Just as The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Mo Money Mo Problems” faded out, the bass from “Hypnotize” shook the Manhattan Center in New York City. Right in the heart of it, Teofimo Lopez was locked in—dancing, shadowboxing, and soaking in the energy during Tuesday night’s open workouts ahead of The Ring’s Fatal Fury: Times Square event. The vibe? Pure New York. And with the ring being dropped into the center of Times Square this Friday night, live on DAZN PPV, anticipation is sky-high.
Lopez being the only hometown fighter among the night’s top bouts is clearly owning that spotlight. But with him, everyone else is also feeling the buzz. Because, boxing in Times Square? It’s never been done on this scale before. Promoter Oscar De La Hoya summed it up best when he told DAZN News: “We couldn’t pull this off if it wasn’t New York.”
But here’s where things get interesting. And not in a good way. Just hours ago, a clip shared by Lalos Boxing started making the rounds on Instagram, and it sparked a wave of frustration among local fans. In the video, a man standing outside the barricades at the venue let it all out: “So they put a fight here in Times Square for the Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly. But they fenced it out with a barricade. And the only way to see is that fu–ing screen. What’s the point of having a fight at Times square if the people won’t be able to enjoy or see it. Because it’s blocked off.”
A post shared by The Face of Boxing / Boxeo @LalosBoxing (@lalos.boxing)
Yep, apparently there’s a 12-foot red barricade wrapped around the ring setup, and it’s blocking most of the view for fans hoping to catch a glimpse in person. The whole idea was to bring boxing to the streets. Instead, fans are left peering through fences and getting boxed out—literally. Where the Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya was initially concerned that rain might be the biggest obstacle for fans and fighters in Times Square. But now, it turns out it’s not the weather causing trouble—it’s the barricades that are blocking the view and frustrating the people.
Naturally, the video gained traction fast, and the comment section is filled with people giving their two cents.
No piracy allowed in Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero fight tonight
“It was never supposed to be open to the public, invite only,” one user pointed out. And they weren’t wrong. While the fight setup might look open-air and accessible, only about 300 specially invited guests will be allowed inside the barricaded area. No public tickets. No media. Just an ultra-exclusive crowd watching up close, while the rest of Times Square plays backdrop to a global broadcast designed to look and feel cinematic, thanks to the iconic lights, billboards, and unmistakable New York energy.
But outside that barricade? Frustration is building. With no seating and just a single small screen visible to the general public, some fans feel shortchanged. One user put it bluntly: “Thats some bs .” And honestly, it’s hard to disagree. If the only way to see the fight is through a screen, you’d expect it to be massive—especially considering it’s all unfolding at the intersection of Broadway, Seventh Avenue, and 42nd Street. A place known for spectacle deserves more than a modest viewing setup.
Then came the hopeful speculations. One fan joked, “They’ll take it down when it starts .” And maybe they’re not entirely wrong. His Excellency Turki Alalshikh recently confirmed that a small, purpose-built venue is being constructed right in the square, and that massive outdoor screens will broadcast the fights live and free to the crowd. So maybe, just maybe, the barricades are more of a temporary setup than a permanent roadblock.
Of course, fans being fans, the jokes rolled in. One said, “Your still on time to go get a ladder at Home Depot,” playing off the idea that some DIY determination could solve the whole visibility issue. Another chimed in with a more serious tone, claiming, “Cut the paper down it’s a public street blocking access to the public is a violation of the 1st.”
And then came the piracy jokes. One user hilariously wrote, “Trying to stop piracy im sure.” While obviously a joke, the idea hits on a real issue—how open-access events can still be vulnerable to being exploited. It’s a tricky balance between creating an unforgettable fan experience and protecting the product from being broadcast where it shouldn’t.
But perhaps the most telling comment was, “Initially it was supposed to be for the public too good to be true.” And you can feel the disappointment in that line. For Alalshikh, this Times Square showdown isn’t just another event. After organizing over 20 world title fights across Saudi Arabia, London, and Los Angeles, he’s now making a high-stakes play in the heart of NYC. And if history is any indicator, he’ll want this one to be remembered—glitches and all.
So now the question is, will you be there to witness this moment in boxing history? And more importantly, can Ryan Garcia get it done against the always-dangerous Rolando Romero tonight?
The post Angry New Yorkers Slam Ryan Garcia’s Times Square Fight as 12-Foot Barricade Leaves Fans Shut Out appeared first on EssentiallySports.
