Ryan Garcia reunites with Anthony Joshua’s former trainer after being forced to leave Canelo Alvarez camp

Ryan Garcia has reunited with former trainer Derrick James ahead of his upcoming clash with Rolly Romero.

'King Ry' is set to face Romero on May 2 at Times Square, New York, in his first fight back since his one-year suspension from the sport.

The 26-year-old was slapped with a boxing ban by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) after failing two separate drug tests taken around his April 2024 clash with Devin Haney for the banned substance ostarine.

Garica initially got his hand raised via majority decision after flooring Haney three times.

However, the result was later overturned to a no-contest.

James trained Garcia for the grudge match with Haney, as well as his knockout win over Oscar Duarte in his previous outing.

But Garcia left James to join Canelo Alvarez's camp and train under Eddy Reynoso.

Garcia previously worked with Reynoso for five bouts between 2018 and 2021, and was hoping the Mexican legend could take him under his wing for his comeback fight.

Reynoso and Garcia worked with each other for a few weeks before the American started his camp, but Canelo's undisputed super middleweight contest in Saudi Arabia against William Scull is pencilled in for one day after the Romero fight, meaning the link-up will have to wait.

"How can I take you talking the whole camp? So I had to dip," Garcia quipped. "No. [It was] circumstances."

Garica initially declared that he would be trained by his father, Henry Garcia, alongside brother Sean Garcia and strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune.

But the former world title challenger has now announced that James will lead him into battle.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, he wrote: "Major announcement. Working with Derrick James this camp, and it’s been going great. Let’s go May 2nd, Fatal Fury."

James is widely considered to be one of the best trainers in boxing, having previously guided Errol Spence to three-belt status at welterweight and Jermell Charlo to undisputed at super welterweight.

British boxing fans will remember him best for his time with two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

James oversaw two of Joshua's camps in 2023 for fights with Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius.

AJ was criticised for his gun-shy approach to both contests and later left James for Ben Davison.