On Tuesday afternoon in Times Square, NYC, “Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves” press tour began, which is a card that takes place on May 2 from the center of Times Square. Although the card features six top fighters in boxing, it was clear that the presser quickly became the Teofimo Lopez show after what was an overall dull event.
A New Face on The Mic Isn’t Received Well
Although the press conference with all six fighters felt like fireworks would go off, it was as dark and gloomy as the setting of the press conference. Editor in Chief of The Ring, Douglas Fischer, was passed the bouton from Michael Buffer to host the event and control the flow. This is new as Fischer is now more involved in the promotion of the magazine, which includes the events that it is linked to. He did a solid job during the introductions and the Q&A portions of the press conference but there were those with significant platforms on X that felt differently about how well he did.
Lawd Ryan Garcia and Teofimo had to save the press conference… Rolly sound like he got cte….. musty energy ….. The host is mid #FatalFury
— 2ToneDaSupastar (@2ToneDaSupastar) March 4, 2025
Fischer doesn’t have an animated personality, so those who haven’t spent time around him can see him as someone who lacks energy in his delivery. As these Ring events continue to occur throughout the year, Fischer will be hosting more, so fans will likely get accustomed to his style soon enough.
“Ya So Boring; Ya Talkin All Polite To Each Other”
The first pair of fighters interviewed were WBO & Ring Magazine junior welterweight champion Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) and interim WBO champion Arnold Barboza Jr. (32-0, 11 KOs). These two have been circling each other since the days when they were both under Top Rank (now it’s just Lopez). Barboza has always felt that he was never given the title shot he deserved and that Lopez always found a way not to fight him. On the other hand, Lopez kept saying that Barboza didn’t have the resume to have a fight against him, so it never happened.
.@TeofimoLopez and @JrBarbozaArnold run into each other for the first time since their fight was announced 🍿 pic.twitter.com/0sFjnYwwB9
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) March 4, 2025
They finally meet, and there is real tension between the two fighters. They both went at each other for several minutes before Fischer moved on to the next fight.
Welterweights Jose Ramirez (29-2, 18 KOs) and Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) both had their opportunities to speak, but they both came out soft-spoken and kept their words to a minimum. That wasn’t too surprising, but what was a little shocking was that Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) and Rolando Romero (16-2, 13 KOs) kept it respectful for the most part.
Ryan Garcia speaking openly at today’s press conference as he says he wants to earn back the boxing fans’ respect: “I admit my wrongs. I don’t want anybody to take my actions of drinking and smoking before the fight and think that’s a way to handle yourself as a professional.”… pic.twitter.com/qXq6Tnzcmk
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) March 4, 2025
There was a time a few years back after that sparring video between the two leaked that tensions were high between the two young fighters, and the verbal attacks in person and on social media were enough to build towards a fight. Some time has passed since all of that occurred, and it seems like they are in a better, more mature place, but that doesn’t necessarily build the hype of a fight card during a press conference.
This was when Lopez felt the need to “take over” the press conference and say, “Ya so boring; ya talking all polite to each other.” Lopez brought more attention to himself after getting on people’s radar by coming into the presser with overalls on and no shirt underneath while making it known he was the only true world champion there and the only Ring Magazine champion. After Lopez made that remark, Garcia started going at it with Lopez, and a little fire burned but quickly defused as the presser reached its conclusion.
Ryan Garcia and Teofimo Lopez going at it: “We don’t give a f***.”
Ring Magazine card on May 2nd in Times Square powered by #FatalFury: City of Wolves in collaboration with @KOFstudio_EN. pic.twitter.com/ceZAJ1NnCI
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) March 4, 2025
My Three Cents
Although the press top in NYC lacked heat, things tend to get spicey for whatever reason when the press tour heads to Los Angeles, CA, so expect things to be much more vocal.
Below are some of the Q&As from earlier today, as sent out via press release.
Ryan Garcia
Q: Everyone talks about the grudge between you and Devin Haney, but it feels like there’s a grudge between you and Rolly Romero? Can you talk to us about the sparring going back years ago?
“It was a little rough sparring. He continued to use that sparring to boost his career. Credit to him. I don’t have any bad blood towards him. I’m here to do my job and set up that rematch, but I’m not overlooking him at all. I know that he’s going to come to fight, so I have to be sharp and prepared.”
Q: You admitted going into your fight with Devin Haney you were not at 100% and could’ve been in better shape. Do you have a renewed dedication to boxing?
“I want to be great and fight the best fighters in the sport. I want to show everybody that you can come back from anything, and I want to show my dedication to the sport and be a true professional. I admit my wrongs, and I don’t want anybody to take my actions before a fight and think that’s a way to handle yourself as a professional. I came here to change that. This is my first fight to get my respect back and prove to everybody that it isn’t a fluke.”
Rolando “Rolly” Romero
[Responding to Ryan Garcia’s previous statements at the press conference]
“If I was clout chasing, he would’ve had clout. It’s just sparring, we’ll see a real fight in the ring on May 2. We’re going to make it a big fight—one of the biggest fights in U.S. history.”
Q: Is this fight at welterweight better suited for you?
“I called this years ago that we’d fight at welterweight. I’ve long outgrown 140. I’ve outgrown 135 a long time ago.”
Devin Haney
Q: Why did you decide to lay out for the rest of 2024, and why did you choose Jose Ramirez as your opponent?
“I spent some time with my family. I just had a baby. I wanted to rest and recover and come back at the right time. When I came back, I wanted to fight the best fighters in the world. I didn’t want to just face anyone regular; I wanted to fight a two-time world champion like Jose Ramirez.”
Q: There are folks who say you were exposed in the first fight with Ryan Garcia. Do you feel that there are questions that are being asked of you, that Jose Ramirez is going to ask of you? Can you answer them in the ring?
“At the end of the day, I fought someone on PED’s. We move forward, and now the world wants to see what Devin Haney is going to show up. I look forward to giving everybody all those answers on May 2nd.”
Q: Was it overdue to move from 140 pounds to 147? Are you finished with junior welterweight?
“It was definitely time. My body was maturing. 140 was hard to make for me. I felt good for one fight, but in the second fight I didn’t feel as good. It’s time for 147.”
Devin Haney vs Jose Ramirez first face-off ahead of May 2nd in Times Square.
Ring Magazine card on May 2nd in Times Square powered by #FatalFury: City of Wolves in collaboration with @KOFstudio_EN. pic.twitter.com/h76oNwbW4r
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) March 4, 2025
Jose Carlos Ramirez
Q: Last time we saw you, you didn’t look like yourself. I know there was some talk that maybe you were hanging up the gloves? Were you considering that? What brings you here?
“I think what it was is probably staying at 140 lbs for too long. Once I saw myself struggling to make weight and push my body through that pain, I think I was harming myself. I’m a guy with no excuses, never say no. I think I did that to myself. That was a mistake, and it’s time for me to grow and move up to the next weight class at 147. I know what I can do, what I’ve been doing in sparring against guys who are world champions. I know what I’m capable of. When it comes to May 2, I’m going to go out there and make it a fight.”
Q: How do you get to Devin Haney and break that style down?
“I’ve never been too worried about my opposition. I focus on myself. I became the best boxer at lightweight in the Americas, becoming an Olympian, beating guys with different styles and speeds. I think people underestimate my speed and power, but I’m ready to put it together on May 2. If you thought I was strong at 140, just watch me at 147.”
Teofimo Lopez
Q: [On his outfit] What inspires this right here? Is this the Warriors or something? West Side Story?
“Hey, well, first off, let’s say thank you to God, all praise be to Allah. Truthfully, I think that all these things come together, and that’s really why we’re all here. We’re here to create big, big fights, and this is what it’s all about. You know, I just want to thank everyone who has partaken in this, DAZN, truthfully, The Ring as well, and me being the champion. Fatal Fury, let’s get it going. I’m here to bring and restore balance to this 3D dimensional world and take over again like I always do. Times Square takeover.”
Q: Arnold says you’ve been avoiding him. He’s wanted this fight for a long time. Why hasn’t it happened until now?
“I’m just focused on big fights. I don’t think that Barboza is that type, but, His Excellency asked for the fight. They think it’s a great fight, a lucrative fight for this card, and you know, what can I do? Bring him on.”
Q: When it was first brought up to you, were you thinking he hasn’t achieved enough or he doesn’t have a big enough name?
“Stylistically, he’s a strong fighter. We’ve seen those in the past, and I don’t think he had that eye or fanbase. He’s 32-0 and he just got an interim world title. At 15 fights, I got my first world title and I won it at Madison Square Garden and then became disputed at 16 fights. I’m only 27.”
Teofimo Lopez vs Arnold Barboza Jr intense first face-off ahead of May 2nd in Times Square.
Ring Magazine card on May 2nd in Times Square powered by #FatalFury: City of Wolves in collaboration with @KOFstudio_EN. pic.twitter.com/WpPtMusuWC
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) March 4, 2025
Arnold Barboza Jr.
Q: You’ve been fighting difficult fighters. You wanted this fight years ago. Is it better now that it’s happening on May 2 than had it happened years prior? Have you grown since that point?
“I think Teo is fighting me at the worst time he could fight me. I’m coming off of two victories in a five-month span. The train is going, and I think that I’m going to shock the world again.”
Q: For people who don’t know you, can you tell us a bit about your background? What makes you, you?
“Nothing was given to me, everything was earned. I’m trying to grind, and I’m a worker. I’m at where I’m at because of my hard work. Shoutout to my pops, who’s been my trainer since I was five years old. I was raised by a real man that takes care of his family. May 2, I’m a live dog and he’s going to see.”
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