In buildup to The Ring’s Fatal Fury: Times Square, New York City has its own distinction among boxing hotbeds

Just as The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Mo Money Mo Problems” started to fade out, the legendary rapper’s “Hypnotize” rang off in the Manhattan Center in New York City, where Teofimo Lopez was getting loose and finding his groove Tuesday evening during the workouts heading into The Ring’s Fatal Fury: Times Square on Friday night, live and exclusively on DAZN PPV.

Though Lopez is the sole Big Apple native of the three major bouts touted on the card, seemingly everyone is feeling the electricity in the buildup to having star-studded fights in “The Crossroads of the World,” Times Square, an unprecedented, perhaps untapped fight venue ... until now.

• PPV Bundle: Ryan Garcia vs Rolly Romero & Canelo Alvarez vs William Scull fight nights together for $90; £34.99; €39.99

“The fact that it’s the media capital of the world, the fact that it is very diverse is great for boxing, great for the fans,” Oscar De La Hoya told DAZN News earlier in the week.

“Especially putting the ring smack in the middle of Times Square for the people to watch for free on the global stage is incredible,” the International Boxing Hall of Fame member continued with excitement. “We couldn’t pull this off if it wasn’t New York. I think the fight fans in New York are the best fans.”

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Historically, New York City has been the backdrop of major boxing events whether it be the “Fight of the Century” at Madison Square Garden where in a battle between two undefeated champions, Joe Frazier was able to defeat Muhammad Ali, Rocky Marciano’s knockout of Joe Louis, or the firefight “Prince” Naseem Hamed and Kevin Kelley delighted fans with.

And there were many others that stood out as well.

Bernard Hopkins stopped Felix “Tito” Trinidad in the first major boxing event after the 9/11 attacks.

Also, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano became the first women’s boxing event to headline and sell out “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” as the three-year anniversary of this historic moment coincides with the publishing of this story.

And those were just the fights in MSG.

• Read next | Teofimo Lopez not looking past Arnold Barboza Jr. amid bid for greatness

There have been notable bouts everywhere from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx to the Polo Grounds in Manhattan, Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and the New York Mets’ old home of Shea Stadium in Queens.

In a sweet science landscape which offers Las Vegas as the “Fight Capital of the World,” the incessant fervor of London’s fans, and the new beginnings and promise of Saudi Arabia, NYC holds its own distinction as a fight hub, too.

Hall of Famer Shane Mosley thinks it’s fans' immense knowledge and genuine love of boxing that puts the city in a separate category.

“I just think [New York City] is a historical landmark for great fights, to be in New York, Madison Square Garden,” Mosley told DAZN News. “Just the people period, they’re very knowledgeable of the boxing game and love boxing more in New York than in any part of the United States.

Back in October of 2008, De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao visited Liberty Island just adjacent of the Statue of Liberty to kick off a six-city promotional tour in hype of their December fight later that year. That promotional event was considered unique at the time. (I know because I was there covering it for the New York Daily News).

But even the “Golden Boy” could not fathom a ring and set being constructed in the middle of Times Square where fans will be able to see Ryan Garcia vs Rolly Romero, Devin Haney taking on Jose Ramirez, and Lopez aiming to defend his WBO and The Ring super lightweight titles against Arnold Barboza Jr.

“It reminds me that New York, you have the best fight fans, the most knowledgeable fight fans,” De La Hoya says. “They know their boxing, they know their styles, they know the matchups.

“I think these three fights,” he stops for a moment, “New Yorkers are in for a special treat.”

And definitely a first of its kind.

Watch two incredible fight nights this week only on DAZN

Fight fans are in for a treat this week, with two amazing fight exclusively DAZN PPV.

• May 2:  Ryan Garcia vs Rolly Romero; Devin Haney vs Jose Ramirez; Teofimo Lopez vs Arnold Barboza Jr.
• May 3:  Canelo Alvarez vs William Scull

Fight fans can purchase either these fight nights individually for $59.99 US; £/€21.99 UK/IRE; $24.99 ROW per PPV or take advantage of the DAZN Knockout Weekend Bundle where both fight cards can be purchased for $90 US; £34.99 UK and €34.99 Europe.