 rounds—the third-lowest output in CompuBox history for a bout of that length. Garcia landed 66 punches while Romero connected with just 57, with jabs accounting for the vast majority of the minimal offense.

Romero ultimately emerged victorious via unanimous decision (115-112, 115-112, 118-109) in what was considered a major upset. Garcia, who entered as a -1000 favorite, was dropped by a left hook in Round 2 and appeared to grow timid afterward, never regaining his offensive momentum.

Garcia acknowledged afterward. “He caught me early. No excuses, man. Congrats to him. He did a great job, and that’s it.”

The underwhelming main event followed an equally disappointing co-main event featuring Devin Haney against Jose Ramirez. That contest saw just 503 total punches thrown, with Haney landing 70 to Ramirez’s 40.

What was supposed to be a showcase for boxing in an iconic Times Square venue instead became a punchline. Fans expecting fireworks were left with duds.

The event, backed by Turki Al-Sheikh, Saudi Arabia’s chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, was designed to be an iconic spectacle. Instead, it will likely be remembered more for its memes than its moments of athletic excellence.

Meanwhile, Romero appears uninterested in capitalizing on his victory, instead suggesting that Garcia and Haney should proceed with their planned rematch: “I ain’t even thinking about what’s next,” Romero said. “I think Devin and Ryan should get their rematch and make a big one.”

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