Fighters Hit the Links in Palm Springs

Thompson Boxing Promotions celebrated 15 years in the boxing business with their 2015 Golf Tournament of Champions held this month at the Desert Princess Country Club in Cathedral City, California (near Palm Springs).

This annual event is a highly anticipated one by all of the prizefighters, participants, sponsors and guests who attend this yearly outing. Here’s my special report and snapshots from the day attended by 144 players in a fierce competition for first-place bragging rights!

Joining Thompson Boxing Promotions’ Founder/President Ken Thompson and General Manager/Matchmaker Alex Camponovo was a KO group of pro fighters including Thompson boxers Artemio Reyes, Jose Roman, Danny Roman, Isaac Zarate, Danny Hernandez and former champ Rodolfo “El Gato” Gonzalez. Ring announcer Sonny Franco, beauty queen Analizia Lopez (Ms. International World Mexico), boxing manager/trainer Eddie Gonzalez and Capital Punishment Boxing Club’s Charlie Perez also golfed in the May 1 tourney. Ex-WBC champ Gonzalez met was the celebrity player with the Cemex crew and Danny “El Travieso” Hernandez was the honorary gofler with the Belgard team.

The men and women played 18 holes of golf in a “Best Ball” four-person scramble over the gorgeous Lagos course and Cielo course at this Desert Princess resort.

Some of the fighters I spoke to had golfed before while others were looking forward to taking swings on the course for the very first time as they took off the boxing gloves and picked up the golf clubs. The boxers used their natural athleticism to take their swings on the fairway and greens. The pro fighters said it was nice to take a brief break from their gym sessions. They enjoyed being part of this tournament where they were available to meet the players and sponsors during the day.

Ken Thompson has had a busy year with his monthly shows and co-promotions in the Southland and beyond. Both Jose “Gato” Roman and Danny “Baby-Faced Assassin” Roman were featured in the April 24 show (as the main and co-main) on the card. And the young pugs who golfed in the event are remaining busy in the ring. Isaac Zarate is slated to fight on May 22 on the very last ESPN “Friday Night Fights” show taking place at the Omega Products International Outdoor Arena; Danny Roman returns to the ring on May 29 against Chris Martin at their signature venue, the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario.

The golf day began with California Boxing Hall of Famer Thompson greeting the guests at registration where the attendees picked up fresh chocolate chip cookies (from the Doubletree Hotel) and a Thompson Boxing goodie bag chock full of cool items like a commemorative hat, towel, lip balm, drink cozy and golf balls. During the 18 holes on the beautiful desert landscape, the players had the chance to win a car at the “Hole in One” sponsored by Richard Perry and VIP Autos, receive free giveaways (T-shirts, hats, tattoos, foam bricks and golf goodies galore) and take part in fun games (including a Hula Hoop contest) at interactive booths with Cultured Stone, Boral/El Dorado Stone and more.

While it was a sports competition, there was also time to relax while tooling around in the golf carts. There was also plenty of time to talk boxing with the pros as well. The fighters all mentioned to me that they really liked playing and trying a new sport and said they had a great day at this tournament.

And after the last shots were taken, it was time for the awards dinner and prize raffle which is a big hit each and every year.

Thompson Boxing’s Executive Assistant Jeanette Gonzales had done a bang-up job gathering the biggest treasure trove of raffle prizes yet for this year’s showdown. Up for grabs were premium golf clubs, autographed boxing gloves, name-brand golf bags, signed posters, gift certificates, Thompson Boxing gear and more. Throughout the day beauties Niki and Evina sold tons of raffle tickets at the gathering. Then at the awards dinner, it was time for the big drawing as emcee Sonny Franco had a special assistant help out with drawing the lucky winners of the loot. Fighter Jose Roman’s 5-year-old son Christopher would be the one picking out the winning numbers of each raffle prize.

Also revealed at the celebration was this year’s 2015 tournament winners. Ken Thompson and Alex Camponovo saluted the first-place team from the Wilmington office (with a score of 55.5) and Cemex coming in a close second with a tally of 56. In the boxer category, Artemio “King” Reyes nabbed 1st place honors with Isaac Zarate coming in second for this year’s bragging rights.

After a full day of fun in the sun, Ken Thompson thanked all his employees, guests and sponsors for their support as another KO Thompson Boxing “Tournament of Champions” was in the books.

Congrats to all and see you at the fights!

Photos by Michele Chong