Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs), Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs), and Teofimo Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) met Tuesday afternoon in New York City to kick off and announce their upcoming bouts in the first ever Ring Magazine’s in the United States “FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves,” on Friday May 2 in Times Square, New York.
Ryan Garcia will take on former world champion Rolando “Rolly” Romero (16-2, 13 KOs) for the WBA “World” welterweight title in the main event. Devin Haney, the two-division world champion goes up against former Unified super lightweight champion Jose Ramirez (29-2, 18 KOs). Lopez squares off against undefeated WBO interim champ Arnold Barboza Jr. (32-0, 11 KOs).
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.”
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.”
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.”
Rick Reeno, COO of Ring Magazine
“Everyone knows it’s the big elephant in the room. If Ryan and Devin win their fights, they will most likely go into a fight in the fall. I know Jose and his team have said Devin is never getting to that fight. Teo is in a real dangerous fight, he’ll be defending the WBO title and the Ring Magazine title against a mandatory challenger, Arnold Barboza. Arnold is arguably on one of the best runs at 140 over the last 12 months. I know Arnold’s told me enough that Teo’s never getting to any of the future plans we have in store for them.
I look forward to seeing everybody in May.”
Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Boxing
“You talk about attracting a younger audience to this sport, you’ve got three of the faces in boxing. His Excellency has great plans, and people keep asking where boxing is going? Saudi Arabia, how long will it last? This is turning it up a notch. The fascination with the concept of what he’s doing and where he’s placing these fights is going to make this a huge draw around the world. I think we should all realize what a good place boxing is in at the moment. Good luck to all the fighters. It’s great to be working with Oscar and Brad to continue to change the face of boxing. This sport is on fire and this will be another huge event.”
Brad Jacobs, Top Rank
“I’ve been involved in a lot of huge events, but nothing like closing down Times Square. It’s a testament to the fighters, it’s a testament to His Excellency and Ring Magazine. We’re looking forward to it. Teofimo is not only a great fighter, but he’s a showman, and he’s going to prove that and steal the show on May 2nd.”
Oscar De La Hoya, Golden Boy Promotions
“May 2 will be one for the history books. A full-scale sanctioned professional fight held in Times Square, which will be unprecedented. The sport of boxing will be on the global stage that evening with the bright lights of New York front and center. This is what American boxing is all about. This is the highest level of boxing, especially at these weight classes. We are proud that Golden Boy Promotions has three fighters taking part in this epic event. It speaks to our company’s dedication to getting our fighters the best opportunities in the sport.”
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