“The Terminator” Lends Support for Great Cause
Young pro fighter Richard “El Terminador” Contreras attended his first-ever “Fight for Life” charity event on Friday night at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello.
The Southern California boxer wants to take time to give back to the community and support worthwhile causes like this 18th Annual “Fight for Life” card pitting the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) against the Los Angeles Sheriffs Office (LASO) in amateur boxing matches. The sold-out event benefited the City of Hope organization, which aims to offer better treatments for cancer and other life-threatening diseases and has assisted countless patients through the decades.
Contreras joined the other VIP guests ringside including LAPD Chief of Police Charlie Beck, Sheriff Lee Baca, WBC Featherweight Champ Daniel Ponce de Leon, two-time world champ Bobby “Schoolboy” Chacon and many others. The boxer also had the chance to meet the show organizer George Lopez (an officer and Olympic boxer) in between matches. He also enjoyed greeting the troops of hardworking volunteers in the venue.
As a former amateur fighter (23 bouts) and current pro, the Thompson Boxing Promotions’ boxer loves to support the sweet science.
And Richard, known as “The Terminator” in the ring, was the perfect guest to sit ringside at this year’s installment of these famed fight nights. There are a couple of personal reasons Contreras and his father Salvador made the trek from Riverside to Montebello during the notorious gridlock of L.A. freeways. The 22-year-old (9-1-1, 8 KOs) is trained and managed by Joe Esquivel, a longtime veteran of law enforcement. Esquivel was a parole agent for the City of Fontana with over 28 years of services as an agent and also as an officer and sergeant at Chino State Prison.
Esquivel got his start with trainer Henry Ramirez and heavyweight Chris Arreola and is now the boxing coach of Contreras. Joe takes pride in the fact his young charge wants to be part of these community events for charitable causes. With 11 professional bouts, Team Contreras trains out of the Riverside Lincoln Boxing Club. Being involved in boxing has helped keep the area’s youth off of the streets and away from gangs, drugs and crime.
The other more personal–and bittersweet–reason the night meant a lot to Contreras is that he and his family recently lost a member of their own. His teenage cousin, LoraLee Mendoza, passed away in September. She had just turned 15 and had waited years for a heart and lung transplant. Sadly, Contreras knows all too well what many of the families involved with City of Hope are going through when loved ones are terminally ill.
And on Friday night, the puncher had a great time at the charity bash benefiting the City of Hope. He was really impressed with the officers and sheriffs donating their time in the ring, battling each other for this worthy cause with the police force and USA Boxing.
“This is a great environment with some great, competitive fights,” the slugger told me, as the audience roared their appreciation. “These bouts are SO exciting–it’s like watching a world title fight. And the people are so supportive for the LAPD and the LASD!”
It was the very first time Richard attended a charity event of this magnitude involving law enforcement–and he promises it won’t be the last. “I can’t wait till they have this again next year,” Contreras enthused. “The fights were incredible–they really give it their all.”
The Mexican warrior also had the honor of presenting the special trophies (by boxing trainer/sculptor Steve Harpst) to the winners of the fiery clashes. Seeing the gladiators putting everything on the line impressed Contreras and he raved again about the heart and courage of all the cops and sheriffs who squared off in the name of charity.
Richard, himself, hopes to be back in the ring in January or February. Bouncing back from his first defeat against the tough Shawn Nichol in October, “El Terminador” says he will be back stronger than ever in the super bantamweight division.
And during the holidays, the Contreras camp will continue to give back to others in need while cheering on the amateur fighters lacing up.
Check out my EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS of Richard with some heavy hitters in and out of the ring at the 18th Annual “FIGHT FOR LIFE”!
Photos by Michele Chong
