Rolly Romero Makes Major Decision After Earning $5 Million Against Ryan Garcia

“They want to all talk sh-t about Ryan Garcia crying in the van after the fight and stuff.. But I’ll tell you like this, on the same time when I went in my van, I sat down and I cried too.” That was Rolando Romero’s unexpected show of empathy after Ryan Garcia, who was trolled online for crying following their May 2nd Fatal Fury loss. It’s not often you see ‘Rolly’—known more for his trash talk than tenderness—take the high road. But having tasted defeat himself in 2022 against Gervonta Davis, the 29-year-old knows all too well what it feels like to lose and have the world pile on.

Now, after stepping into the ring in 2025 as an underdog and emerging victorious, reports indicate Rolando Romero earned a career-high $5.5 million—the fifth-highest purse from the May 2 Ryan Garcia fight and his biggest payday since turning pro in 2016. With the spotlight finally on him, Romero isn’t just basking in the glory; he’s hinting at an important change in his life.

Rolando Romero drops the grudge and picks up growth

The update came a few hours ago straight from Rolando Romero’s Instagram story. “It feels like the old Rolly has died and now it’s just Rolando,” he wrote. “I carried so much hatred in my heart, and I’m not even sure where it came from. God has shown me that I’m not meant to be that person anymore. I sincerely apologize to everyone.”

Gone is the overly brash persona that once made headlines. These days, the 29-year-old is trading jabs for gratitude—and he’s giving credit where it’s due. “Through Christ, anything and everything is possible,” he added in another Instagram story.

In fact, Rolando Romero has long credited his 2022 loss to Gervonta “Tank” Davis as the spark that lit the fire for his personal growth.

Leonard Ellerbe weighs in on Rolando Romero’s revival

In a candid conversation on Cigar Talk last year, Rolando Romero opened up about what that moment meant to him. “It was like God flushed all the trash out of my life, flushed every bit of trash out of my life” he recalled. “I was alone for about that whole year, honestly.”

And in a moment of rare humility, Rolando Romero even thanked the Baltimore native for the lesson. “Because of that fight, I tend to understand him a bit more too,” Rolly admitted. “Not even in boxing. I owe him that, ’cause that’s more important to me than money.” The loss that once stung so badly has now become a cornerstone of his development, both in the ring and beyond. And the results speak for themselves. Romero rebounded by capturing the WBA super lightweight title against Ismael Barroso in 2023, proving he could rise after falling.

Ultimately, Rolando Romero’s transformation hasn’t gone unnoticed. Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, also tweeted in response to the Cigar Talk clip, giving a nod to the boxer’s honesty and growth. What did he say?

Despite Tank Davis officially parting ways with Floyd Mayweather’s Money Team in 2023, the separation didn’t sour the relationship. In fact, Leonard Ellerbe still supports him wholeheartedly. So, when a clip of Rolando Romero’s interview surfaced showing him speaking candidly about growth after his loss to Davis, Ellerbe chimed in with a powerful message. “In real life, sometimes a loss is a win.” And if anyone embodies that sentiment right now, it’s Rolly.

Fast forward to 2025, the 29-year-old is on a two-fight win streak, bouncing back with conviction after his 2024 defeat to Isaac Cruz. And more than just adding wins to his record, the Las Vegas native is making waves now in the welterweight division again. His recent victory didn’t just earn him respect in the ring; it cemented his transformation outside of it, too. How, you ask?

Well, Rolando Romero has publicly defended Ryan Garcia amid online backlash after Garcia’s disappointing return from a PED suspension. And this just proves that he’s thinking beyond rivalries and into deeper empathy. So, what do you make of Rolando Romero’s spiritual shift?

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