Granddaughter Continues All Star Boxing Promotions
“Twenty-five years is a long time and I’ve met a lot of good people–Thank you so much!” Ed Holmes said with emotion at his official retirement ceremony for his All Star Boxing Promotions.
The Southern California boxing promoter hosted his very last “Battle of the Rising Stars” live fights at The Commerce venue in Commerce, Calif. BUT SoCal fans need not worry…Ed’s granddaughter Franky Epstein (matchmaker/promoter) will be in charge as the main promoter in future fights! The company will remain in capable hands; Franky has been working with the promotion for over eight years and has learned the ropes from her proud grandfather (whom she calls “Bobo”). All Star is known for their long running fight nights at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello before transitioning over to The Commerce in recent years where the matches are streamed on bxngtv.com.
This epic evening took place on February 8 and it was a sold-out crowd with standing room only. There were 10 bouts (both male and female) of action at “The Commerce” with many special guests in attendance to bid Ed a fond farewell and usher in Franky as the new promoter. With fighters, trainers, cornermen, managers, actors, bodybuilding stars, amateur boxers, event producers, sponsors, family members and more all gathered around, it was a spirited sendoff and a knockout night for the veteran promoter who first established his company in 1998.
Familiar faces spotted in the audience included Paul Banke, Aron Martinez, Efrain Esquivias, George Faavae, Abel Sanchez, Ben Lira, Juan Sanchez, the Younger Twins (Jim Younger and John Younger), famed bodybuilder John Brown, Shadeed Suluki, John Pullman, Jorge “Kid Flash” Diaz, Thomas Taylor, Steve Harpst, Jimmy Karambelas, Hervi Estrada, Eric Villegas, Sergio Estrada, Billy Koga, Willie Tubbs, Mikki Mase and countless others.
Besides the bouts in the ring, there were several special moments and surprises for the personable promoter. There was an eight-year-old ring announcer Cameron Michael (Killa Cam) making a KO appearance under the guidance of noted emcee Jim FitzGerald. A moving “Ten Count” ceremony was given to cutman Gil “Candyman” Nieves who passed away in November 2024. His sons and cutmen Markey Nieves and Gil Nieves Jr. were brought into the ring as Ed honored their father. “Candyman” had worked many shows with All Star and was a fixture at many events through the years.
And a beautiful plaque was presented to Ed by the Younger Twins (Jim and John). The bodybuilding entrepreneurs wanted to show their appreciation for their friend and associate who dedicated years working in the sweet science. Ed, himself, was a bodybuilding competitor before he became a boxing promoter and businessman.
“Ed is one of the best and most consistent promoters in all of California,” the official ring announcer Jim “Fitz” FitzGerald said in the bittersweet moment. “With over 150 events in over 25 years, he has promoted the “Battle of the Rising Stars” at many venues throughout California as well as co-promoting many shows during this time. Thank you to Ed Holmes for everything you have done!”
It was a joyous occasion. And Fitz also remarked that here’s to the next 25 years with Franky at the helm! And while her grandpa officially hands over the reins to All Star Boxing, he knows that his young granddaughter will do a great job in taking the lead with his promotional company. She has the experience and confidence in working side by side with Ed while working as a matchmaker. Franky has put in endless hours in the sport with pre-fight meetings, weigh-ins, the live bouts, etc. Working in boxing is one of the toughest and most thankless jobs out there, but the petite brunette has already proved she’s smart, fearless and ready for the future as one of the youngest professional boxing promoters around. She is destined to be a powerhouse in the sport.
The newest female promoter mentioned to me that she thinks her very first show will be sometime this spring. And her beloved mentor and gramps Ed Holmes will definitely be there ringside to mark this generational passing of the torch. Ironically, she was born around the same time Ed first began his promotions! And while chatting with him, he made it clear that Franky will be 100% in charge of the promotions though. The timing is right for both of them and boxing fans around the world will benefit seeing the entertaining “Battle of the Rising Stars.”
This fight series has been a great opportunity for fight fans to see some of the most talented prospects, contenders and future champions in the making. Through the decades, there have been endless champs who have laced up at an All Star show including the likes of Israel Vazquez, Mikey Garcia, Nonito Donaire, John Molina Jr., Sergio Mora, Mariana “Barby” Juarez, Bobby Pacquiao, Javier Mora, Aron Martinez, David Rodela, Francisco Arce, Rico Hoye, Cleotis “Mookie” Pendarvis, Crystal Morales, KJ Noons, Vito Gasparyan, Yonnhy Perez, Kaliesha West, Jose Armando Santa Cruz, Urbano Antillon, Jose Navarro, Francisco Arce, Stevie Quinonez Jr., Nam Phan, Adam Lopez, Laura Ramsey, Efrain Esquivias, Shibata Flores, Glenn Donaire, Kahren Harutyunyan, Ruben Rivera and so many more.
Friday night fights at the Quiet Cannon were a mainstay for many boxing fans. And in later years, All Star also hosted matches at the Westin Bonaventure, the Jonathan Club, the Pacific Palms in the City of Industry, and in recent times, their current home at “The Commerce” in the Commerce Casino.
And the years sure have flown by! I wrote my first All Star Boxing article way back in 2009 but I had met Ed and attended his shows long before that. All Star made an impact in the fight game by giving young fighters a chance to show their skills on the canvas and build a fan following as they continued to rise through the ranks. You knew you were in for a fun night of boxing at an All Star show.
“Ed Holmes’ All Star Boxing shows were part of the heartbeat of Los Angeles boxing for many years,” Hall of Fame boxing official Jack Reiss told me. “His long-running boxing shows kept the sport alive and thriving through some of its most challenging years. He provided a platform for countless fighters to chase their dreams, many of whom went on to become world champions.
“Ed was truly the ‘King of Club Shows,’ and it was both an honor and a pleasure to work for him over the years. I really cut my teeth at his shows and learned how to handle tough situations which enhanced my career and I had nothing but fun and laughs with Ed the whole 25+ years.”
I agree with Jack in that it was the perfect platform for fighters and their teams. Local shows such as All Star really provided an outlet for new sluggers to shine while literally learning the ropes.
Boxing was a different beast 25 years ago before live streaming, Instagram warriors, TikTok trends, social media boxers, AI, Twitter and X posts, instant YouTube highlights, etc. Back in the day, brand new prizefighters needed to work a little harder to gain a following solely through in-person events; and, in turn, boxing fans sometimes had to wait for fight results through website postings, newspapers or magazines. And that’s where the “Battle of the Rising Stars” outfit helped bridge that gap in bringing fresh new talent to larger audiences before they were seen on multi-million dollar PPV broadcasts and massive arenas. Spectators were able to get to know the fighters up close and personal while the athletes had access in honing their craft in four-rounders and learning the politics of boxing as a new face in the fight game. It was also a way for aging boxers or “gatekeepers” to keep a foot in boxing, let their fans show their appreciation and keep punching for a paycheck.
And for reasons such as these, local club shows always felt more intimate and charming. There were printed programs showcasing the matches, a casual taco bar with delicious food, celebrity sightings in the room and good vibes at the All Star shows. There was an authentic community feel in the room. And of course, plenty of action inside the ropes!
And all the action–and Ed’s legacy–WILL continue as Franky Epstein (daughter of Ed’s oldest child) continues in her grandfather’s footsteps in bringing competitive matches into her own 2025 All Star Boxing bashes! And the twenty-something promoter will surely bring her own style, personality and business acumen to the new “Battle of the Rising Stars” series.
But Ed Holmes (who will be celebrating a milestone birthday in March) will not exactly be resting on his laurels. You still will be able to catch him ringside as he no doubt will beam with pride as he watches his granddaughter promote her very own shows. The Los Angeles resident will also be enjoying his other favorite sport of playing golf and also traveling the globe. In fact, right after his very last show, he had a grand adventure to embark on. Ed had a trip to Asia planned in which he will visit several countries and enjoy the sights as a new “retiree” but still on the go!
Ed gave his heartfelt thanks to everyone’s support through the years–especially to those in All Star Boxing’s early beginnings. And with over 25 years in the biz, the veteran boxing promoter will have a lifetime of memories to look back on.
Congratulations, Ed, on your retirement! Cheers to you. And check out some of my exclusive snapshots capturing a historic night with All Star Boxing!
Photos by Michele Chong
