Promoter Ken Thompson: New Hall of Fame Inductee!

February 23, 2015

National Boxing Hall of Fame Awards on March 7

Southern California fight promoter Ken Thompson will be one of the inaugural inductees ushered into the National Boxing Hall of Fame (NBHF) on Saturday, March 7.

This brand new organization (and boxing’s newest HOF) is a four-person partnership between Bill Dempsey Young, Linda Young, Carol Steindler-Ferris and Marv Engquist. The NBHF chose Thompson (President of Thompson Boxing Promotions) to be one of the very first inductees at their 2015 awards luncheon taking place at Steven’s Steakhouse in the City of Commerce. Check out my exclusive sneak peek about the March 7 gala!

I caught up with the new inductee and two of the show organizers at Friday night’s “Path to Glory” card hosted by Thompson Boxing. These events always draw a large crowd of fight fans, champs and special guests and last Friday night was no different. Boxing star Ruslan Provodnikov was a special guest at the show which featured six hard-hitting bouts. Thompson, General Manager/Matchmaker Alex Camponovo and the Thompson Boxing Promotions (TBP) team have been providing action-packed entertainment at the Ontario Doubletree, Omega Outdoor Arena, and various locations around the U.S. for almost 15 years now. Ken is a former President of the World Boxing Hall of Fame and has been involved in the sport for decades.

The businessman and boxing promoter is a natural fit to be one of the first-ever honorees at the upcoming NBHF ceremony. Bill and Linda Young (who also helm the Golden State Boxers Association) were in attendance at the February 20 live boxing event and showed Thompson a preview of the commemorative posters that will adorn the venue come March 7. The day will honor many in the boxing biz including Ken Thompson, Mauricio Sulaiman, Jose Sulaiman, Jack Reiss, Benjamin Rendon, Eduardo Garcia, Terry Norris, Don Fraser, Dick Young, Leo Santa Cruz, Miguel Cotto, Dan Goossen, Joe Goossen, Howie Steindler, John Montes Sr., Danny “Little Red” Lopez, Lilly Urquidez Rodriguez, Jaime Ochoa, Angel Ochoa and Rudy Tellez.

“Main Street Gym is our theme and we have a Howie Steindler Award for Rudy Tellez,” Linda Young comments. “We will have video montages, posters, a raffle and more.”

Linda Young says it will be a great crowd at the function with an estimated group of 350 expected. There will be many surprise guests from the sports world and entertainment business too like actor/musician Frank Stallone, who is schedule to present an award. And Young says familiar faces like boxing promoter Roy Englebrecht, former pugilists Gabe Ruelas, Andy Price, Art Frias, Frankie Duarte, Carlos Palomino, Bobby Chacon, Paul Banke, Mike Weaver, Albert Sandoval, Rodolfo Gonzalez, Paul Gonzales, John Montes, Herman Montes, Mando Muniz, Oscar Muniz, Joey Olivo, author/historian Gene Aguilera, judge Gwen Adair and more are scheduled to be at the festivities.

“It will be a great day,” Thompson told me after Friday’s rounds were complete. “This is a fabulous honor and I’m looking forward to it!”

Thompson is known to provide a first-class atmosphere and working environment for both his boxing and non-boxing events. The Inland Empire executive has many businesses with his Thompson Building Materials, Omega Products International and Thompson Boxing Promotions. Through the years, his boxing company has built homegrown heroes such as Timothy Bradley, Josesito Lopez, Mauricio Herrera and more. Thompson has a full stable of young gun prospects, rising contenders, belt holders and champs like SoCal talents like Artemio Reyes Jr., Daniel Roman, Gio Santillan, among others.

And 2015 looks to be another big year for the Southland promoter. February 20 kicked off his monthly fight nights and Thompson says it’s full-steam ahead. After the fights ended, I chatted with the new NBHF inductee who is also past California Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee and a WBC Legends of Boxing Museum awardee.

Besides the March 7 awards show, Ken Thompson will have a jam-packed weekend. After his Hall of Fame induction, he will be hosting live fights at a private dinner show later that night. Then Thompson will also be involved with a March 13 private charity show and the March 13 Josesito Lopez vs. Andre Berto in Ontario, an April 3 card at Omega and April 24 at the Doubletree in Ontario.

“We have a lot going on,” he says with a smile. “I love it!”

Thompson shows no signs of slowing down and everyone from his fighters to his office employees to his personal friends say Kenny is well-deserving of this latest honor from his boxing peers.

“He really has done an amazing job of bringing boxing to Southern California,” Linda Young says. “And Ken is such a class act!”

When Ken was presented with the black-and-white poster celebrating March 7, many guests congratulated him on his National Boxing Hall of Fame induction.

Fighter Victor “El Niño” Castro and manager Jesse Martinez offered their congrats and support from Phoenix, Arizona. Castro is the main event at the Iron Boy Promotions show on February 28 (in Phoenix). When the young slugger is in L.A. he trains with former champ Israel “Magnifico” Vazquez (who often does fight commentary at the Thompson shows). While Vazquez was out of town and not in his usual ringside post, Team Castro still wanted to show support for the local fight scene. Thompson enjoyed meeting the Iron Boy star who was visiting the fights for the first time.

Many of the “Path to Glory” ticket holders said the reason they like attending the Thompson shows is for this friendly environment that trickles down from President Ken Thompson. They know they will get to see good-action contests while getting their money’s worth at these local shows. Current and past champs are always ringside and there are always fun giveaways from the sexy ring card girls.

And in the boxing biz, the longtime promoter has built a solid reputation in the fight game with his “Path to Glory,” “Locked ‘N Loaded,” and “New Blood” series. He also co-promotes with Goossen Promotions, Gary Shaw Productions, etc. with fighters around the globe. But Thompson will take a break in his busy schedule when he takes the stage on March 7 to accept his award. Business associates he has known for years, boxing pals met through the sport, and friends and family (including wife Vera Thompson) will all be there when Ken makes history as one of the first-ever NBHF awardees.