By Frank Bartolini

Turki Alli Sheik and Ring Promotions choose novel locations to display professional pugilism. On Saturday July 12th a fightcard titled “Ring 3” showcasing talented Edgar Berlanga taking on undefeated Brit Hamzah Sheeraz and WBC Lightweight king Shakur Stevenson defending his laurels against William Zepeda. Neither Stevenson or Zepeda has yet suffered a loss. An undercard packed with great matchups supporting the top of the card is taking place in New York City. These battles are not being fought in Madison Square Garden or the Barclay Center instead you can see this action at The Louis Armstrong Stadium in Flushing. This is the same venue that hosts The US Tennis Open. Undercard boxers will be swapping punches in the sunlight. By the time the Main Event rolls around the excitement will be taking place underneath the stars. No need to worry if it begins to rain. The Louis Armstrong Arena has a retractable roof. What will the Sheik think of next after this unique location.

Earlier this year The Sheik said he intended on putting a professional boxing card right in the center of Times Square. All of New York City from fans to the police and politicians said that is impossible and it will never happen. Mr Sheik proved them all wrong and delivered an exciting event right in the middle of Times Square.

As the calendar flipped to the month of May, New York sports generated an intensified fervor. Across the East River, the Mets sat on top of Major League Baseball National League East Division. Up in the Bronx , New York Yankee slugger Aaron Judge batting average was still hovering above four hundred. Meanwhile at the mecca of sports , Madison Square Garden, the New York Knick Jalen Brunson juked and jived his team through the National Basketball Association playoffs.

This was the setting for three days of exhilarating exuberance for fights. Although only three hundred fans and limited press were allowed in the arena. On the concrete pavement hordes of fans gathered in front of the Manhattan Center and waited outside to get a glimpse of the athletes. When DeLahoya walked to his waiting limousine, the crowd yelled Oscar! Oscar!! Oscar!!! The following day at the weigh-in, multitudes of people blocked traffic on 34th street. Friday night. Showtime!! Although this scribe’s media credential did not place him inside the fenced area that was covered with tarp, that made it impossible to view the action from the asphalt. Given a vantage point to witness the history-making affair from the official promoter of the event, Matchroom Promotions that placed me inside the Green Room at ABC Studios whose windows looked over Times Square where the ring was set up. Even without a sight line, thousands of fight fans filled the streets from the Intercontinental Hotel where the participants were housed, over to Times Square. With names like Ryan Garcia , Tefofimo Lopez, Devin Haney and Rolly Romero the expected fireworks did not occur. At the end of the evening an electric buzz of excitement lingered as chatter about the evening filled the pubs in The Big Apple into the wee hours of the morning