By: Gloria Smith, Associate Editor for World Liberty TV
Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez kick-off a two-city Press Tour this Tuesday, March 4, in New York, ahead of a spectacular three-fight card in Times Square, New York on Friday May 2, as Ring Magazine presents its first-ever event in the United States titled “FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves”, brought to you by SNK Corporation in association with Oscar De La Hoya for Golden Boy Promotions and Eddie Hearn for Matchroom Boxing.
Eddie Hearns Matchroom Boxing Promoter seated with other guests on Dias
Garcia will clash with Rolly Romero, Haney battles Jose Ramirez and Lopez meets Arnold Barboza on the night, and all fighters will be present at the launch press conference at the Palladium Times Square on Tuesday. Media entry will be from 2pm with the press conference commencing live at 3pm ET.
A second press conference is set to take place in Los Angeles on Monday March 10, and details of this event will be released to the media soon.
Dr Abbey with Ryan King Garcia
New York’s iconic Times Square will be turned into a world-class boxing venue for one night only to provide the backdrop for Ring Magazine’s first American event, playing host to some of the biggest stars of the game, as Garcia returns to action on May 2 against the larger-than-life former World title challenger Romero. Former world ruler Haney will be looking to oust the former unified 140-pound king Ramirez, while Brooklyn’s Lopez always guarantees fireworks in the ring and his next assignment is a tough one in the shape of the unbeaten Barboza.
Douglass Fischer Editor & Chief of Ring Magazine & Emcee of Event
Times Square will stage a boxing tripleheader featuring the returns of Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney, along with a title defense for Teofimo Lopez, on May 2.
The card announced Friday by Turki Alalshikh, the head of Riyadh Season and the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia, brings Garcia and Haney back to New York for their first bouts since Garcia’s victory in their 2024 title bout at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. That was later changed to a no-contest after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and was subsequently suspended for a year by the New York State Athletic Commission. Victories for both could set the stage for a rematch between the two.
Dr Abbey with Teofimo Lopez Sr , Father Teo Jr & his head trainer
Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) will headline the Ring Magazine “Fatal Fury: City of The Wolves” card against Rolando “Rolly” Romero (16-2, 13 KOs), who was stopped by lightweight champion Gervonta Davis in 2022 in his last fight in New York.
Garcia said at the presser today in NYC: “[Me and Rolly] sparred about eight years ago, it was rough sparring, he continued to use that to boost his career, but I don’t have no bad blood with him. I’m here to do my job and set up the rematch [with Devin], I’ve got to be sharp because he’s going to bring it.
Dr Abbey with Ade Oladipo Commentator For DAZN Boxing
“I want to be great, I have also wanted to fight the best fighters, as far as my problems outside the ring, I’ve always had those struggles, I want to show everybody that you can come back from anything.
“I admit my wrongs, I want to show I’m a true professional, I don’t want anyone to take my actions of drinking and smoking before a fight and thinking that’s the professional thing to do.” Romero rebuffed Garcia’s suggestion that those sparring stories were used to ‘chase clout’.
R-L Dr Abbey with Bernard Hopkins Boxing great and Akin Ak Reyes of Dazn boxing show
He added: “I mean, if I was clout chasing, he’d have had clout, but he didn’t have any. It’s just sparring, we’re gonna see the real fight in the ring, it’ll be one of the biggest fights in US history that’s for sure.
“I said years ago me and him were going to fight at welterweight, I outgrew 140 and 135 long, long ago. I’m all muscle right now.”
Dr Abbey with Richardson Hitchins IBF World Jr Welterweight Champion
Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) will move up to welterweight to take on Jose Ramirez (29-2, 18 KOs) in a matchup of former 140-pound champions.
Arnold Barboza Jr believes that, once again, he can walk into his opponent’s backyard and shock the world when he faces Teofimo Lopez in New York City this spring.
Dr Abbey with Legendary Show bizz the adult Boxing Youtuber
The pair will clash as part of an unmissable three-fight card, brought to you by Ring Magazine in association with SNK Games, the creators of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves on May 2 in Times Square.
Barboza (32-0, 11 KOs) beat Jack Catterall by split decision to claim the WBO ‘Interim’ 140-pound championship in Manchester last month, and he’s going straight back into camp for another huge clash in a few weeks.
Teofimo Lopez WBO & Ring Magazine 140 World Boxing Champion
The Mexican-American will aim to take the WBO and Ring junior-welterweight titles from Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs), who is one of the standout stars in the sport and holds huge wins over Vasiliy Lomachenko and Josh Taylor.
Both men faced off at the kick-off press conference in New York City today and were in fiery form ahead of their title fight.
Teofimo Lopez vs Arnold Barboza Face Off
Lopez said: “I’m focused on big fights, I don’t think he’s that type, but His Excellency asked for it, it’ll be a good fight for this card. What can I do? I think stylistically he’s a strong Mexican fighter, he’s 32-0, he just got an interim world title, I won my first title at 15-0 at Madison Square Garden, I’m only 27.”
Barboza came right back at his adversary, claiming that Lopez has had everything handed to him throughout his career so far.He said: “You think you’re big and bad fighting an injured Loma and an injured Taylor, I’m taking that Ring Magazine belt.
Boxing Sensation Ryan Garcia with Oscar De la Hoya & their team members
“I earned my s–t, you get your shit given to you on a plate. I’m fighting the top three guys in the division.
“I think Teo is fighting me at the worst time he can fight me. The train is hot right now, it’s going. I’m going to shock the world again, I shocked everyone in Saudi, Manchester and I’ll do it in New York.
“Nothing was given to me, everything was earned. I’m not doing pushups on the internet. I’m where I am because of my hard work, shoutout to my pops for being my trainer, I grew up tough, raised by a real man who takes care of his family, isn’t on that goofy s–t. He’s going to find out I’m a live dog in that ring when I raise his WBO and Ring Magazine belt.”
Lopez hasn’t fought since a unanimous decision victory over Steve Claggett last summer, and it’ll be 11 months out of the ring by the time he steps between the ropes to fight Barboza.
Barboza, fresh off his victory over Catterall, is on a roll right now, having also beaten Jose Ramirez on a Riyadh Season card back in November.
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