The Ring has learned that a standard ring, 24 feet outside the ropes by 20 feet inside, will be used for “Ring III,” a stacked DAZN Pay-Per-View card that will be distributed from one of the venues used each summer for the U.S. Open tennis tournament. Turki Alalshikh sought a smaller ring than typically used to initiate more action after much of The Ring’s pay-per-view show May 2 in Times Square failed to entertain.
Alalshikh, the head of Riyadh Season, repeatedly expressed his disdain for “Tom & Jerry” fights after consumers complained about a lack of overall action in Rolly Romero’s points upset of Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney’s wide decision victory over Jose Ramirez and Teofimo Lopez’s dominant unanimous-decision win against Arnold Barboza Jr.
Alalshikh likened fights to the legendary cartoon, which often featured a cat (Tom) trying to catch a mouse (Jerry).
Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, the promoter of record for “Ring III,” initially ordered a smaller ring than 24-by-20 feet for Saturday night. Once it became clear that multiple boxers scheduled to fight didn’t want to compete in a 20-by-18 ring, all parties involved agreed to a 24-by-20.
Having more room to box obviously favors fighters who rely on movement and boxing skills, such as
Shakur Stevenson, who will defend his WBC lightweight title against mandatory challenger
William Zepeda (33-0, 27 KOs). Interestingly, The Ring has confirmed Stevenson (23-0, 11 KOs) was not one of the boxers who was opposed to fighting in a 20-by-18 ring.
Saturday night's card also will feature a 12-round bout between super middleweights
Edgar Berlanga (23-1, 18 KOs) and
Hamzah Sheeraz (21-0-1, 17 KOs).
Alberto Puello (24-0, 10 KOs) is set to defend his WBC 140-pound championship against former IBF champ
Subriel Matias (22-2, 22 KOs) in another 12-rounder.
Light heavyweight contenders
David Morrell Jr. (11-1, 9 KOs) and
Imam Khataev (10-0, 9 KOs) will square off in a 10-round bout as well.
DAZN’s coverage of “Ring III” will begin at 6 p.m. ET in the United States ($59.99) and 11 p.m. BST in the United Kingdom (£24.99).
Keith Idec is a senior writer and columnist for The Ring. He can be reached on X @idecboxing