Big time boxers are used to fighting in big time boxing occasions for big time money prizes, that is what fighters do. They fight and batter people for money.
However, the recent Times Square event in NY was terrible in terms of fight action from Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez — in terms of their fights.
The event was closed off to fans though and no one is mentioning this until now as contributing to why they all under performed.
Speaking to Fight Hype recently, former world champion and boxing legend ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley spoke on something that not many mentioned:
“When you see the fight with Turki, he made it where it was only for people involved in the fight—like they call it standing room only, but for the fight, not the fans. He shut it off to the fans, and the fans could only see it on DAZN or on TV—they couldn’t see it in person. A lot of fighters felt like when they were fighting, it was like a sparring session. That’s what Ryan said—it felt like a sparring session because nobody was cheering, nobody was there, because it was invite-only, not for the fans. That could be a big no-no as far as the fight’s concerned. Fighters get in the ring and feel the energy of the crowd—they didn’t feel anything. That was a sparring session.”
Spot on.
It must have been like a sparring session in there.
A unique point that no one has brought up as well other than Mosley.
Something for organizers to consider moving forward.