Rolando Romero has revealed specific details around his upcoming clash against Ryan Garcia.
The bout will take place at 147 pounds, Romero told the media on Saturday while in attendance in Las Vegas to watch David Benavidez's unanimous decision win against David Morrell.
Romero and Garcia will fight in May as part of a Ring Magazine show in the United States.
Both fighters will be making their welterweights debuts, should 147 pounds indeed be the contracted weight for the clash.
"It's something everyone has been waiting for about eight years or so. I've been calling this boy out for a very long time," said Romero. "It's about time. I've been calling this sh!t for years, when we were both 135 pounders. I said f--- that sh!t I want it at 147 ... I'm happy he missed weight [in his last fight against Devin Haney]. I mean, he can miss weight with me. I don't give a f---... Personalities like mine only come once in a generation. I got the biggest balls in boxing and I am the biggest sh!t talker in the game.”
Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) and Romero (16-2, 13 KOs) were on track to face each other last year but Garcia changed his mind and instead directed his team to strike a deal with Haney.
Garcia and Haney faced off in April in a controversial clash. After a tumultuous promotion, Garcia was 3.2 pounds over the 140-pound limit for the fight and couldn't fight for Haney’s WBC junior welterweight title. During the fight, Garcia dropped Haney three times and scored a majority decision win. Afterward, however, it was revealed that Garcia tested positive for the performance enhancing drug ostarine. The result was later overturned to a no contest, Garcia was fined and suspended for a year, and Haney even sued Garcia for battery, fraud, and breach of contract.
Romero, a WBA 140-pound belt holder at the time, moved on from Garcia to fight Isaac Cruz in March instead and was knocked out in eight rounds. He has since returned to the win column with a unanimous decision against Manuel Jaimes in September.
Garcia and Romero’s fight will be supported by Haney facing Jose Ramirez. A heavyweight fight between Martin Bakole and Efe Ajagba is also on the card.
Should Garcia and Haney both win, they’d likely square off in October on a Riyadh Season show.
Manouk Akopyan is a lead writer for Ring Magazine. He can be reached on X and Instagram @ManoukAkopyan.