Ryan Garcia lost to Rollie Romero in a 12-round decision.
What happened?
Garcia entered the ring in the Batmobile, expecting a quick win, but Romero had other plans.
The loss derails the potential rematch with Devin Haney.
Why it matters for Ryan Garcia
Garcia had expressed interest in the Haney fight primarily due to the promotional appeal of Riyadh Season.
He feels he beat Haney cleanly, despite the controversial drug test results.
What comes next?
A potential fight against Conor Benn could be on the cards, offering a transatlantic UK-US event with massive appeal.
Benn speaks fluent Spanish, which could help the fight land with Latino fans.
Garcia has consistently demonstrated the ability to rebound from in-ring setbacks or social media storms.
He may have entered the ring in the Batmobile expecting a clean win, but he left in the proverbial driver's seat.
The loss strengthens his hand in avoiding the Haney rematch on unfavorable terms.
Now, he can pivot to more marketable or manageable fights, such as against Teofimo Lopez.
Lopez is a better fighter than Rolly Romero and a fight between Garcia and Lopez would be easy to make.
Garcia's long layoff in boxing's proverbial penalty box played a significant role in his lackluster performance.
But Garcia remains very much in the mix, and his recent loss may have shocked fans and critics alike.
The post-Mayweather era of boxing is where one loss doesn't define a career.
Other options emerge, such as a fight against Subriel Matías or Liam Paro, which could offer a stylistic clash Garcia thrives against.
Garcia has the ability to control his narrative once again.
He left the ring in the proverbial driver's seat, with his career back on track.