No Crowds in Times Square: Fatal Fury Goes Behind the DAZN Paywall
Picture a packed Times Square, maybe with thousands of boxing fans crowded under neon signs for a historic fight. Not this time. The headline fight—Ryan Garcia against Rolando Romero—will happen right in the heart of New York City, but the only way fans can catch the action is by paying for it on DAZN PPV. No tickets. No public viewing area. On May 3, 2025, Times Square transforms into a closed stage as DAZN doubles down on exclusivity.
This setup is a bold move for both the fighters and the broadcaster. You’d expect a fight in such an iconic spot to be a public spectacle. Instead, all the energy will be channeled into cameras, with fans left watching from their couches. No chance to soak up that live Times Square buzz—unless you’re working a camera or in the DAZN crew. The move underlines how eagerly streaming services want die-hard fans to buy in. No more free rides—not even if you’re standing in the concrete heart of Manhattan.
High Stakes for Garcia and a Streaming Power Play
For Ryan Garcia, the stakes couldn’t be higher. He’s massively popular, with twenty-four wins and only one loss, but he’s still searching for his first world title. Getting stopped in the seventh round by Gervonta Davis last year left critics wondering if all those Instagram followers would ever turn into championship belts. Now Garcia aims to answer that against Rolando Romero, a fighter who brings the kind of raw power and relentless pressure that can make a contender crumble.
Rolando Romero, with a record of sixteen wins and two losses, is no easy mark. He’s got heavy hands—he's knocked out 13 opponents—and a reputation for pushing the fight forward. For Garcia, it’s the kind of challenge critics say he needs. If he loses again, questions about his legitimacy in the division will only get louder. If he pulls off a win, especially on such a big stage, it could finally silence those doubts—even if fans have to pay up just to see it.
DAZN is clearly betting that this match-up is enough to make fans reach for their wallets. After years of trying to build a boxing audience through monthly subscriptions, the streaming platform is leaning into premium events to boost profits. The company knows Garcia brings a huge audience—even if many are more used to TikTok than title fights. Pairing him with Romero promises fireworks—and maybe a boost in those critical PPV numbers. It’s a strategy that says the biggest boxing stages are now found in streaming studios, not stadiums.
So if you were thinking of catching a glimpse in Times Square next spring, don’t bother. The only view you’ll get is on DAZN, as the fight industry redefines what a New York boxing spectacle looks like in 2025.
