Tale of the Tape: Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero

After more than a year since stepping into a boxing ring, Ryan "KingRy" Garcia will make his triumphant return Friday in a welterweight battle against Rolando "Rolly" Romero in New York's Times Square.

Garcia is coming off a one-year suspension for performance-enhancing drugs after his unanimous-decision victory over Devin Haney was later changed to a no-contest due to a positive test.

It looked like the 26-year-old California native would fight Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz in his return after reports surfaced in January that their camps had agreed to a deal. However, Cruz opted out of the bout, allowing Romero to step in.

It'll be interesting to see where Garcia's head is Friday after a roller-coaster year. He's announced his retirement, been arrested for vandalizing a Beverly Hills hotel, and been sued separately by Haney and streaming service Fanmio.

Haney was seeking damages for battery, fraud, and breach of contract in connection with Garcia's doping violation. Meanwhile, Fanmio sued Garcia and his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions, for failing to appear in an exhibition boxing match against kickboxer Rukiya Anpo in Japan last December.

Garcia has notably struggled with his mental health throughout his boxing career but looked confident and aggressive during his fight against Haney. He knocked down "The Dream" three times.

Garcia said he wasn't in top form when he fought Haney, but he recently told Romero during "DAZN Boxing Face Off" that he's entering Friday's fight in peak physical and mental condition.

"I showed everyone on my Instagram, I was drinking, I was smoking (before fighting Haney), I didn't hide it, but now I'm not. ... I'm even more focused, I'm training every day, it's going to be worse. You're going to be retiring that night," Garcia said.

If Garcia enters Friday's fight with the same confidence, conviction, and determination, we could see some fireworks.

Speaking of fireworks, Romero is capable of setting them off himself. The Las Vegas native packs thunder in his punches, as 13 of his 16 wins have come by knockout.

Romero's last four fights haven't gone well, however.

He was knocked out by Gervonta "Tank" Davis in the sixth round of a May 2022 fight before winning the vacant WBA junior welterweight belt in controversial fashion over Ismael Barroso a year later. Romero lost that same title to Cruz in his first defense and was taken 12 rounds by lesser-known fighter Manuel Jaimes during his most recent fight last September.

However, Romero has had the upper hand over Garcia in past sparring sessions, twice getting the better of him.

Garcia admitted the videos of the sparring sessions have haunted him throughout his career, but Romero won't let his past success cloud his judgment.

“That's sparring. I've had guys land good shots on me, and I've landed good shots," Romero told Boxing Scene's Lance Pugmire. "Yeah, I did beat the shit out of him both days. ... It don't matter. It's just sparring. I was just trying to get a big fight."

Will Garcia conquer his demons against Romero and get the rematch he seeks against Haney? Or will Romero turn things around and set himself up for a big fight?