California Boxing Hall of Fame Honors Champ

Danny Roman received a special honor from the California Boxing Hall of Fame (CBHOF) and CBHOF President Don Fraser at the recent awards ceremony held at the famed Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City.

The SoCal fighter is the current WBA-NABA Super Bantamweight champ and has already fought five times this year. Roman (17-2-1, 5 KOs) has won his last nine fights in a row and is ready for more.

His trainer and manager Eddie Gonzalez raves about his young protégé as does his promoter Ken Thompson (Thompson Boxing Promotions/TBP). “He is a fabulous talent who has what it takes to go all the way,” they say. Both men told me that Danny really has what it takes to reach the top.

The future is bright for the puncher and his team hopes he will have a chance to fight for a world title someday in the near future. He should be back in the ring in early 2016.

During the October 24 awards ceremony, emcee Jim FitzGerald introduced Thompson Boxing Founder/President Ken Thompson and the 2015 CBHOF “Fighter of the Year” Danny Roman. Thompson was effusive in his praise of Roman and told the audience to keep your eye on this young man as he continues his ascent in the rankings.

A pro now for five years, Roman (nicknamed the “The Baby-Faced Assassin”) has a duality that the fans love. Whenever I speak to him, he is humble, nice and on the quiet side. His father and brothers and sisters are always at each fight cheering on their favorite fighter. But once in the squared circle, Danny is one of those athletes that can “flip the switch”–going full throttle into beast mode. He has been a popular draw at Thompson’s “Path to Glory” and “Locked N’ Loaded” shows at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario and Omega Products International in Corona.

It’s been a busy time for the champ on the rise. The night before the awards luncheon, Roman was in attendance at the October 23 Thompson show as his fellow fighter Isaac “Dinamita” Zarate fought in the main event. And the very next morning the team headed to Studio City to accept Danny’s latest honor at this prestigious 15th Annual Induction Ceremony with the California Boxing Hall of Fame.

The awards banquet and induction ceremony was attended by current fighters, past champions and other boxing luminaries in the fight game.

Also seated at the head table were Thompson Boxing Promotions representatives along with two of Roman’s TBP stablemates Isaac Zarate and Erick Ituarte.

Danny first signed with TBP earlier this year and has sparred with many contenders and champs including world titleholder Leo Santa Cruz.

At the microphone, the WBA-NABA titlist thanked the crowd, his team and his supporters. He vowed to continue to train hard while keeping his focus strong as he stays on his “Path to Glory.”

Ken Thompson and General Manager/Matchmaker Alex Camponovo see the talent in this rising star and newly crowned CBHOF “Fighter of the Year.”

Congrats to Team Roman and be sure to keep an eye on “The Baby-Faced Assassin”!

Photos by Michele Chong