Nonito Donaire knows a wrecking punch when he sees one, and the four‑division great says Rolando “Rolly” Romero’s second‑round left hook in Times Square was the single moment that turned Ryan Garcia from aggressor to survivor. “When he dropped Ryan, he made him think otherwise,” Donaire told Boxing News, likening Romero’s leverage to prime Gennadiy Golovkin power and insisting Garcia simply “didn’t want to play that game” again after tasting the shot.

Romero rode that knockdown to a unanimous decision - 115‑112 twice and 118‑109 - and snatched the vacant WBA ‘regular’ welterweight title in the process, handing Garcia his second career defeat and the first of his post‑suspension comeback. The 29‑year‑old Las Vegas native, now campaigning at 147 lb, looked physically stronger than ever, a point Donaire says matters: without draining to the lower weights “he’s one of those heavy‑handed guys - hammer‑type punches, not speed.”

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Donaire also stirred the simmering PED subplot, reminding fans that Garcia’s overturned win over Devin Haney was tainted by an Ostarine positive. “It’s a hell of a drug… maybe that showed the difference,” the Filipino Flash mused, noting how Garcia appeared more robust against Haney than he did opposite Romero’s thudding shots.

Looking forward, Donaire believes the Romero who beat Garcia is a far stiffer proposition for old rival Gervonta “Tank” Davis than the erratic version Tank stopped at 140 lb in 2022, provided a catch‑weight above 140 can be agreed. He also floated a potential clash with unified champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis, though he cautioned that Romero’s awkward, unpredictable style may not translate as well against the slick Philadelphian technician.

Whatever comes next, Donaire’s verdict is clear: Romero’s “GGG‑grade” wallop didn’t just win a belt in the neon canyon of Times Square - it rewired one of boxing’s most explosive punchers mid‑fight and re‑opened a lane to the sport’s richest showdowns at welterweight. If the new champ can keep detonating shots with that same concussive spite, the division’s established elite may soon have to “think otherwise” themselves.

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