Ryan Garcia is all prepared to fight Rolando Rolly Romero in the main card of the Times Square, New York event, and it has all boxing fans holding their breaths for when the two drop the showdown in just a few hours from now. Dubbed the Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves event, this card has also been somewhat confusing, as there is a video game that launched in January with the same name. Now, what exactly is the story behind this? Are these two connected?
Well, Fatal Fury is the classic video game franchise, developed and published by SNK Corporation. It was released on April 24, 2023, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. Essentially, it is a 2.5D fighting game style, featuring a unique comic-inspired art style and 17 characters. The event Fatal Fury Times Square is actually organised by The Ring Magazine, in collaboration with SNK. It is the first time that Times Square is set to become a boxing venue, with two other high-profile bouts in addition to the Garcia-Romero main card.
All about the Fatal Fury game: Owner, history, and more
SNK Corporation is a Japanese video game company with its headquarters in Osaka. Their franchise debuted in 1991 with Fatal Fury: King of Fighters on the Neo Geo platform. This company is well-known for its console games, and in the fighting game genre, this is the name you would hear the most.
Fatal Fury is just one of its flagship series alongside The King of Fighters and Samurai Shodown. The entire Fatal Fury series is centered on intense martial arts battles, set in the fictional city of Southtown. Additionally, it features some iconic characters, including Terry Bogard, Andy Bogard, and Joe Higashi.
Initially, the franchise introduced innovative mechanics, such as two-plane fighting, which enabled players to move between foreground and background planes during matches. Over the years, the series evolved with sequels such as Fatal Fury 2, Fatal Fury Special, and the critically acclaimed Garou: Mark of the Wolves, released in 1999. This installment is considered a high point for its refined gameplay and stunning visuals. Now, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, is the first new entry in the series in 26 years!
The game is making the esports scene stop and stare, with a $2.5 million prize pool announced for the SNK World Championship 2025. The champion would claim a flat $1.5 million for his/her bank account.
But how does the game concern boxing? Well, here’s the truth.
All About Fatal Fury’s Partnership with the Times Square Ryan Garcia Boxing Event
So, the Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves boxing event, which goes by the exact name of the game, is headlined by Ryan Garcia and Rolando Romero in their welterweight bout. As we previously mentioned, The Ring Magazine organizes the event, and Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez, as well as Teofimo Lopez vs. Arnold Barboza Jr., will be featured on the undercard.
Although the names of both the game and the event are closely linked, there has been no official announcement stating that SNK Corporation is sponsoring the event.
So, it could just be a promotional or thematic tie-in, rather than a direct sponsorship. It’s just a collaboration, marketing their partnership for capitalising on the game’s recent release and its esports momentum. So, without any concrete source that suggests otherwise, it is safe to say that, for now, there have been no sponsorship deals between the fight and the SNK Corporation.
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