Moments later, Lopez Sr. engaged in another confrontation, this time with Terence Crawford.
Crawford struggled with Lopez Sr. who danced directly in front of him as he displayed his son’s belts. Crawford stepped forward, visibly excited, and came face to face with him. The exchange cooled briefly, then Lopez Sr. resumed his antics as soon as Crawford returned to his seat.
When the crowd became part of the story
The situation further escalated inside the arena. Bill Haney, father of Devin Haney, and members of his team became involved in a physical confrontation with Delante “Tiger” Johnson and his team. The exchange unfolded while Devin Haney gave an interview with Ring Magazine just steps away.
Security intervened, but the trouble continued into the hallway, where another clash broke out between the same groups. What started as verbal banter turned into a full-on disruption, drawing attention away from the fighters scheduled to compete.
Finally order returned. Lopez and Stevenson made weight without problems and move on. The fight itself remains intact, but the week has underlined how strained relations are between the camps and their circles. The edge was present all week.
MSG draws a hard line
Following the incidents, a representative for the MSG family of companies issued a statement addressing the disorder and possible consequences.
“Violence will not be condoned at MSG at any type of event, including hockey, basketball, boxing, concerts or special events,” the statement said. “If any individual is found to be engaging in violent activity, whether you are part of the event, or a patron, you will be banned for life and unable to attend or participate in any event in any of our venues.”
The message was clear. Backstage mayhem, cameras may roll, but Madison Square Garden won’t tolerate it. The fighters made weight. The battle continues. Everything else is already under warning.
