Boxing fans fumed on Friday night as they were prevented from watching a card of fights right in the middle of Times Square.
The card, staged by the Saudi-owned Ring Magazine, featured the likes of Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney competing (separately) outdoors in one of New York City‘s busiest hubs.
But fans were angered to see that the ring was completely walled off as to block the public’s view.
Aside from a select group of reporters and others being allowed in, there were no spectators for the event – and fans strongly disagreed with that decision.
‘When I heard ‘Boxing outside in Times Square’ I thought we’d be seeing a phenomenal event with thousands of fans outside the ring,’ one fan began on X.
‘Such a disgraceful act to walk off the ring. Fence off, I understand completely but to block off the view? Makes no sense.’
Fans were walled off from actually being able to watch the fights on Friday night
A highly-select amount of people were allowed inside but the fight was otherwise not open to the public
‘Blocking the public’s view of the Boxing in Times Square is one of the most embarrassing decisions in combat sports history,’ anothersaid.
‘Turki [Al-Sheikh, the owner of Ring Magazine] should be banned from promoting in the USA… Absolute low-life clown behavior.’
Other fans criticized the event’s apparent lack of atmosphere without fans, with one saying it sounded ‘like Covid times’
‘This is a total flop,’ another said.
‘Ive never seen a worse crowd at a boxing match in my life… times square f***ing shocking!,’ another said.
Another video from MMA Fighting reporter Jose Youngsshowed how a large group of people trying to cross the street bottlenecked just across from the ring.
People still gathered in Times Square and watched the fight on a big screen
Fans are seen leaning against a railing on Friday night in Times Square as the fights go on
Devin Haney takes the ring for his fight against Jose Ramirez on Friday night
The card featured Garcia vs. Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero, Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez and Teofimo Lopez Jr. vs. Arnold Barboza Jr in the junior welterweight title.
Lopez won by unanimous decision while Haney did the same in his welterweight fight against Ramirez.
Garcia ultimately lost to Romero by unanimous decision as well.