Richardson Hitchins is picking Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney to win their fights on the May 2nd card at Times Square in New York City. Haney’s comeback fight against former WBC and WBO 140-lb champ Jose Ramirez (29-2, 18 KOs) is the one that he feels he could lose. Ramirez can punch and has the amateur pedigree to win.
Former two-division world champion Haney was dropped three times by Ryan and arguably saved by the referee in the seventh round of their fight on April 20th. If Haney’s chin isn’t the same from that loss, Ramirez will take advantage of that weakness.
Rolly’s Chin
Hitchins feels that the former WBA light welterweight champion Rolly (16-2, 12 KOs) can no longer take a punch since being knocked out by Geronta Davis in the sixth round three years ago in 2022. He sees Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) as having too much power for Romero to withstand without getting knocked out.
Richardson believes that Haney and Ryan are just fighting for money now, and not concerned about winning belts or about improving their craft. They’re businessmen now and taking fights that “make sense” financially.
“Rolly, I would want to give him a chance but his chin is so shot. He can’t withstand a punch,” said Richardson Hitchins to Fighthype, talking about Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero’s punch resistance will betray him against Ryan Garcia.
Romero has always been a flawed fighter throughout his career. Mayweather Promotions matched him against weak opposition, and he lucked out with his controversial win over Jackson Marinez in 2020. Rolly’s ninth round knockout win over 40-year-old Ismael Barroso on May 13, 2023 was equally questionable.
That was the one where the referee Tony Weeks stopped the fight after Romero threw a five-punch combination that hit air. Nothing landed, but Weeks stopped the action and gave Rolly a knockout win. Barroso was standing there like, ‘What just happened?’ No review, nothing. The whole thing looked staged in a WWE skit.
“After Tank touched it, he can’t withstand a punch. He ain’t the same fighter. Even the last fight he fought [Manuel Jaimes] and the danger that he had that came with all that spark. He don’t get that anymore. So, I’m going to give it to Ryan Garcia.
“Ryan is the bigger guy and I feel he has more devastating power than Rolly. I think he can take his power more than Rolly can. As far as Jose Ramirez and Devin. Stylistically, Devin should win the fight but then again, I could see Jose Ramirez giving Devin problems too. Both guys [Garcia and Haney] should win,” said Richardson.
Devin and his father, Bill Haney, must be counting on Ramirez, 32, having lost something from his game from his best years from 2018 to 2021. Bill is like a vulture, picking out prey for his son, Devin. He obviously sees vulnerability in Ramirez for him, given the greenlight for this fight to happen. Bill was all over the Regis Prograis and George Kambosos Jr. fights, eager for those two to be opponents for Dvin.
Ramirez does look slower, but his power is still the same. He still packs a punch and fights with the same high-pressure style that brought him success earlier in his career.
In some ways, this fight is harder for Haney than his last one against Ryan Garcia because Ramirez won’t be taking rounds off. He’ll keep the pressure on Haney, forcing him to move and defend.
Business Moves
“I would like to see Ryan Garcia and Devin play out in the second fight. So, hopefully, they get their job done. But I really don’t see too many spoilers. If there was one, maybe it would be in the Jose Ramirez fight. I think the Jose Ramirez vs. Devin Haney fight is more competitive fight than Rolly and Ryan.
“I think they’ll be the same. It’ll be the same Ryan Garcia and same Devin Haney,” said Richardson when asked if the long layoff will have changed Ryan and Haney going into their May 2nd card. “I feel like they’re both on some business s*** now. They’re trying to make it make sense.
“Devin Haney ain’t worried about too many belts. It’s more like money. I don’t see these guys doing things to make their game that much different. I’m pretty sure they’re going to get better as boxers, but I don’t see it as stylistically that Devin is going to turn into a power puncher or pressure Mexican to elevate his game. I think we’re going to see the same guys.”
Last Updated on 03/03/2025
