This Cinco de Mayo weekend in boxing promises to be unprecedented. From Friday to Sunday, fans can look forward to consecutive fight nights featuring four current or former pound-for-pound champions (Naoya Inoue, Canelo Alvarez, Devin Haney, and Teofimo Lopez), along with rising star Ryan Garcia. The significance of the venues hosting these events adds to the weekend’s excitement.
The standout location is Times Square, NYC, where Garcia, Haney, and Lopez will battle in separate matches, transforming this iconic area into a boxing hub. Meanwhile, Canelo will head to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking his first professional fight outside of Mexico or the U.S. Las Vegas will also host Inoue’s return, making it a noteworthy boxing weekend.
This event is likely to rekindle interest among fans who may have drifted away from the sport. To assist casual boxing fans, this guide aims to provide clarity on this exceptional boxing weekend, while serving as a refresher for die-hard enthusiasts.
Friday
What’s happening in Times Square?
According to Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, the “Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves” event will convert Times Square into a boxing venue, featuring four bouts headlined by Garcia vs. Rolando “Rolly” Romero, Haney vs. Jose Ramirez, and Lopez vs. Arnold Barboza Jr. The fourth match will mark the pro debut of Japanese talent Reito Tsutsumi against Levale Whittington.
Why aren’t Garcia and Haney fighting each other?
After Garcia’s April 2024 victory over Haney was overturned due to a failed drug test, both fighters have not competed since, each pursuing different matches with plans to potentially face off later this year if they win.
Saturday
Who is William Scull, and why fight Canelo?
Fans may wonder why Canelo is facing relative unknown Scull. Holding the IBF super middleweight title, previously stripped from Canelo, Scull is a strategic choice for Canelo to reclaim his undisputed champion status. Canelo’s status as a heavy favorite is underscored by Scull’s previous victories, including his unanimous decision against Vladimir Shishkin.
Sunday
Why is Naoya Inoue’s fight a big deal?
Inoue is compared to baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani for his phenomenal talent in boxing, becoming a four-division and two-time undisputed champion. His highly anticipated U.S. return comes after a lengthy knockout streak, with fans eager to catch his match at a more convenient viewing time.
