Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero, Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez Set for May Ring Magazine Event

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Boxing star Ryan Garcia will face Rolly Romero in his return from suspension, while Devin Haney will take on Jose Ramirez in a highly anticipated Ring Magazine event this May, Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia‘s General Entertainment Authority, announced Monday. The card, branded as a Ring Magazine event, will also feature a heavyweight title eliminator between Martin Bakole and Efe Ajagba.

Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs), who was suspended for one year by the New York State Athletic Commission after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug ostarine, is set to return to the ring in May. His suspension stemmed from a majority decision victory over Haney in April 2023, which was later overturned to a no-contest due to the doping violation. Garcia also faced a $1.2 million fine and was 3.2 pounds overweight for the 140-pound title fight.

If Garcia and Haney both win their respective bouts, the plan is for them to meet in a rematch in October in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Haney (31-0, 15 KOs), the former undisputed lightweight champion, filed a lawsuit against Garcia in September 2023, alleging battery, fraud, and breach of contract related to the doping violation. The lawsuit was temporarily paused last week due to a tentative settlement.

Romero (16-2, 13 KOs), who last fought in September 2023, will move up to a third weight class to face Garcia. Ramirez (29-2, 18 KOs), a former unified 140-pound champion, will also step up to welterweight to challenge Haney. The card will be rounded out by a heavyweight clash between Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs) and Ajagba (20-1, 14 KOs), with the winner becoming the mandatory challenger for the IBF heavyweight title.

Details such as the exact date, location, and broadcast partner for the event are expected to be announced later. The fights mark a significant return to the ring for both Garcia and Haney, who have not competed since their controversial bout last April.