The highly anticipated “Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves” boxing event, held on May 2, 2025, in New York City’s iconic Times Square, promised a night of electrifying bouts and cinematic spectacle. However, the reality fell short of expectations, leaving fans and critics alike underwhelmed.
The headliner featured Ryan Garcia facing off against Rolando “Rolly” Romero in a 12-round welterweight bout. The fight began cautiously, with Romero gaining early momentum by knocking Garcia down in the second round with consecutive left hooks.
From that point, Garcia struggled to mount effective offense, while Romero tactically avoided Garcia’s punches and landed his own.
The judges unanimously awarded the win to Romero, who claimed the WBA Regular Welterweight title. Many were surprised by the outcome, including Junior Rogelio Rivera, who said, “I bet $20 on Ryan and he sold.”
Despite the victory, the bout was criticized for its lack of excitement. One observer noted, “If fight fans were expecting an all-out war, they were sorely disappointed.” The cautious approach from both fighters led to a bout that many felt lacked the intensity and drama expected from such a high-profile event
The co-main events also failed to deliver the anticipated action. Devin Haney faced José Carlos Ramírez, and Teófimo López took on Arnold Barboza Jr. While these matchups held promise, they too were criticized for their lack of excitement justin claims
Senior Justin Espinoza claims, “Devin Haney was throwing like 3 punches a round.”
The absence of a live audience, with the event being exclusive and invitation-only, may have contributed to the subdued atmosphere. The broadcast, available exclusively on DAZN PPV, was marred by technical issues and commentary shortcomings.
Viewers reported problems with stream quality, including fluctuating video resolutions and buffering, which detracted from the viewing experience. Additionally, the commentary teams received mixed reviews. The UK commentary team, broadcasting remotely, lacked the immediacy and connection to the live event, while the US team was criticized for biased commentary and inaccuracies .
The decision to host the event in Times Square, aiming to create a unique visual experience, ultimately highlighted the event’s shortcomings. Junior Dereck Diaz added, “the exclusivity only made it worse with the price raises”.
The grand setting contrasted with the lackluster performances inside the ring, leaving many to question whether the spectacle was worth the premium price tag.
