Times Square first, Alcatraz Island next? The strange new steps in Saudi boxing saga

Comment: Tonight, a unique boxing event plays out in the heart of New York City. Yet the key question revolves around ‘soul’

Tonight, one of the strangest events in boxing history will play out in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Three of the sport’s biggest Stateside stars will compete in Times Square, all in testing match-ups, as Ryan Garcia fights Rolly Romero, Devin Haney faces Jose Ramirez, and Teofimo Lopez takes on Arnold Barboza Jr.

It is an intriguing idea and an alluring event, yet while “heart” applies to the matter of location, that might be the extent of the soul involved (despite the fun late addition of a firefighter vs police officer match-up between James Gennari and Joel Allen).

The latest details suggest that this fight card will be invite-only, so expect the boxers, their teams and select media, but very few fans – if any.

In that sense, the atmosphere might mimic those at Saudi Arabian events in recent years: subdued. Fittingly so, too, given this card will be staged by The Ring magazine, which was recently purchased by Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh. Saturday’s epic between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn in London was also organised by The Ring, apparently meaning Alalshikh put up his own money; still, these events are part of the same Saudi boxing drive, which has naturally drawn accusations of sportswashing.

If sportswashing is largely about optics, tonight’s event makes sense. The visuals of a boxing ring in Times Square might make for iconic photos that stand the test of time, yet the lack of a proper present audience will surely offset that element in the moment. At least Eubank Jr and Benn got to fight in front of a raucous home crowd at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

For what it’s worth, Alalshikh has said he wants to do Alcatraz Island next, the maximum-security prison operational between 1934 and 1963 (now a museum), which counted American gangster Al Capone among its most famous inmates. And as audacious as that prospect appears, you would be brave to bet against the Saudi adviser making it happen.

Times Square will host Friday’s unique boxing event (Getty for Trickster)

Alcatraz Island in the 1930s, during its time housing a maximum-security prison (AFP/Getty)

In any case, defenders of this ongoing Saudi boxing project would point to the continued, high-level matchmaking on display. If a ring is built on Alcatraz Island, expect top talents to enter it.

That is admittedly part of the upside this evening, of course. Garcia, Haney and Lopez represent the present and future of American boxing, but their opponents are also all credible and dangerous (yes, even the oft-ridiculed Romero).

In Ramirez, the undefeated Haney takes on an accomplished former world champion. Meanwhile, Lopez’s opponent Barboza Jr recently stayed unbeaten by upsetting the underrated Jack Catterall on the latter’s home turf in Manchester.

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There are also plenty of stakes. A rematch between Garcia and Haney, both 26, awaits if each is victorious in his welterweight debut, which is no given. Meanwhile, 27-year-old Lopez is defending his super-lightweight world title.

Square bashers: (clockwise, from left) Teofimo Lopez, Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney (Getty)

Truly, the narrative around Garcia and Haney is the most compelling. Against the odds, Garcia dropped Haney three times en route to a decision win last April, only for his triumph to be undermined by the post-fight revelation of a failed drug test. That factor, following his failed weigh-in and concerning online behaviour before the bout, saw his win overturned.

Now Garcia is fighting for redemption and the chance to set up a sequel with Haney, who, regardless of Garcia’s apparent enhancement in their fight, must be much better against Ramirez. “I want the world to see I’m still a force to be reckoned with,” Haney told The Independent in January. “I’m still one of the best fighters in the world, and that fight took nothing out of me. That’s important for me to prove to the world, prove to myself.”

And for Lopez, who has been slightly too inconsistent to back up his often controversial trash talk, Barboza Jr could be the worst kind of opponent: no-nonsense and never before beaten.

The odds favour Garcia, Haney and Lopez in their respective fights, yet there’s a feeling that each of them is capable of falling short, and that one of them just might. All eyes will be on the heart of NYC, and the six boxers will bring hands full of intent. The key question revolves around the soul of the event, and perhaps the soul of the sport.