THE RING MAGAZINE’S HISTORIC FIRST-EVER U.S. BOXING CARD “FATAL FURY: CITY OF THE WOLVES” GRAND ARRIVALS QUOTES AHEAD OF STAR-STUDDED TIMES SQUARE CARD FEATURING RYAN GARCIA, DEVIN HANEY AND TEOFIMO LOPEZ IN SEPARATE BOUTS
NEW YORK – April 29, 2025 – Ahead ofthe first-ever live boxing match from Times Square, Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez,and their respective opponents made their grand arrivals yesterday at the Manhattan Center in New York City, ahead of The Ring Magazine’s historic first-ever boxing event in the United States, titled “FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves.” The event will take place on Friday, May 2, live worldwide exclusively on DAZN PPV (5:30 p.m. ET) and is brought to you by SNK Corporation in association with Oscar De La Hoya for Golden Boy Promotions and Eddie Hearn for Matchroom Boxing.
International boxing star Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) and former interim champion Rolly Romero (16-2, 13 KOs) will square off in a welterweight contest. Former undisputed lightweight world champion Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) is facing former unified titleholder Jose Carlos Ramirez (29-2, 18 KOs) in a battle of elite super lightweights, and reigning WBO Super Lightweight Champion and former unified lightweight king Teofimo Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) is defending his title against Arnold Barboza Jr. (32-0, 11 KOs).
Also making their grand arrivals were Japanese boxing prodigy Reito Tsutsumi, who is making his pro debut, and his opponent, Levale Whittington (1-2-1, 1 KO), who will meet in a six-round featherweight fight. Kicking off the night will be the “Battle of the Badges,” a special light heavyweight contest pitting New York’s “Finest” against New York’s “Bravest.” Joel Allen, representing the NYPD, will take on the FDNY’s James Gennari in a battleappropriately taking place in the heart of Manhattan.
Here is what the fighters and their teams had to say during their grand arrivals:
Ryan Garcia
On the statement he wants to make following his yearlong layoff:
“I’m coming back with a bang. I’m not here to play any games come Friday night. I’ve got a huge fight coming up next, so I have to take him as seriously as if I’m fighting Devin. We’re going to be prepared, 100%.”
On whether this current version of himself is the new Ryan Garcia:
“You’re just getting what you’re getting. I’m still going to bring that speed and power. It’s just what I do. I’m explosive, and I’m hungry. I feel the adrenaline right now, fight week. I’m feeling how I always feel: focused, ready to kill.”
On whether he plans to come for the knockout:
“Most definitely. I’m not coming for it, but when I throw, usually they go down. He’s going to be coming after me, I’ll be coming after him. It’s going to be a great night.”
On the fight and the Times Square experience:
“This has to be the biggest fight of my career. It’s a historic night, and it means everything. This is the biggest fight of my life.”
Rolly Romero
On his welterweight debut:
“I’m feeling like it’s about damn time. It’s long overdue.”
On his previous fights with Ryan Garcia:
“He got his a** beat twice and the third time’s a charm.”
On if he plans to go for the knockout:
“When have I ever not gone for a knockout? Every fight I’m in, I go for a knockout.”
Devin Haney
On what he’s looking to prove following last year’s fight with Ryan Garcia:
“I’m happy to be back in the ring. This is a dream come true. Allah is the perfect planner. I look to bring fireworks on May 2. I look to show the world a new-and-improved, better Devin Haney than before.”
On what he’s been doing following the year off:
“I had to go back to the drawing board and focus on the mistakes I was making. Like I said, I had to become a better version of myself, and I’m looking to go in there and show it on Friday.”
On his excitement level for a rematch with Ryan:
“My main focus right now is Jose Ramirez. He’s a former two-time champion. He’s coming, he’s bringing everything, and I look to handicap him and show him that I’m just on a whole different level, and then we can get to the Ryan Garcia fight.”
Jose Carlos Ramirez
On how excited he is to fight Devin Haney:
“Extremely excited. First and foremost, I’m thankful for the opportunity, but I owe it to myself to show up and move up into a bigger weight class. I think that’s going to do wonders for me.”
Teofimo Lopez
On the statement he wants to make and whether he’ll fight again at 140 lbs:
“We’re going to go out there and do what I have to do. I’m going to have fun and beat the brick out of this boy.”
Arnold Barboza Jr.
On his excitement level for the fight with Teofimo:
“I’m very excited, very excited to share the ring with Teofimo. He’s an awesome fighter, but I’m an awesome fighter, too. So, it’s gonna have some fireworks.”
Joel Allen
On his excitement for the fight and to represent the NYPD:
“I’m blown away. Wow, what a moment. I’m just trying to stay focused and not get caught up in the lights, but I’m very happy to be here. I look forward to making my brothers in blue proud.”
James Gennari
On the importance of scoring one against NYPD:
“It’s a classic matchup. NYPD versus FDNY is classic, and it never gets old. I’m trying to go for the win, so that’s the plan.”
On his fight training:
“Through hard work and dedication. I’d work a 24-hour shift and then go straight to the gym.”
Oscar De La Hoya
“We are very proud to be here in New York, the media capital of the world. We are excited that Golden Boy Promotions is a part of this excellent show. We have three amazing fighters on the card and once again, Golden Boy Promotions proves that we are the best at positioning our fighters to be in this situation, so thank you very much.”
Garcia vs. Romero is part of DAZN’s Knockout Weekend Bundle — two back-to-back nights of world-class boxing, available exclusively on DAZN PPV. On Friday, May 2, The Ring Magazine presents FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, a first-of-its-kind three-fight card live from Times Square featuring Garcia, Devin Haney, and Teofimo Lopez. One night later, global icon Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez vs. William Scull headlines an electric Riyadh Season event, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, on Saturday, May 3, as Scull looks to claim Álvarez’s WBA, WBC, and WBO super middleweight titles. Fans can watch both events for just $90 (pricing may vary by market). For full details, visit DAZN.com/boxing.
In case you missed it, “FACEOFF: GARCIA VS. ROMERO” is now streaming across all DAZN’s platforms, offering an intense and revealing look inside the rivalry between two of boxing’s brightest stars ahead of a groundbreaking fight under the lights of Times Square.
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