Ryan Garcia is cognizant that he has to combat ring rust and Rolando Romero at the same time when he headlines a Ring Magazine card on May 2 in Times Square, New York on DAZN pay per view.

Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) is serving a one-year suspension due to testing positive for the performance enhancing drug ostarine, but next, he’s ready to make his welterweight debut against the power-punching Romero (16-2, 13 KOs).

“I never even dreamt about fighting in Times Square. I am happy to be a part of history,” Garcia said during a media workout at The BXNG Club in San Diego. “It's a big opportunity for me to do something amazing at a historic event. There is a little bit of added pressure, but this is what we do.

“I'm excited to be back in the ring in my element and produce the best Ryan Garcia. We're prepared for whatever Rolando brings. We are not expecting an easy fight. He's a power puncher and he's going to come and try to knock me out and probably make the fight rough. I just have to be well conditioned and have a good gameplan.

“With Rolando, I have to be sharp the whole way through. He only throws bombs. That's actually all he knows how to throw. If I'm not sharp the whole way through, I could get caught. That's not something I want to do. For me, it's having my technique right, and that's what we've been working on.”

Garcia will be fighting for the first time in a little over a year since the controversial clash against Devin Haney. Garcia’s three-knockdown performance was originally scored a majority decision win but later changed to a No Contest after the PED findings were revealed.

If Garcia beats Romero, and Haney gets past former unified 140-pound champion Jose Ramirez in the co-feature, the plan is for the pair to meet in a rematch later this year.

“I'm ready to go 12 rounds,” said Garcia. “We should do the job. I want to get sharp again and prepare for the next fight. But I can't look past Rolando, obviously.”