After-effects of last year's fight in play for Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney, says Oscar De La Hoya

LOS ANGELES – It will have been a year for both Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney since their famed – or infamous – bout in Brooklyn transpired.

Knowing boxing as he does, Garcia’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions, foresees the effects of that match shaping both fighters. 

“The confidence level [for Garcia] is at an all-time high. I think Ryan Garcia is ready to fight round 13 with anybody,” De La Hoya said Monday before a news conference for the May 2 card, which will be held in New York City’s Times Square.

There, Garcia will headline the card against former junior welterweight titleholder Rolando Romero. Haney, formerly the undisputed lightweight champion and previously a junior welterweight titleholder, will come back from the three knockdowns he suffered in his no-contest with Garcia, meeting former unified 140lb titleholder Jose Ramirez.

“He’s back, and he’s back with a vengeance,” De La Hoya said of Garcia. “He’s going to make a huge statement, especially in front of half a million people.” 

Garcia, 24-1 (20 KOs), was suspended for one year by the New York State Athletic Commission after submitting three positive tests for the banned performance-enhancing drug Ostarine following his victory by majority decision, which the commission overturned.

Haney, 31-0 (15 KOs), vacated his WBC belt after the event. Now he meets another Golden Boy-promoted fighter in Ramirez, 29-2 (18 KOs), who’s coming off a unanimous decision loss in November to Arnold Barboza. The May 2 card will also feature Barboza, who will challenge WBO titleholder and lineal champion Teofimo Lopez.

De La Hoya previously said he believes Haney’s “glass jaw” has been exposed.

Ramirez will seek to test it, De La Hoya said. 

“Speaking from a fighter’s perspective, when you come off a devastating loss, it’s hard to come back,” De La Hoya said. “Is your chin going to be the same? Is your confidence going to be the same? Is your heart going to be the same?

“There’s a big difference between getting hit one time and taking a knee, [as opposed] to getting hit, wobbled, getting hurt. You don’t recover from that. It’s just impossible. It’s hard. He’s taken a year off, rested his mind, body and soul. […] Maybe he is recovered. 

“Can Ramirez land a punch or two or three, and is [Haney] going to react differently? The fight is going to be interesting. Maybe he doesn’t recover. That’s why this card is so interesting. Because anyone can win.”