Fight On: WBC Championship Night at USC!

First Pro Boxing Event at Galen Center

On Saturday, May 10 history was made.

The heavyweights shined in the spotlight as the main event of Bermane Stiverne vs. Chris Arreola was broadcast live on ESPN from the campus of the storied University of Southern California (USC). This 12-round clash was for the vacant WBC Heavyweight Championship belt (previously held by Vitali Klitschko).

This was history in the making for many reasons. If he won, Stiverne would become the first Haitian heavyweight champ; if Arreola won, he would be the first Mexican-American heavyweight champ. And the World Boxing Council (WBC) also was represented at this rumble promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions and Don King Productions.

And the weekend war was also the very first time a pro boxing event was held on the USC grounds. Today ESPN stated that their live broadcast of this WBC battle was the highest-rated fight on any ESPN network since 2003.

I knew it would be a memorable night as I walked over to the USC Galen Center where the heavyweights would be battling. USC is known for their battle cry of “Fight On!” And on Saturday night, it was “game on” as Stiverne and Arreola were set to lock horns in the ring, a rematch for the WBC strap.

A crowd was already there before the doors opened at 3 p.m. and the excitement was quickly rising. Sports fans in L.A. had many choices on Saturday. Down one stretch of highway from the 5 to the 110, besides the USC fight night there was a Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants game and an L.A. Kings vs. Anaheim Ducks playoff game all taking place on the same day. And the USC campus area was already popping with the annual Revlon Run/Walk also happening the morning of the fights. The City of Angels always has myriad choices and sports events each and every weekend.

But for boxing loyalists, the ONLY place to be was the Galen Center.

And before the eight-bout card got underway, I ran into many familiar faces in the boxing world. Everyone wanted to be there to watch this historic matchup.

Heavyweight James “Lights Out” Toney, a WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight titlist, was there early. He was looking forward to seeing a good heavyweight scrap. And James, himself, hasn’t quite hung up his gloves just yet. He said he’ll be fighting July 26 in Latvia, which is in Northern Europe. Also there was Ten Goose Boxing Gym’s Ricky Funez. The trainer is a protégé of Joe Goossen and has been involved in many of Toney’s bouts.

“I’ve known James since 2003 when he fought Holyfield,” Ricky tells me with a smile. “Then I started working for him in 2005.”

Now working with many champs and rising stars, Ricky is also in the corner of his nephew, Juan Funez. I watched the 20-year-old fight in the amateurs and now the featherweight is an undefeated new pro with five victories logged in. I also caught up with Juan and he says he’s looking forward to his next fight in June.

“Juan is doing great,” his uncle and trainer Ricky Funez says. “He fought April 24 and stopped his opponent Sergio Najera in the fourth round. He redeemed himself from his fight he fought on January 24.” (Funez was knocked down in the first round back in January).

And before the doors even opened, I ran into a trio of boxing veterans in WBC Super Bantamweight Champ Paul Banke, WBO Light Welterweight Champ Zack “Zack Attack” Padilla and Duarte Boxing Club’s Louie Valenzuela in the outdoor patio. The men were there with a group of champs who were invited to attend by promoter Dan Goossen. They were going to join the other past fighters who were representing the Golden State Boxers Association (GSBA) and GSBA President Bill Young. The three guys said they were really looking forward to the fights and being part of this historic night with Goossen Promotions.

Team Goossen was well represented well with many of the gym’s fighters in attendance sitting ringside with the actors and celebrities mingling with the champs. Hall of Fame promoter Dan Goossen was with his two young sons and they all said they were really looking forward to a great night of boxing.

And as the main event got underway, the USC Marching Band made their presence known in their school colors of cardinal and gold.

Then the main event (billed as “Fight for Peace”) blasted off. It was an war of attrition for the six rounds it lasted. Big right handed abruptly ended the championship dreams of Arreola; Stiverne was victorious with a TKO win in the Round 6. The Haitian slugger known as “B.Ware” collapsed in a sea of emotions as referee Jack Reiss raised his hand in victory.

And most importantly, a new champ was crowned. The WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman (who has succeeded his late father Don Jose Sulaiman as President of the famed organization) was there in person to present the gold and green belt to the new heavyweight champion of the world. WBC Supervisor Craig Hubble and WBC Supervisor Rudy Tellez were also there in this proud moment for the organization based in Mexico.

USC is known for cardinal and gold and it was also a “green and gold” night during this championship evening.

“It was an incredible honor for me to supervise this heavyweight championship fight,” WBC’s Craig Hubble told me. “The WBC was especially proud to sanction this fight, given the historic significance with Bermane Stiverne becoming the first Haitian to wn the heavyweight world championship (and Chris Arreola would have been the first of Mexican descent had he prevailed).”

The WBC also had a special tie-in with this fight night as they all wore green ribbons in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. President Sulaiman, noted orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Gerald Finerman, Craig Hubble, Rudy Tellez and the WBC judges working the fights all sported the satin green ribbons.

The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month and May 8 was Children’s Mental Health Day and the green ribbons were a reminder of that. The WBC and WBC Cares has brought its world champs into gyms, youth centers and schools around the world to inspire the kids not only to be champions but to live like one.

The green ribbon kickoff began Saturday night and will commence through the end of May. And the WBC crew were very honored to be able to share this message at the Stiverne-Arreola championship match.

“Mental Illness can be an invisible disease but it leaves lasting scars. Our children deserve the best help we can give them,” WBC/NABF Jill Diamond relays to me. “I’m proud of Mauricio Sulaiman and the WBC for joining with Congress and President Obama in supporting Mental Health Awareness Month. Wear your green ribbon!”

Bermane Stiverne proudly wore his new green and gold hardware in the ring. He and his trainer Don House have worked hard to get where they are with over 10 years of dedication and sacrifice. No matter how humble a beginning you have, you can still be a champion.

And this newest WBC champ was crowned on Saturday night at the legendary grounds of USC.

The fans were thrilled to watch history in the making.

“All in all, I thought it was a very competitive and exciting fight!” Craig Hubble agreed.

FIGHT ON.

Click here to see my fight report:

Photos by Michele Chong/ Ring photos courtesy of Carlos Baeza