Ring Magazine’s “Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves” Event Brings Triple Header to Time Square!
Photo Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom
Teofimo Lopez will put his WBO crown on the line when he enters the ring against Arnold Barboza Jr. on Friday May 2nd as we see for the first time ever as Time Square transforms into world class stage for boxing! The Tripleheader card will also have Ryan Garcia, Rolando Romero, Devin Haney and Jose Carlos Ramirez on the card with this explosive event that is also brought to us in collaboration with the game company SNK who’s video game release of the same title as the event launches on April 24th 2025. The first ‘FATAL FURY” game hit the scene in 1991. The fight will be broadcasted live via DAZN PPV. Eddie Hearn was stated that “There was never any intentions to sell tickets for the event, I believe there will be guests there. The whole concept of these. It’s not my event. This is my opinion. It’s a TV experience.” This event is said to be NOT open to the general public, and there will only be a small crowd of 100 to 300 in attendance.
Former unified lightweight champion, Teofimo Lopez (21-1, 13KOs) will be putting his WBO/The Ring junior-lightweight titles on the line against Arnold Barboza (32-0,11KOs), his mandatory challenger. This will be the opening fight on the card. Lopez needs to win big since a few poor performances has dropped him down from headline status. Word around town was Teo has been ducking Barboza for the last three years. Barboza is a tough fighter and a mandatory challenger for a reason. Does Teo still have it? Teo is quick, energetic and athletic with a multifaceted skillset, but is getting older and has had some issues outside of the ring that may have distracted him in his previous fights. Teo needs to come out BIG , a loss will start his three-fight contract badly with Turki Alalshikh. The bad blood between them might just be the motivation Teo needed to bring the Teo of old back out.
AB Boxing News got exclusive footage from the press conference where Teofimo Lopez slapped Arnold Barboza Jr. in a heated face-off! Follow our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@abboxingnews3133 for exclusive fight news and interviews.
Devin Haney (31-0-1 NC, 15KOs) will be on the co-feature when he takes on Jose Ramirez (29-2, 18KOs) Haney was handed his first loss which was then overturned to a no-contest against Ryan Garcia who will also be on the card after he tested positive for the banned Ostarine by VADA. The two fighters are both former super-lightweight champions who will be moving up to welterweight. Haney will be coming off a year long layoff after his controversial bout against Garcia in April 2024. Haney has been getting bigger and has complained about being weight drained so maybe he will be a little more battle ready after stepping off the scales come fight night. Haney was quoted saying I took a year off like I said I was going to,” Haney said at a press conference on Tuesday. “I wanted to come back when I felt it was the right time, but when I came back I wanted to fight the best fighters in the world, I didn’t want to face any regular ‘Joe Blow’. I wanted to fight a two-time world champion like Jose Ramirez.” Raminrez was quoted warning Haney: “I think people underestimate my speed and power, but I’m ready to put it together on May 2nd. You thought I was strong at 140, just watch me at 147.”These two warriors will definitely put on an amazing show!
For the main event we have Ryan Garcia (24-1-1 NC, 20 KOs) making his return a year on from his fight with Haney last April 20 in New York City, facing Rolando Romero (16-2, 13 KOs) in a contest that both men have promised to finish inside the distance. Ryan Garcia rose to fame with social media, a fast as lightning left hook and explosive power. Romero also had a big following with his mouth and unorthodox style. Both fighters have power with an knockout average at about 80% for both. They both will be looking to show out and put the other down for the count. There will be fireworks in the ring all night in NYC.
If both Haney and Garcia win their perspective fights they are expected to rematch later this year on a Riyadh Season card. These six fighters will be looking to light up Times Square so make sure to tune in on DAZN May 2nd and don’t miss out on the action!