The upcoming Cinco de Mayo weekend presents an exceptionally busy period for boxing. From Friday to Sunday, three consecutive nights will feature top fighters, including several high-ranked contenders and a prominent young star. Beyond the notable names, the choice of locations for these bouts is particularly noteworthy.
New York City`s Times Square stands out as the most unusual venue for the weekend`s events. This famous public area will host separate fights involving Garcia, Haney, and Lopez, becoming a central point for boxing activity.
Canelo is scheduled to fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking his professional debut outside of Mexico or the US. Meanwhile, Las Vegas, a familiar boxing hub, will welcome back Naoya Inoue, highly regarded as one of the world`s top fighters, after a four-year absence from the US ring.
This series of events is likely to attract attention, including from fans who haven`t followed boxing recently. This guide aims to clarify the details of this unusual weekend for casual observers and provide a quick update for dedicated fans.
Friday
A fight card in Times Square? Tell me more!
Details revealed by Turki Alalshikh indicate that an event titled `Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves` will convert the well-known Times Square into a boxing arena. The fight card features four bouts, with Garcia, Haney, and Lopez headlining in individual matches. Garcia is set to compete against Rolando `Rolly` Romero, Haney will face Jose Ramirez, and Lopez is scheduled to fight Arnold Barboza Jr. Additionally, a six-round match will feature the pro debut of Japanese prospect Reito Tsutsumi against Levale Whittington.
The specific setup for the Times Square venue remains a mystery. While boxing has taken place in unusual settings before, staging a major event outdoors in a closed-off Times Square is unprecedented. The final appearance of the site will be a surprise to everyone.
Wait, why aren`t Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney fighting each other?
Following his April 2024 majority decision victory over Haney, Garcia`s win was overturned due to a failed drug test, resulting in a suspension. Neither fighter has competed since. They are scheduled for separate fights this weekend, with a potential rematch anticipated later in the year if both are victorious on Friday.
Who is the best fighter on this card?
Determining the best among them is challenging. Lopez`s win over Lomachenko is a significant achievement, but he later lost to Kambosos. Haney convincingly defeated Kambosos twice and narrowly beat Lomachenko, but then lost to Garcia after being dropped multiple times. Garcia`s dominant performance against Haney is offset by his positive drug test that invalidated the result, and he is the only one of the three to suffer a knockout loss (to Davis).
Each fighter has notable wins and setbacks, making the comparison difficult. However, seeing all three compete on a single card is a rare opportunity today.
Are we getting to see three of the new `Four Kings` in boxing?
This group appears to be emerging as a modern equivalent of the `Four Kings.` Some argue there are actually five, including Tank Davis and Shakur Stevenson. A challenge is that only Garcia has fought others from this potential group (Haney and Davis). There`s hope that these top fighters will eventually face each other frequently, mirroring the historic rivalries of the original Four Kings: Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Tommy Hearns in the late 1970s and 1980s.
Saturday
Who is William Scull, and why is he fighting Canelo Alvarez?
For fans returning to boxing or those confused why Canelo isn`t facing prominent opponents like Terence Crawford or David Benavidez, this decision has puzzled even dedicated followers. However, there`s a reason: despite being relatively unknown, Scull holds the IBF super middleweight title, a belt Canelo previously lost. Canelo chose another opponent over Scull when Scull was the mandatory challenger. Now, Canelo aims to recover this title to regain his undisputed champion status, which he held until recently.
Canelo`s focus seems to be on historical accomplishment rather than the opponent himself. Scull won the vacant IBF title last October with a close unanimous decision against Vladimir Shishkin. Although hurt late in the bout, Scull secured the victory with scores of 115-113, 116-113, and 116-112.
Why haven`t I heard of him before?
At 32, Scull has mostly fought outside the US spotlight, primarily based in Germany. He fought on a Canelo undercard last May but didn`t make a significant impression. His defensive and slick style is sometimes compared to Cuban Erislandy Lara, who troubled Canelo in 2014. It remains to be seen if Scull can cause an upset and disrupt expectations for a potential major Canelo fight later this year.
If Canelo wins, will he fight David Benavidez?
No, that highly anticipated fight seems unlikely now. After years of the matchup not materializing, Benavidez has moved up to light heavyweight and holds the WBC title there. Assuming Canelo defeats Scull, his next major opponent is expected to be Terence Crawford in September.
Will the Canelo-Benavidez fight ever happen?
It appears improbable.
Is Canelo still a pound-for-pound elite?
Yes, Canelo remains highly ranked (No. 6 on ESPN`s list), but his recent choices haven`t strengthened his standing. His loss to Bivol in 2022 was followed by a series of less challenging opponents: a trilogy fight against an aging Golovkin, and matchups against John Ryder, Jermell Charlo (who moved up in weight), Jaime Munguia, and Edgar Berlanga, none of whom were seen as significant threats at the time.
Why is Canelo fighting in Saudi Arabia on Cinco de Mayo weekend?
This is a valid question, especially given Canelo`s history of fighting on this traditional date, primarily in the US or Mexico. The simple explanation is that this fight is happening in Saudi Arabia because Turki Alalshikh orchestrated it.
Sunday
Who is Naoya Inoue, and why is his U.S. fight important?
Perhaps slightly exaggerated, but Inoue`s significance in boxing can be compared to Shohei Ohtani`s in baseball. This exceptional Japanese fighter has dominated opponents, achieving titles in four divisions, undisputed status in two, and ranking No. 2 pound-for-pound (behind Oleksandr Usyk). His return to the US after four years is highly anticipated. Known as `The Monster,` Inoue is on a 10-fight knockout streak and is heavily favored to extend it against Ramon Cardenas. His fights usually air at inconvenient times for US viewers due to the time difference with Japan, making this Sunday night bout at a reasonable hour a notable opportunity to see his power, speed, and technical skill. Take advantage of it.
What`s the most competitive fight?
First, the Canelo-Scull and Inoue-Cardenas bouts are not predicted to be remotely competitive. Among the featured fights this weekend, the Lopez-Barboza matchup is anticipated to be the closest contest. Nevertheless, the Garcia-Romero and Haney-Ramirez fights carry potential risks. Garcia`s left hook is expected to be a major challenge for Romero, while Haney`s jab is seen as capable of controlling Ramirez.
Barboza is a skilled, mobile boxer who wins rounds with technique rather than power. He has been active recently, securing wins against former champions like Jose Pedraza and Jose Ramirez, and earning an interim title shot by defeating Jack Catterall. Barboza compensates for his lack of knockout power with technical proficiency. His style, characterized by movement and jabbing to score points, might not be thrilling but has proven effective, especially against opponents Lopez has struggled with in the past (like Ortiz and Martin) who also utilize defensive movement.
The outcome`s competitiveness will largely depend on Lopez`s focus; if he is passive, merely following Barboza and waiting for opportunities, he risks falling behind on points and facing a difficult challenge.
Which fight will be the most exciting?
While Canelo and Inoue are expected to win by knockout, the Garcia-Romero fight is likely to be the most action-packed. Romero is a powerful puncher with a porous defense, known for aggressively seeking knockouts and engaging in exchanges. Garcia, not primarily a defensive fighter himself, is likely to be drawn into a back-and-forth battle. This style clash makes a knockout finish highly probable, with the judges` scorecards unlikely to be needed. This fight is expected to be must-watch from start to finish.