“Ryan Is In A Bit Of A Mess”: Eddie Hearn’s Assessment Of Ryan Garcia’s Post-Romero Career

Eddie Hearn says Ryan Garcia is “in a bit of a mess” after his loss to Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero on May 2nd at Times Square. He says Ryan (24-2, 20 KOs) has got to “come back” from that defeat and get a win for the rematch with Devin Haney to be viable.

(Credit: Geoffrey Knott/Matchroom)

Hearn also thinks Haney needs to get another victory after his performance at the Times Square event against Jose Ramirez. He mentioned that Devin looked “petrified,” and spoke of someone telling him that he resembled a “hare” with his rapid movement around the ring.

Garcia Needs Comeback Win

“I worry more for Ryan than Devin. Going into the fight [on May 2nd at Times Square], I was worried more for Devin,” said Eddie Hearn to Fight Hub TV, talking about his concerns about Ryan Garcia. “Even though Devin didn’t look sensational, he’ll get momentum now after the win, and I think he’ll be better next time.”

Garcia looked horrible throughout his fight against Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero on May 2nd, and you can tell that he was shattered afterward. Ryan was shown crying in the ambulance after his defeat against Rolly. The way he looked, it will be hard for Garcia to come back from that defeat.

“Ryan is in a bit of a mess, really. He’s got to come back, get a win. I think he should be beating Rolly,” said Hearn. “We saw behind closed doors that kind of atmosphere has an effect on performances, but you know what to expect,” said Hearn about Garcia fighting in front of a small crowd at Times Square.

Garcia might not be in a “bit of a mess” if Turki Alalshikh is willing to match him against Devin Haney in October still. Everyone heard Turki say today at the press conference that the Ryan vs. Haney rematch is still one that he wants. He didn’t say how soon, but given the way he was talking, it likely will be. If Turki wants Kingry to take another tune-up fight, he’s going to have to ensure that it’s against someone who has marginal talent and no punching power. Any top 10 contender at 140 or 147 would be very risky for Garcia.

Hearn Blames Environment

“I was quite upset that Ryan didn’t perform because I was really pleased for him to turn his life around,” said Hearn. “Sometimes in that environment, the fight can pass you by. So, what happens is you get six rounds in and you’re behind. Eight rounds in, you’re still behind. Ten rounds in, you got two rounds to go. [Trainer] Derrick] James was saying all the right things.”

It’s ridiculous for Hearn to blame the Times Square environment for Ryan Garcia’s defeat against Rolly Romero. That’s not why Kingry lost. He was beaten because he fought a rugged fighter with excellent power, and he didn’t possess the chin or the courage to win against that kind of fighter. Ryan is not on the level of elite fighters like Gervonta Davis. He’s not even at the level of a tough blue-collar fighter like Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz.

“It wasn’t as if he wasn’t saying, ‘Ryan,’ but he just couldn’t do it. Was it the environment? Was it him and Rolly having a bit of history? He got hurt in the second round. But it was a poor performance,” said Hearn. “That’s the bottom line. And he’s much better than that.”

How does Hearn know that Ryan Garcia is better than what he showed? Who did he ever beat to show that his level was high? We’d seen him dominated in sparring with Rolly years ago. The fight played out just like the sparring session, which is thought to have occurred in 2018. As a pro, Ryan’s best wins were against Oscar Duarte, Javier Fortuna, and Luke Campbell. Those aren’t great talents.

Turki Controls Rematch

“That’s up to His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh],” said Hearn when asked if he believes the Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney 2 rematch will happen now. “If both of those guys look great on May 2nd, it’s huge, but they didn’t. I think they both need another fight. I think Shakur was right about Devin. Devin is there to be criticized right now, and sometimes people are going to be a little bit harder than they should be.”

The way Turki was talking today during the press conference in New York for the Edgar Berlanga vs. Hamzah Sheeraz, he sounds like he’s going to go ahead with his original plans to make the Garcia-Haney rematch. If this is just about entertainment and not about winning belts or positioning to capture a title, the Ryan vs. Haney rematch might as well happen. Neither of these guys are going to improve enough to win a title at 147. Their only chance of capturing a title is against WBC champion Mario Barrios or after Boots Ennis moves up to 154.

“He [Haney] did win pretty much every round, and he did hurt Ramirez a couple of times when he held his feet. But he just moved a little too quickly early, but he is coming off a really rough night with a lot of things having happened to him. He’s been out of the ring for a year. Devin is a brilliant talent,’ said Hearn.

Devin won almost every round against a faded version of Jose Ramirez, who was made to order for him. There’s a big difference between Haney doing well against Ramirez than someone with talent, like Jaron Ennis, Brian Norman, Gary Antuanne Russell, and Shakhram Giyasov. It’s hard to see Haney beating any of those fighters or even Conor Benn.