Today, in the middle of Times Square, there will be boxing. How? Well, you can Google that, or just walk by at around 6 p.m. ET to see for yourself.
Maybe it'll be awesome, maybe it'll be a sh*tshow, but in this sport, it could be both.
Regardless, we have three legitimately meaningful fights to survey, so let's do it. Check out my predictions, picks, and oddsfor Fatal Fury in Times Square on Friday, May 2
Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez Odds, Prediction
Devin Haney and Jose Ramirez are competing at welterweight. And this is a debut at 147 pounds for both competitors here.
Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) was last seen getting his ass whooped from pillar to post by Ryan Garcia. But if you're wondering why Haney is still undefeated, it's because the ass whooping was later ruled a no contest because Garcia popped dirty for steroids (ostarine, specifically) and was subsequently suspended.
His reward — a Welterweight Championship shot — we'll get to that stupidity shortly.
In any event, Haney is back. The boxing prodigy comes with as many questions as any of the legitimate characters participating in this potential circus.
Haney, 26, was the youngest undisputed champion in boxing history at 24, having won all four major titles in the lightweight division, including a controversial win over Vasiliy Lomachenko, and multiple boring decisions against George Kambosos Jr. He later shut out WBC Super Lightweight Champion Regis Prograis in his debut at 140 pounds.
Ramirez (29-2, 18 KOs) is a no nonsense former unified champion at 140 pounds who lost to Arnold Barboza Jr. in November. Ramirez had been on a three-fight winning streak prior to that, but honestly, he hasn't looked impressive since maybe his win over Jose Pedraza three years ago, but truthfully, I'd go back to even 2019 in his championship unification with Maurice Hooker, who he knocked out in Round 6.
The 32-year-old, like Haney, weighed in at 143 pounds Thursday. Ramirez is also one-inch taller at 5-foot-10 with a 72-inch reach to Haney's 71.
Teofimo Lopez vs. Arnold Barboza Odds, Prediction
This is the best fight on the card.
Teofimo Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) is defending his WBO Super Lightweight Title against interim champion and long-time contender Arnold Barboza Jr. (32-0, 11 KOs).
These dudes hate each other. And, odds wise, it's the only thing expected to be close, and rightfully so on paper.
Lopez will be making his third title defense since beating the respect out of Josh Taylor in June of 2023 at the Madison Square Garden Theater in somewhat surprising fashion. The unanimous decision win is Lopez's only impressive performance in this weight class.
Lopez was initially a unified lightweight champion and is the only man to beat the aforementioned Lomachenko convincingly — that was in 2020. But he lost famously and dubiously to the also aforementioned Kambosos — as a -1,100 favorite.
Lopez has five wins in five fights at 140 pounds, but just one knockout against an overmatched Pedro Campa. He underwhelmed against Sandor Martin and barely won by split decision in December 2022. He routed Taylor as mentioned, then narrowly outpointed Jamaine Ortiz in a snoozer in February 2024, and most recently, coasted to a decision over lightly-regarded Steve Claggett in June.
When he's focused, he's a pound-for-pound talent. But he isn't always, and comes off as clownish.
Enter the completely serious Barboza, who convincingly beat Ramirez in November and outpointed British contender Jack Catterall in England this past February. Barboza, 33, is six years Lopez's senior and has had a long road here. The big concerns for him are age, lack of power, and talent relative to Lopez. There's also that gift win over Sean McComb last April.
But Barboza has the mentality and skill to beat Lopez if Lopez is anything below his absolute best. Additionally, Barboza has a three-plus reach advantage at 72 inches.
Ryan Garcia vs Rolly Romero Odds, Prediction
Ah, this dumbass fight. Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) will take on Rolly Romero (16-2, 13 KOs) in the main event. This is for the vacant WBA Regular Welterweight Title.
This is stupid, here's why.
Garcia and Romero have each never fought at welterweight. Also, the WBA already has a champion in Jaron "Boots" Ennis, who was promoted to Super Champion so that these two characters could fight over the regular title. Additionally, Ennis — who just unified the WBA with his IBF title earlier this month — has been ordered to fight Shakhram Giyasov in a title defense and later facing the winner of this Garcia-Romero clash.
So, Garcia, who is fresh off a steroid suspension, is being rewarded with a title fight in a weight class he's never fought in against an opponent who he is a -1,200 favorite against.
Romero, who hasn't looked impressive in three years and has been knocked out silly in two of his last four fights, is also getting a title shot here at a new weight.
Sh*t like this is why Boxrec no longer recognizes the WBA.
Garcia is, if nothing else, an absurd talent. If he has his head on straight, he can mow through Romero, but he hasn't in… a while. Let's call it about three years. And Romero is a wild card, but his best is not where Garcia's is.
Fatal Fury in Times Square Picks
From the first card, I think Haney outpoints Ramirez on his way to a decision, as he often does, which is -350 on FanDuel. I also like Garcia to win by knockout or technical knockout against Romero, also -350 at the same book.
Parlaying these two is a -154 play, and in this sport, you'll take that.
My semi-long shot, favorite value play is Barboza to upset Lopez and win by decision.
I think Barboza has a real shot if Lopez is anything less than his absolute pound-for-pound peak best self. Lopez should win, but I'll sprinkle on Barboza to win on points, which I grabbed at +280 on FanDuel.
Enjoy the fights, and don't go broke!
Fonseca's Picks: Devin Haney to Win by Decision (-350 at FanDuel) | Ryan Garcia to Win by KO/TKO (-350 at FanDuel) | SGP both legs (-154)
Value Play: Arnold Barboza to Win by Decision (+280 at FanDuel)
