By Tom Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA)
On Friday night, May 2, 2025, it was boxing in New York Times Square, however the Haney -Ramirez and Garcia-Romero were setting records for some of the lowest boxing CompuBox stats. Most fans would been better off people watching in Times Square or watching paint dry than either of those two matches.
Teofimo Lopez faced the undefeated Arnold Barboza, jr. in the WBO super lightweight championship. Barboza entered the fight after a split decision victory over Jack Catterall and there was still concern if Lopez will be able to reach his full potential, This fight, he defeated a slick undefeated boxer rather easily as Lopez won the bout 116-112, 16-112, and 118-110.
Barboza has been looking forward to fighting Lopez, but it was obvious that he was not yet ready to fight Lopez.
Lopez boxing skills were on display as he slipped punches and proved elusive while he landed counters. Barboza tried to jab his inside, but this proved ineffectual as he landed only 38 jabs versus 54 jabs for Lopez. Lopez had rhythm and even did a little showboating while Barboza landed only 16 percent of his punches. (In fairness and while he was more accurate, Lopez landed only 22.1 percent.)
Lopez landed 127 punches versus only 71 punches for Barboza, nearly five punches more punches per round than his opponents and landed more than double power shots. Lopez boxing superiority and powerful right hand prove decisive and he by himself threw more punches than Haney and Ramierz combined, and more than Garcia-Rolando combined in their fight.
Lopez goal is now take on Jaron Ennis.
CompuBox Punch Stats
| Punches | Lopez | Barboza |
| Total landed | 127 | 71 |
| Total thrown | 574 | 426 |
| Percent | 22.1% | 16.7% |
| Jabs landed | 54 | 38 |
| Jabs thrown | 376 | 238 |
| Percent | 14.4% | 16% |
| Power landed | 73 | 33 |
| Power thrown | 198 | 188 |
| Percent | 36.9% | 17.6% |
Delvin Haney faced Jose-Carlos Ramierz in a bout that was devoid of any excitement as he avoided engagement from the round one, and neither fighter had more than 7 punches landed in a round. Haney had 70 punches landed versus 40 for Ramirez. Haney landed nearly three times as many power shots but both fighters only threw 503 punches, and no one will ask for a repeat of this fight.
Ryan Garcia fought Rolando “Rolly” Romero, but Garcia showed himself rusty and he only threw 210 punches versus Romero 290 punches and while he connected on 66 punches versus Romero 57, one of Romero punches was a left hook that sent Garcia down for a knockdown in the second round. Which proved the highlight of the fight.
Garcia failed to land his own left hook and Romero guards were consistently up, blocking punches. For me this was yet another boring fight with only one punch providing any excitement, nor did Garcia helped his own marketing as a championship contender.
Neither Haney or Garcia convinced anyone that they are big pay for view fighters. And too bad since Time Square was a good location for a fight in the Big Apple.
