By Ricardo Lezama 
The “Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves” boxing event on May 2, 2025, in Times Square was a spectacle of high-profile matchups, but not all bouts delivered the expected excitement.
The night was a difficult one for Golden Boy promotions as they went 0-3 against other promotional outfits. The sheer spectacle of the event was worthwhile. Rolando Romero getting the upset was the surprise for those who had not seen Garcia and him spar in their youth.
Main Event: Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando “Rolly” Romero
In the headline bout, Rolando “Rolly” Romero defeated Ryan Garcia by unanimous decision, with scores of 115-112 (twice) and 118-109. Romero knocked Garcia down in the second round and maintained control throughout the fight with effective counterpunching and jabs to the body. Garcia, returning from a year-long suspension, acknowledged Romero’s performance and expressed satisfaction in completing 12 rounds despite the loss.
Co-Main Event: Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez
“Erratic”, “footwork”, the more relevant adjectives for the fight. Antonio Tarver was quite adamant that Haney was never set and was nervously about the ring as Ramirez predictably closed in. The fight was a difficult one to watch. With this fight, Devin Haney is joining the ranks of Shakur Stevenson in unpopular and overly defensive fighters.
Unfortunately, the fight broke records for being among the lowest power punch output in history.
Nevertheless, Devin Haney secured a unanimous decision victory over Jose Ramirez, with judges scoring the bout 119-109, 119-109, and 118-110. However, the fight was widely criticized for its lack of action. Haney’s defensive strategy led to a combined total of only 110 punches landed between both fighters, marking the fourth-lowest in CompuBox history. Critics, including commentator Jim Lampley and boxer Conor Benn, labeled the match as one of the year’s most uneventful.
Teofimo Lopez vs. Arnold Barboza Jr.
Teofimo Lopez successfully defended his WBO super lightweight title against Arnold Barboza Jr., winning by unanimous decision with scores of 116-112 (twice) and 118-110. Lopez’s performance was praised for its clarity and dominance, handing Barboza his first professional loss. However, Barboza showed flashes of brilliant power. In the fifth round, Barboza landed a straight right that cut Teófimo Lopez.
Event Overview
While the event featured notable names and a unique Times Square setting, the overall reception was mixed. Haney’s lackluster performance, in particular, drew significant criticism and raised questions about his future matchups. The event’s high production value contrasted with the underwhelming in-ring action, leading to discussions about the balance between spectacle and substance in boxing promotions.