Gabe Rosado scolded the fighters who underperformed on the Times Square card in New York and William Scull for his non-effort against Canelo Alvarez last Saturday night in Riyadh. Rosado pointed out that Turki Alalshikh is paying these fighters “top dollar,” and they’re not “showing up” by failing to perform for all the money they’re receiving.
Rosado didn’t mention Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, and Teofimo Lopez in his lecture, but that’s obviously who he was talking about when he said the New York fighters didn’t show up. Those three are part of the spoiled millionaire’s club. Turki chose the wrong guys when selecting fighters for his Times Square card.
Haney doesn’t rate being paid top dollar after how he looked in his loss to Ryan. Matching him against the old and slow Jose Ramirez last Friday was a mistake. Turki should have matched Devin against Gary Antuanne Russell in a sink-or-swim fight if he wanted to include Haney on his card. Take a tough love approach to Haney.
Millionaire Letdowns
“Turki Alalshikh is paying top dollar, and these fighters ain’t showing up. I’m disappointed. Why wasn’t I rumbling when Turki was around? You dudes [Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez, and William Scull] and this is how we’re fighting?” said Gabe Rosado on his social media site, talking about his unhappiness with the lack of effort he saw in fights on the Times Square card on May 2nd and the Riyadh event on May 3rd.
Turki needs to refocus and look toward fighters who are actually showing ambition and believe in fighting hard. As we’ve seen with Ryan Garcia, Haney, and Teofimo, they don’t want to do it. All three are wealthy millionaires now, and they don’t have the drive to fight hard the way that hungry fighters and natural-born killers do.
“In Saudi Arabia, Scull. He fights Canelo. I never heard of Scull,” said Rosado. “This was my first time seeing him fight. The dude made $3 million. That’s how you’re going to fight? You’re going to run against Canelo Alvarez, the Face of Boxing? You have an opportunity to put on a show, win, lose, or draw. You have an opportunity, and that’s what you do, hop on the bike?”
You can’t blame Scull for being who he always has been. He’s always fought that way. It’s Canelo’s fault for choosing to fight Scull, knowing his fighting style, and that would box him all night. If Canelo wanted an entertaining fighter who would come to brawl, he should have chosen David Benavidez, David Morrell, or Christian Mbilli.
“The whole New York card, these dudes are making mad bread. That’s what we’re doing?” said Rosado about the Fatal Fury card at Times Square last Friday. “I know I spoke about the event being in the wrong atmosphere, and that is a point that’s valid. Come on. Y’all making millions of dollars and this is what we doing? It makes no damn sense.”
It was always going to be trouble with the Fatal Fury card, because Haney was chosen to be on it, having come off a loss. He wasn’t going to stand and fight under those circumstances. He’s almost never been a slugger or a fighter who entertained. He’s been a clincher, a mover, and a jabber his entire career. He won his titles from George Kambosos Jr., email, and Regis Prograis.
That kid says it all. Teofimo hasn’t shown any fire since his narrow win over Vasily Lomachenko in 2020. That fight ruined him. He’s been struggling ever since, even with Top Rank protecting him. Turki should have passed Teofimo over when putting together this card and focused on other fighters from the 140-lb division.
Crawford & Canelo: The Real Deal?
“Now, Crawford and Canelo are announced, and that’s going to live up to the hype. Do you know why it’s going to live up to the hype?” said Rosado. “Because them dudes, they from a different cloth. You think Crawford is going to run from Canelo? You think Crawford is not going to be competitive?”
I wouldn’t be so sure that Crawford will perform either. His last fight against Israil Madrimov was a boring chess match last August. Against Canelo, Crawford will be moving all night, looking to box his way to a win.
“You think Crawford is not going to try to win that fight? You think Crawford is not going to try to strive for greatness?” said Rosado. “Yeah, he’s getting the bag, but he’s a real dog. He’s a fighter and so is Canelo. Those dudes are going to rumble.
“What is it with these young dudes? I’m not saying they’re built the same. Some of them are dogs, but damn. That’s what we’re doing? Turki is spending all this bread, and that’s what we’re doing. It’s ridiculous,” said Rosado.
Last Updated on 05/04/2025
