Boxing’s Carlos Baeza takes me behind the scenes!
Bourbon Street and beignets. Swamps and Streetcars. Jazz and Mardi Gras. I have to admit that New Orleans is my favorite city in all of the U.S. Last week, some of my boxing pals converged in the Big Easy for the annual North American Boxing Federation (NABF) convention for their officers, executives, boxing promoters, judges, referees, fighters and more. Knowing how much I love the city, boxing photographer Carlos Baeza kept me updated on all the happenings during the convention where various seminars, sessions and meetings took place.
Baeza is a veteran behind the lens and has attended many NABF and World Boxing Council (WBC) conventions around the world, including Spain, China, Cancun and the Philippines. The NABF is affiliated with Dr. Jose Sulaiman, Mauricio Sulaiman and the pro boxing sanctioning organization, the WBC. He spent several days in the Crescent City with the NABF organization from the opening ceremony to their awards dinner. In this virtual postcard from the “Big Easy,” you’ll see some of Carlos’ exclusive photos from his trip to Louisiana!
The L.A.-based shutterbug began his passion for capturing boxing’s evocative images at the legendary Main Street Gym. The father of three, grandfather, and great grandfather of three, was also Oscar De La Hoya’s photographer and currently shoots 
for the WBC/NABF, Thompson Boxing Promotions, Gary Shaw Productions, among others. The energetic and eternally youthful Baeza is a recognizable fixture on the apron with his non-stop energy, always wearing his trademark baseball cap.
A boxing insider for years, he has met hundreds of champions along the way. I ask him to name his favorite. “That’s tough…” he says while trying to choose. “There are so many different eras, so many different weight classes. But I’d say Sugar Ray Robinson, Jake LaMotta, Oscar De La Hoya and Alexis Arguello.”
Carlos currently snaps action shots of today’s champs and tomorrow’s contenders and keeps a busy schedule both inside and outside the ropes. And in the ring and on the road, Baeza will be trading leather. Literally getting his leather on as the Harley-Davidson aficionado lends his support to his other passion besides boxing–motorcycles and classic cars. No jet lag for this man. This past Sunday, the morning after his return from New Orleans, he displayed his auto at a car show back home in Orange County. He is a proud owner of a 1965 Plymouth Belvedere altered wheelbase beauty. “With a 572 cubic hemi motor!” he makes sure to remind me with a chuckle.
Between fights, the cameraman also takes long bike rides on his Road Glide across the country including journeys to the famed Sturgis, South Dakota rally, Arizona, and New Mexico. I am always amazed at his hectic pace and various adventures. He attributes his fortitude, longevity, and breakneck schedule to genetics. “My mom turned 100 years old on June 7,” Baeza, whose own birthday is next month, marvels. “Yes, my mother is 100 years old!”
“We used to listen to boxing on the radio when I was very young, like when I was four or five years old,” he recalls. “My dad and I both loved boxing, and whatever we loved my mom supported.”
And being part of last week’s big NABF convention really means a lot to him. “I’ve known about the WBC since I was a little boy,” the lensman, and owner of Baeza Gallery and Championship Photography, remembers. “I would watch fights and hear their name and see their belts.”
Said Baeza: “Everyone that is involved, like Mauricio Sulaiman, Joe Dwyer, Jill Diamond–everybody has been great. The organization, board members, and committees held a lot of good seminars. There was a great referee seminar that went over any new rules for the boxers’ safety–that’s what the focus is on, it’s all for the fighters.”
“This is our first year that Joe Dwyer as President,” Jill Diamond, NABF/WBC Chair told me. “and it’s going very well. We had 42 fights, which despite the economy, is the highest of any NABF year! We had fights in Germany, Algeria and France on world title cards too.”
During breaks in the yearly convention, there was some time for sightseeing for all. The photog got a chance to take streetcar rides and also visited Bourbon Street, jazz joints, and blues bars, the Riverwalk, (above ground) cemeteries and historic plantations located around the city. Post-Katrina, New Orleans continues to bounce back after the storm as Baeza reported that Bourbon Street is back and just as lively as ever. I asked him to catch some beads for me as he strolled the infamous Mardi Gras zone.
During the closing ceremony, NABF President Joe Dwyer also gave Baeza a special recognition shout out for his contributions at the convention.
And there was a superstar guest who showed up too. “When Roy Jones arrived everyone was surprised,” Carlos commented. “He came with Square Ring Promotions and it was great. I talked to him and (matchmaker) Bobby Goodman for a while. Roy’s a real nice guy, and really funny too.”
During the awards dinner, the audience was treated to Southern hospitality with a New Orleans-style buffet of Cajun specialties with one very memorable dish.
“We tried the hometown delicacy of gumbo–and ALLIGATOR!” laughs Baeza. “I didn’t know what it was at first…But NO, it doesn’t taste like chicken! But it was good–so good that Bobby Goodman went back for seconds!”
Several awards were announced during the dinner including a President’s Award, Fight of the Year, Most Dramatic Fight and Promoter of the Year (accepted by Square Ring’s Roy Jones and John Wirt) among several other honors that were presented. Special guests 
and VIP boxers in attendance were Irma Sanchez (Female Fighter Awardee), Wilbert Uicab (Fighter of the Year), Chauncy Welliver, and Joe Hipp, who were all celebrating the NABF and those sparkling green championship belts.
Catching up with NABF/WBC Chair Jill Diamond, she summed it up by saying, “It’s always wonderful and amazing to be in a group of diverse people who are united by their love of a sport.”
Congratulations to all the NABF honorees.
And thank you, Carlos, for providing me with a quick “Nawlins” fix!
“Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!” (Let the Good Times Roll!)
Photos by Carlos Baeza
