Rolando Romero senses that he’ll face a reinvigorated Ryan Garcia on May 2 in New York’s Times Square.

Romero reminded Garcia and anyone who will listen that his polarizing opponent emphasized throughout this promotion that he has rectified his issues outside of the ring and will fight Romero in much better mental and physical condition than he was when he boxed Devin Haney a year ago.

“The best thing is, I know I’m gonna get the best Ryan Garcia on fight night,” Romero told DAZN’s Todd Grisham during a roundtable discussion recently released on The Ring’s YouTube channel. “So, there ain’t no f--king excuses or anything.”

The 26-year-old Garcia completed his one-year suspension for failing a performance-enhancing drug test after his majority-decision victory over Devin Haney last April 20 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The result of their bout was changed to a no-contest because Garcia tested positive for ostarine.

The former WBC interim lightweight champion struggled with alcohol and drug abuse at the start of his suspension period. Once he was arrested last June 8 for vandalizing his hotel suite at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, Garcia began working to regain control of his life.

The former WBC interim lightweight champion maintains he has been fully focused on training for his 12-round welterweight fight with Romero. Garcia-Romero is the main event of The Ring’s “FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves” pay-per-view show ($59.99; $89.99 if bundled with the May 3 card headlined by Canelo Alvarez and William Scull).

Romero realizes a completely committed Garcia is as dangerous as the consensus 9-1 odds that favor him suggest.

“I mean, he’s quick as sh*t,” Romero admitted. “I mean, he can pop. He can crack. You know? A lot of experience, you know? He’s been doing this for – how old were you when you did this, when you started?”

Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs, 1 NC) was 7 when he took up boxing. The Victorville, California native participated in approximately 240 amateur matches before he made his pro debut in June 2016.

Romero (16-2, 13 KOs) had only 35 amateur fights and has boxed just 18 times as a professional. The former WBA super lightweight champion’s style is unconventional to say the least, though he possesses the proverbial puncher’s chance against Garcia.

“I don’t worry about making the fight exciting,” Romero said. “I think I’m just exciting, so it’ll be a lotta fun. It will be a lotta fun and, you know, we have a great card, we have a lotta dynamic and different personalities here. And it’s a card that everybody’s been waiting to see. A lotta these fights, people have been waiting to see.”

Romero, 29, lost two of his past four bouts by technical knockout. Those losses came against two top opponents – WBA lightweight champ Gervonta “Tank” Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs) and former WBA super lightweight champ Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (27-3-1, 18 KOs) – thus Romero remains confident that he can pull off an upset on this huge stage.

“You know, sh*t, I’m the most confident fighter in the damn world,” Romero said. “I’m gonna always [be that], you know?”

Garcia and Romero thought they would fight last year, but these rivals instead fought Haney and Cruz, respectively.

“Man, long overdue,” Romero said, “but I’m happy it’s finally happening, and over here in Times Square, New York. The biggest fight this year, for sure.”

If Garcia beats Romero and Haney (31-0, 15 KOs, 1 NC) defeats former WBC/WBO 140-pound champ Jose Ramirez (29-2, 18 KOs) in the 12-round co-feature May 2, Garcia and Haney have agreed to partake in a rematch sometime in October.