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Ryan Garcia’s path to face Jaron Ennis made clear – but will King Ry choose to settle old scores with Devin Haney instead?
Ryan Garcia restarts his boxing career this weekend with his debut at 147 pounds against Rolando Romero, headlining a night of boxing at Times Square.
The World Boxing Association (WBA) has confirmed that the winner of the clash will claim its regular welterweight title, paving a clear path to a potential clash with Jaron Ennis.
However, the clash comes after King Ry was suspended for a year after testing positive for ostarine, which is considered a banned substance. Despite this, Garcia remains one of the sport's most well-known faces due to his social media presence.
Aside from a year of inactivity, further fallout from the positive test saw Garcia's impressive win over Devin Haney stricken from his record.
With Haney also stepping up to welterweight, it seems possible that a rematch between the pair will take place later this year – perhaps sooner, forcing Garcia to pick between potential glory or bragging rights.
Ryan Garcia’s route to WBA welterweight title confirmed
Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
On top of the chance to earn a strap on Friday night, both fighters know that victory will set them up to face the WBA’s super champion – currently Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
That is because the WBA have ordered Ennis to defend his belt against Shakhram Giyasovin a match has to take place within 120 days of Ennis's victory just over two weeks ago against Eimantas Stanionis.
The victor of that bout has to face the winner of Garcia-Romero.
Ryan Garcia still searching for maiden world title
Despite an impressive record and healthy reputation in the sport, Garcia is yet to claim a world title in any of the three divisions he has competed in.
In fact, the 26-year-old is yet to contend for a world title inside the ring, despite facing two world champions.
His defeat to Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, holder of the WBA’s lightweight strap, was fought at a catchweight of 136 pounds.
Garcia was also handed a world-title shot when he arranged a fight with then-reigning WBC super-lightweight champion Devin Haney.
However, King Ry missed the super-lightweight limit of 140 pounds, preventing Garcia from taking the belt off his former amateur rival.
In Romero, Garcia faces another boxer to have claimed a world title – albeit formerly.
Beaten to the WBA lightweight title by Davis, Romero was given an opportunity to take the WBA super-lightweight belt from the waist of Alberto Puello.
A suspension for Puello due to a positive test for performance-enhancing drugs saw the title stripped, with the WBA pitting Romero against Ismael Barroso for the vacant title in May 2023.
Romero stopped his Venezuelan opponent in the ninth round, making the American a world champion.
Potential roadblocks to Garcia vs Ennis
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Aside from defeats for either Ryan Garcia or Jaron Ennis, a few variables may prevent the pair from meeting in the ring.
Ennis has long been rumoured to leave the welterweight division behind and step up to 154 pounds.
That would see Boots vacate his IBF and WBA belts at 147 pounds, nixing any potential fight with Garcia.
However, after his unifying-victory over Eimantas Stanionis, Ennis remained coy about his future, having previously been outspoken about his desire to become undisputed in the lightweight division.
Alternatively, Garcia may steer away from Ennis in order to face Devin Haney once more.
During the build-up to their respective bouts on Friday’s card, the duo have taken verbal swipes at each other, highlighting that there is still unfinished business between the Dream and the King.
With Turki Alalshikh claiming to have set up a rematch between Garcia and Haney for later this year, King Ry may put his world title bid on hold to put his old adversary in his place.
Watch two incredible fight nights this week only on DAZN
Fight fans are in for a treat this week, with two amazing fight exclusively DAZN PPV.
- May 2: Ryan Garcia vs Rolly Romero; Devin Haney vs Jose Ramirez; Teofimo Lopez vs Arnold Barboza Jr.
- May 3: Canelo Alvarez vs William Scull
Fight fans can purchase either these fight nights individually for $59.99 US; £/€21.99 UK/IRE; $24.99 ROW per PPV or take advantage of the DAZN Knockout Weekend Bundle where both fight cards can be purchased for $90 US; £34.99 UK and €34.99 Europe.
