In the visceral world of professional boxing, one expects punches to fly and tempers to flare, but rarely do referees find themselves in the crosshairs of such heated controversies. On the evening of May 14, 2023, a fight between Rolando Romero and Ismael Barroso took an unexpected twist. In the ninth round, with both fighters still throwing punches but none landing significantly, referee Tony Weeks abruptly halted the match. Without warning, Romero was declared the winner by TKO, and the newly crowned WBA Super Lightweight Champion. Adding to the drama, Romero used his victory moment to audaciously call out Ryan Garcia.

Amid the heated discussions about referee decisions and unsatisfactory stoppages, boxing sensation Claressa Shields has taken to Twitter, stoking the fires of speculation with a tweet that fueled the curiosity of fight fans. Shields masterfully shifted the focus from the contentious outcome of the match by dropping a tantalizing hint at a potential 140 lb showdown between Romero and Ryan Garcia.

Her tweet, blending humor and intrigue, has sent shockwaves through the community, sparking a fierce debate over what such a matchup could mean. As the dust of controversy settles on the Romero-Barroso fight, Shields’ unexpected narrative pushes the boxing world to look toward an unpredictable and exciting future.

Fans react to a potential Romero-Garcia bout

The impact of Shields’ tweet was immediate and profound, as fans jumped in to share their thoughts and predictions on the proposed Romero-Garcia bout. The Twitter boxing community came alive with diverse and often colorful predictions.

Johnathan, a boxing enthusiast, was quick to predict a quick victory for Garcia, saying, “Ryan left hook KO rd 1.” His comment reflects a belief in Garcia’s powerful left hook and his ability to end fights swiftly.

Nick, another fan, brought a layer of irony to the conversation, tweeting, “Ryan becomes a champ lol it would be funny because they would both win a belt right after losing to Tank lmao.” His comment highlights the rollercoaster ride that boxing can often be, with fortunes changing rapidly.

Brendan Taylor chimed in with his own prediction. He stated, “It will definitely happen before Devin Vs Shakur or Shakur vs Keyshawn… that much I’m sure of 😂.” Taylor’s comment underscores the anticipation in the boxing world for high-profile matchups and how unpredictable the scheduling can be.

Romero’s business acumen was praised by Samuel Soria, who tweeted, “Rolly knows business lol Ryan is the 💰, Mr. 40 could have won and we’re talking about how Rolly’s career is going downhill GoodNight champ!” Samuel’s comment shows how much business strategy can influence decisions in boxing.

Finally, one user put forth a bold prediction, stating, “Ryan by KO 10 seconds into the fight.”