SOME of boxing’s biggest names feature on tonight’s blockbuster Times Square show.
Ryan Garcia headlines the huge bill as King Ryan returns from his drug ban to face Rolly Romero in New York City.
Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez also feature on the huge card as they face Jose Ramirez and Arnold Barboza Jr. respectively.
Should Garcia and Haney both have hands raised in Times Square, the plan is for the two to face off in a stunning rematch after their last bout was ruled a non-contest.
- Garcia vs Romero time: 2am BST/9pm ET (approx)
- TV/Stream: DAZN
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Teofimo Lopez vs Arnold Barboza Jr (Round 8)
Lopez is very agile and moving around the ring.
He is trying to make himself a moving target for Barboza.
Then he looks to surprise him with a quick attack.
Having won so many of the rounds so far, the pressure is on Baraboza to take the fight to Lopez.
Teofimo Lopez vs Arnold Barboza Jr (Round 7)
Barboza is struggling to get inside to get his shots off.
Lopez comes over the top with a right and catches his opponent.
The eye Barboza seems to be starting to swell a little.
Teofimo Lopez vs Arnold Barboza Jr (Round 6)
Barboza got himself back into this fight more in this one.
The pundits do not see many rounds having gone to Barboza so far but that might be the first one.
He caught Lopez well with a counter right hand that has caused a cut to the eye of the champion.
Teofimo Lopez vs Arnold Barboza Jr
Two rounds have passed in this encounter which has Lopez’s WBO super-lightweight belt on the line.
An aggressive start from Teo, who is operating with a more purposeful combination work in a lot of traffic in the middle of the ring.
Garcia is in the building
…or in the vicinity of it, as we are outdoors after all, where fighters need taxis to get to the main stage.
The main event is scheduled for 1am BST (5pm PT, 6pm CT, 8pm ET).
Reito Tsutsumi UD6 Levale Whittington
For a pair of fighters boasting a combined three-match experience log, the display from the two was far beyond in skill and canvas craft.
22-year-old Tsutsumi probed Whittington with more purposeful intent, working his American opponent on several occasions with the true power to threaten a knockout, landing twice the punches.
At the end of the fifth round, Whittington’s trainer described his performance as one who “looked like someone stole their puppy.”
The Japanese talent who aims to go far in the sport stood out in his first outing, as the judges’ scores were 60-54, 60-54 and 58-56-108.
We now enter our stretch of key three main fights, starting with Arnold Barboza Jr. and Teofimo Lopez.
View from the ground
Here’s how the streets of the fight location are looking from our very own Israel Salas-Rodriguez, including Arnold Barboza Jr. arrival:
Fight Night reading
Includes a pair of exclusives with Teofimo Lopez and Ryan Garcia:
Battle of the Badges
We’ve seen our first winner of the night…
Action was opened up by the understated Battle of the Badges clash as amateur pair, New York firefighter James Gennari and an NYPD officer, Joel Allen went at it in the three-round affair with the former coming out on top.
Ring ambassador Reito Tsutsumi makes his pro debut next.
Pacquiao RETURNS
Elsewhere, a living legend continues to make headlines as the 46-year-old aims to make a return to the ring since… 2021.
Times Square card
Here’s how our bill is looking for tonight;
Garcia, who returns to action after serving a year-long drug suspension, will dust-up in the main event with Rolando Romero.
Part I
Evening and welcome to the first day of three fantasticly set-up nights of boxing weekend ahead with a bit of everything for the sport’s connoisseur.
The best two in the business, Canelo Álvarez and Naoya Inoue, will contend in sport’s growing hotbeds, Riyadh and Vegas, but we start in New York as Ryan Garcia and co headline a monumental bill.
The card, like most of boxing’s big nights nowadays, has been organised by The Ring Magazine and its chief Saudi matchmaker Turki Alalshikh. Their aim has been simple from the offset: to transcend the sport past its traditional barriers, and will accomplish that as the outdoor conditions of Times Squares host the event.
The streets of Manhattan will bear viewing for free as screens will be plastered around, with a select few being able to watch ringside.
“This is going to be very difficult for every single fighter,” said promoter Oscar De La Hoya at Thursday’s weigh-in. “As you can imagine, there will be people everywhere, distractions everywhere.”
Stay tuned for all the night’s latest.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
