Plans have finally come together for Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, and Teofimo Lopez Jr. to headline a blockbuster tripleheader right in the heart of Times Square on Friday, May 2. After weeks of teasing from promoter Turki Alalshikh, this star-studded showcase is set to be the second-ever “Ring Magazine Event” on U.S. soil – and the first time an outdoor boxing card will unfold amid the neon lights of New York’s most iconic intersection.
For Garcia, this is a long-awaited comeback after more than a year out of the ring. He'll square off against the flashy slugger Rolando Romero in the main event. Meanwhile, Haney’s WBC 140-pound belt will be on the line against Jose Ramirez, a former unified champion who’s hoping to pull off an upset. Adding fuel to the fire, the winners of both matchups are rumored to collide this fall in a super-fight that could reshape the junior welterweight landscape.
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Rounding out the card is a newly finalized opener featuring Lopez defending his WBO title against Arnold Barboza Jr.. Barboza earned the shot after barely edging Jack Catterall by split decision earlier this month. This last-minute addition replaces a heavyweight bout that was set to feature Martin Bakole and Efe Ajagba – that changed when Bakole stepped in against Joseph Parker last weekend and got flattened in just two rounds.
If the stars align, this event could be a massive draw. Oscar De La Hoya has hinted that admission might be free to the throngs of fans who can fit into Times Square, making it a one-of-a-kind spectacle for fight enthusiasts and casual onlookers alike. Not to be outdone, the first official "Ring Magazine Event" takes place April 26 in Tottenham, England, where Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn will reignite their families’ historic rivalry at a catchweight. But it’s hard to deny that a triple-header in Times Square could steal the global spotlight come March 2.
Image Credit: The Ring