Let me tell you something that’s been gnawing at me for days: the most anticipated boxing event in New York this summer is basically a ghost town. Yes, even with Edgar Berlanga and Richardson Hitchins—two of the city’s most bankable names—the tickets are still mostly empty. It’s not just a slow sell; it’s a full-blown identity crisis for Zuffa Boxing’s debut in the Big Apple. And honestly? This feels like a microcosm of a much bigger problem in combat sports today.
You know what really grinds my gears? The matchmaking. Berlanga, a guy who’s fought in the ring with the likes of Hamzah Sheeraz, is now squaring off against Steven Butler. Let me be clear: Butler isn’t some rising star. He’s a former title challenger with a record that reads like a cautionary tale. Four losses in seven years? That’s not a resume that screams ‘must-see.’ And yet, here we are. Why? Is Zuffa trying to pad out a card with filler fights, or are they just not paying attention to what fans actually want?
Then there’s Hitchins. The guy pulled out of a title defense against Oscar Duarte last February—on the day of the fight, no less. Instead of rescheduling that showdown, which would’ve had real stakes, Zuffa moved him to welterweight against Ricardo Salas. A name that doesn’t even register on most people’s radars. What’s the point of having a top-tier fighter if you’re going to put them in a match that feels like a warm-up? This isn’t just lazy; it’s actively disrespectful to the fans who showed up expecting something memorable.
Here’s what really bugs me: Zuffa has the resources to book bigger names. They’ve got Dana White’s connections, right? So why settle for a fight that’s barely generating buzz? I mean, if you’re going to debut in New York, you don’t just throw up a card with two local favorites and call it a day. You need a headline that makes people stop scrolling through their phones. You need a fight that feels like a once-in-a-lifetime event. And right now, this doesn’t feel like that.
Let’s talk about the bigger picture. Combat sports are in a weird place. Fighters are becoming brand ambassadors, but the actual fights? They’re getting watered down. I’ve seen this before—promotions prioritizing their own egos over the fans’ entertainment. It’s like when a movie studio greenlights a sequel just because they know they can make money, even if the story is garbage. Zuffa’s doing the same thing here. They’ve got the names, but they’re not delivering the product.
And don’t get me started on the psychology of this. Fans don’t just want to see their hometown heroes—they want to see them tested. Berlanga’s comeback after a knockout loss is a story worth telling, but pairing him with a faded contender? That’s not a comeback story; it’s a snooze-fest. Hitchins, meanwhile, is stuck in a limbo between divisions, fighting someone who’s not even in the same league. What does that say about their confidence in his abilities? Or their respect for the sport?
I’m not saying Zuffa is doomed. There’s still time for ticket sales to pick up, and maybe the fight will be decent. But if this is the best they can do for their debut, I’m worried. This isn’t just about one event—it’s about the future of boxing in New York. If Zuffa can’t deliver the goods, who will? And more importantly, what happens when fans stop showing up for the spectacle they once paid to see?
So here’s my challenge to Zuffa: prove that you’re not just another promotion with big names and empty promises. Book the fights that matter. Give the fans something to talk about. Because right now, this event feels like a missed opportunity—a chance to reignite the passion for boxing in New York, and they’ve squandered it. And if they don’t fix this? Well, let’s just say I’ll be watching from the stands, but I won’t be buying a ticket.
