An Unforgettable Night: Boxing Takes Over Times Square
NEW YORK — Picture this: the bustling heart of New York City, Times Square, transformed into an electrifying outdoor boxing venue. It was a sight that left tourists and locals alike scratching their heads and snapping photos of a boxing ring that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. The iconic location, known for its bright lights and constant activity, was now the stage for a historic event.
As curious pedestrians navigated the area, one could hear questions like, “What’s going on, and how do I get to the other side of Fifth Avenue?” A local, accompanied by a friend visiting from California, expressed her frustration when told the area was restricted. “She came all the way out here for Times Square to be blocked off. I don’t even know what’s going on,” she lamented. A security worker offered a hint of the excitement, saying, “This is an exclusive, big match.”
Indeed, many onlookers were unaware they were witnessing history in the making. Last Friday marked “Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves,” the first event to transform Times Square into an outdoor boxing venue. The card was headlined by Ryan Garcia, who was making his return after a yearlong suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug. He faced off against Rolando “Rolly” Romero. Also on the card were Devin Haney versus Jose Ramirez and Teofimo Lopez against Arnold Barboza Jr.
The atmosphere was unlike any other boxing event, with punches and jabs adding to the light-filled ambiance of Times Square. Here’s a closer look at what made this historic boxing night so special.
The Ring
The ring was strategically set up on Seventh Avenue, right in front of ABC’s “Good Morning America” studio and Carlo’s Bake Shop, with Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Taco Bell, and Hard Rock Café just across the street. It was enclosed within a structure featuring four pillars, a roof, and four small videoboards.
Bill Haney, father and trainer of Devin Haney, couldn’t contain his excitement about the match’s location. “I’ve been in fights with 50,000 people and I would have to say this is the most iconic, historic fight that I’ve witnessed in my entire life,” he told ESPN. “Right here in the middle of Times Square. If you had told me last year that we would be here and we would be fighting, or me just seeing a fight [let] alone being a part of it, I wouldn’t have believed it. I feel like I’m dreaming.”
Boxing Fans Had Their Chance to Watch the Event
With no tickets on sale for this exclusive show, crosswalks were blocked off, creating a unique viewing experience for fans and tourists. Barricades kept them inside designated areas, with video screens set up in multiple locations. As the fights progressed, delayed roars from the scattered crowds could be heard whenever a big hit landed.
Oscar De La Hoya: ‘It’s Amazing’
Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya, who had three fighters (Garcia, Ramirez, and Barboza) on the card, was in awe of the location. “In my 45 years in boxing, there’s no comparison whatsoever,” De La Hoya told ESPN on Thursday. “I think this tops everything in the sport of boxing or in any sport, literally. I don’t think we’ve had basketball at Times Square live. … I think this is very unique, it’s incredible, it’s amazing.”
Everybody Was Watching
Boxing fans are known for their determination to catch a big card, and this event was no exception. Different screens around Times Square provided an opportunity for those without direct access to the ring to watch the action unfold. The ring was surrounded by 12-foot-tall fences covered in red tarp, maintaining the event’s exclusivity. Yet, fans found creative ways to watch, even from surrounding platforms and buildings.
Underneath the spot where the New Year’s Eve ball drops, a group of construction workers had one of the best vantage points. Dressed in work vests and hard hats, they gathered on top of a construction site, leaning over a guardrail to watch the early fights. As the main events approached, they pulled chairs onto the platform, eventually removing their hard hats and vests to get comfortable as Garcia took on Romero.
Celebrities, Athletes, and Boxing Royalty Were Ringside
The star power was undeniable, with impersonators of Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur, Harry Potter, Hulk Hogan, Michael Jackson, and four Elmos adding to the spectacle. Spectators were seated in three sections, with the north and south sections hosting celebrities like actor Michael J. Fox, streamers IShowSpeed and AMP, legendary drummer Jonathan “Sugarfoot” Moffett, rapper/actor Ice-T, and New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, fresh from a winning performance the night before when the Knicks eliminated the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Boxing royalty was seated east of the ring. Lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson was one of the first boxers to arrive, later joined by junior middleweight champ Terence Crawford, who was building hype for his Sept. 12 fight against Canelo Alvarez. Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was also in attendance, strutting around in a designer navy blue satin suit and taking photos with fans.
FDNY vs. NYPD
Before the professional card began, an hour was dedicated to the annual charity event called Battle of the Badges. This event features amateur boxing matches between New York police officers and firefighters, benefiting the Tunnel 2 Towers Foundation, which provides vital assistance to first responders and military veterans. Firefighter James Gennari of Ladder 24 and police officer Joel Allen arrived at the ring in appropriate robe colors (blue for the NYPD, red for FDNY), exiting vehicles related to their occupations.
Time to Get Ready
Arnold Barboza Jr. prepared for his bout against Lopez in a hotel ballroom, where he had his hands wrapped and gloves taped. To start his journey to the ring, wrapped in a white-and-blue robe and white hat, Barboza and his team rode up an escalator to exit the hotel.
Taxi, Taxi!
With no locker rooms connected to the venue, the question arose: how would fighters arrive at the ring? The answer was in style. Fighters’ dressing rooms were located at a hotel blocks away from the ring, and they were transported to the ring in classic cars, including New York’s distinctive yellow cabs. The journey took about eight minutes.
The fighters in the WBO junior welterweight bout rode to the ring in old-fashioned taxicabs through the New York City streets, with fans cheering and recording them on their mobile devices. Lopez, born in Brooklyn, embraced the moment of fighting in his backyard. As he arrived at the ring in an NYPD vest, supporters chanted “Teo.”
Devin Haney’s Turn
Haney made his entrance to 50 Cent’s “Many Men,” donning a black leather jacket and black leather trunks. As he bounced around the ring, he took a moment to absorb the scene, with billboards outside the ring and a handful of fans, mostly celebrities and fellow boxers, inside the venue. Though Haney is accustomed to fighting in front of thousands, the exclusivity seemed to fuel the 26-year-old.
“This, you can’t prepare for it. This is so iconic, and I don’t think this will happen again for a long time,” Bill Haney remarked.
Rolly Romero Pays Homage to ‘Back to the Future’
Romero embraced a “Back to the Future” theme for the main event. His team sported turquoise jumpsuits with “Rolly McFly” on the back in pink “Back to the Future”-themed lettering. To complete the look, Romero’s boxing shoes replicated Marty McFly’s, the character played by Michael J. Fox, who was in attendance. The shoes resembled the self-tying Nike sneakers worn in the sequel to “Back to the Future.”
Romero arrived at the ring in an old-school cream-colored lowrider equipped with hydraulics and knock-off wheels, wearing a pink-and-yellow-sleeved jacket.
Time for the Main Event
Garcia’s return was highly anticipated. He wore a blue ensemble featuring “King Ryan” on the back of his robe, adorned with a cross and angel wings. His trunks displayed crosses on each leg, with “King” on the front and “Ryan” on the back. He completed the look with white shoes matching the pattern of his robe and trunks.
The hotel entrance was crowded as Garcia made his way to his escort vehicle to the ring. His ride was a Batmobile, setting the tone for the fight. He climbed through the ropes to Lupe Fiasco’s “Superstar” featuring Matthew Santos.
In the second round, Garcia was knocked down by a Romero left hook. With few fans in attendance, the response to the knockdown was subdued, with only the sounds of cars, bicycle bells, car horns, and sirens filling the air.
Tyson and Stevenson were visibly moved by the Romero knockdown.
Ultimately, Romero spoiled Garcia’s return and the potential rematch against Haney with an upset, winning by scorecards of 115-112, 115-112, and 118-109. Despite the outcome, Romero still advocated for the rematch. “I think Devin and Ryan should get their rematch and make it a big one,” Romero said.
Originally Written by: Kalan Hooks
