Annual Event Wows The Crowd

The 2016 “Night of Champions” private boxing show and dinner was a big hit in the City of Orange.

It was a KO night at the Doubletree Hotel with four bouts of action featured on the card promoted by Thompson Boxing Promotions on Saturday, March 12.

The invited guests enjoyed a social hour where they could mingle with boxing champs and contenders including current fighters Jhonatan Romero, Artemio Reyes, Jose Roman, Danny Roman, Isaac Zarate, Sindy Amador, Erick Ituarte, Miguel Trejo, veteran boxers Rodolfo Gonzalez, Andy Nance, Joel Diaz, beauty pageant queen Analizia Lopez (Ms. City of Angels 2016 and Ms. International World Mexico 2015) and more. There was also a live Mariachi band entertaining this SoCal crowd.

All in all, the young pros in attendance told me they always look forward to this yearly “Night of Champions” bash. If they’re not on the card, it’s their chance to take a quick break from training, donning their finest suits and enjoying a classy yet action-packed fight night.

Before the matches got underway, the 400 spectators enjoyed a delicious dinner and took part in a complimentary raffle with emcee Sonny Franco and ring card girls Mandi and Rochelle greeting the lucky winners. The prizes included raffle prizes including ringside tickets to the next Thompson Boxing show, a Burke Williams gift card and a deluxe BBQ grill. A donation check was also presented to Coach Steve Harpst, founder of the Burbank Boxing Club; the amateur boxing club celebrated their 20th anniversary on March 15. Then the prizefighters sitting ringside were introduced and brought into the ring to receive special gold medallions from the promoter.

Thompson Boxing has had a busy month of March, hosting two back to back private shows March 11 (at the Marconi Automotive Museum) and this “Night of Champions” annual event. Founder/President Ken Thompson (former World Boxing Hall of Fame President), General Manager/Matchmaker Alex Camponovo and Team TBP have been promoting live shows since May 2010. The promoter has built a full stable of young talent through the years with several homegrown champions winning titles along the way.

Jhonatan “Momo” Romero, a former IBF and WBO champ, had fought the night before at the Marconi show and he was happy to take part in Saturday’s festivities. The Colombian puncher said he was having a great time meeting everyone and watching the fights. Promoter Thompson says look for “Momo” to be on a title hunt once again.

And the warriors fighting Saturday night did their best to wow the crowd. Thompson Boxing heavyweights LaRon Mitchell and Scott Alexander both scored victories in their contests. Mitchell scored a knockout over foe Raymond Ochieng and Alexander won a unanimous decision beating his opponent Sylvester Barron. Indio’s Manuel Mendez notched another win against Jesus Manuel Angulo when referee Tony Crebs stopped the contest in the second round. And Ricardo Espinoza started off the night with a bang downing his rival Isaiah Najera with a KO victory in Round 2. Their contest was an entertaining scrap with back-and-forth action from both warriors.

The audience cheered in appreciation of these gladiators fighting for victory.

And for the boxers not lacing up on this night, look for them to headline a future Thompson show soon. The next event will be April 22 at the Doubletree Ontario.

Photos by Michele Chong