Boxing’s Back at Agua Caliente

April 8, 2010

The Show features great action this Saturday!

Southern California has certainly been a hotbed of boxing lately. This weekend fight fans will have one more showdown to look forward to as Agua Caliente Casino, Resort, Spa in Rancho Mirage will be hosting live ESPN Championship Boxing. The Show arena is one of my favorite places to catch the action–great views, good acoustics in a small, intimate setting of 2,000 seats. Agua Caliente started off with a bang in 2009–showcasing nearby Palm Springs hero and WBO Light Welterweight champ Timothy Bradley in two fights last year.

And now the venue will feature a special edition of ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights” taking place THIS Saturday, April 10. Orlando Lora (26-0-1, 18 KOs) will face off against David Estrada (23-6, 14 KOs) in the welterweight main event for a WBC Fecombox belt. The co-main will be Victor Fonseca (17-0, 9 KOs) vs. Andre Wilson (11-3-1, 9 KOs) with four other matchups on the schedule as well in association with Gary Shaw Productions.

I checked in with the box office and they are right on schedule for another sell out–so be sure to reserve your tickets ASAP. For you local fight fans and “Spring Breakers” who want to watch some good battles, check out The Show at Agua Caliente. The resort is always the perfect getaway for anyone who wants to escape the hectic pace of the week! I have to say that their hotel is top-notch; and I have to give a shout out to Daisy, Desirae and Debbie, who are always so professional and upbeat.

Also noticed that boxing is making a surge in popularity at this location. On their website, in an informal online poll they ask, “Which acts would you like to see at The Show?” Boxing came in at 33%, second only to the first-place Rock and Roll category (42%). And the sweet science even edged out MMA (16%)!

With boxing back at the casino this weekend, I got in touch with trainer Abel Sanchez, whose fighter Orlando Lora is in the main event. The well-regarded trainer and manager coaches out of The Summit, a training center in Big Bear.

Regarding their opponent, the tough veteran David Estrada, Sanchez says, “I’ve seen him fight before, he fought another of my guys, Luis Carlos Abregu, who I had at the time.” Sanchez and Lora have been working together for two years now.

I comment that their foe Estrada has fought the likes of Shane Mosley, Andre Berto, Kermit Cintron, Jesus Soto Karass, Ishe Smith, among many others, as Abel replies, “You’re right, Lora has not had the level of opposition that Estrada has but we’ve been in the gym sparring. We’re ready.”

He then promises that during the fight, “We’re gonna do our job. We will offer plenty of work at Estrada’s level.” Lora, by way of Culiacan, Sinaloa, was a member of the same Olympic boxing team as Alfredo Angulo and is up for any challenge.

“Orlando is a boxer-puncher who belongs at the top level; this Saturday we’re gonna prove it,” his trainer tells me. “Gary Shaw thinks he has potential, so now it’s ‘put up or shut up’ time on national TV!”

Sounds like fans are in for a treat this weekend at Agua Caliente. This desert mecca also played host to the recent Vic Darchinyan vs. Rodrigo Guerrero exciting slugfest held just last month. This Showtime event brought out some of the brightest stars of the ring, including Mexican warrior Alfredo “Perro” Angulo, the legendary “Baby-Faced Assassin” Marco Antonio Barrera, Tijuana’s hot contender Antonio DeMarco, light middleweight titlist Vanes Martirosyan, female boxing star Holly Holm, ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr., and many others amongst the spirited crowd all waving both Armenian and Mexican flags throughout the stadium as Darchinyan and Guerrero duked it out for 12 rounds.

One of Darchinyan’s close friends from Armenia, Hovo, had some very unique souvenirs for the fans in attendance–custom boxing gloves with photos of the two boxers mugs on them. He and his father’s company called Nazo Boxing is also embroidered on Vic’s satin trunks. Nazo is a former trainer from Vanadzor and the father-son duo enjoy supporting the sport. The two plan to be at The Show this weekend to cheer on another countryman and southpaw on the card, Gabriel “Gapo the Ghost” Tolmajyan. “Agua Caliente is a really nice place–good for boxing,” Hovo says, who calls “The Raging Bull” Vic by his original name of Vakhtang. “The fight last month was great!” he continues about Darchinyan’s latest victory. “His opponent was tough; he took a lot of punches from Vakhtang.”