Boxers hit the links in Palm Springs!
Boxers Israel “El Magnifico” Vazquez, Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera, Jonathan “Lil Thunder” Arellano, Alberto “Baby Dynamite” Herrera, Artemio “King” Reyes Jr., Abraham “Chamaco” Lopez and Rodolfo “El Gato” Gonzalez set aside the boxing gloves to pick up the golf clubs at Thompson Boxing Promotions’ 8th Annual Tournament of Champions held last Friday at the Desert Princess Country Club near Palm Springs.
The fighters were special guests at this annual tourney hosted by TBP founder, promoter and President Ken Thompson. Since the year 2000, the entrepreneur has built a stable of champions and top contenders through his live pro fight series “New Blood,” “Path to Glory” and “Locked ‘N Loaded” held in Ontario and Corona.
I had a chance to tool around the golf course visiting with the champs as they teamed up with longtime sponsors, vendors and customers from Thompson Building Materials and the brand new Thompson Construction Supply. The desert climate was perfect for a day of fun and relaxation as the guests mingled with the boxing stars.
All the boxers said they had a blast as they teed off. Some of the athletes were avid golfers while other boxers admitted that this was their first time swingin’ a club. But all agreed they had a great time at this exclusive event.
“It was a fun experience at Palm Springs playing golf for the first time!” one of the newest Thompson signees, Artemio “King” Reyes said. “It was relaxing and enjoyable.”
For these disciplined boxers whose majority of time is spent in a sweaty gym, the chance to get out in the wide open in a relaxed setting was a treat for all the participants. Here’s a peek into the weekend outing with some snapshots from this year’s event.
Speaking with the host, I found Kenny and his wife, Vera, taking a rare break under a shady tree. Pulling up our golf cart next to the promoter and former World Boxing Hall of Fame President, his enthusiasm for this annual golf tourney was evident. “This year we have the whole course for the tournament,” Thompson commented as he looked out at the rolling hills of the prestigious golf course. “There are three courses and we have some great champions here today! You have to see Israel Vazquez and his wife all decked out in their golf outfits–they look fabulous!”
The former WBC Super Bantam Champ Israel Vazquez was wearing a jaunty newsboy cap and golf shorts as “El Magnifico” teed off with his team.
Also on the fairway were boxing trainer Willy Silva, who will be inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame on June 25. I greeted the coach who was golfing with his fighters, boxing brothers IBF Light Welterweight Champ Mauricia “El Maestro” and Alberto “Baby Dynamite” Herrera, who both just fought on April 29. On this day, no fisticuffs from the boys, just time to perfect their shots on the greens.
Near one of the holes was a booth in honor of former WBC and WBA Super Featherweight Champ Genaro Hernandez. Thompson will be raffling off a grand prize of a car (a Mercedes Benz) with the proceeds going to the fallen “Chicanito,” who has been battling a rare and deadly form of cancer.
While circling the sprawling courses, I could tell all the attendees were all keeping things competitive and lively as they practiced their golf stokes under the blazing sun.
After the last hole, the championship scores for the hundreds of participants ranged from 56 to 86. While final scores were posted on the board, the guests headed into the awards dinner awaiting official announcements of this year’s champs. Besides the trophy unveiling, there was a huge prize raffle and a meet-and-greet with the boxers on tap as well. As banquet emcee Sonny Franco presented the fighters to the crowd, he also introduced Thompson Boxing’s General Manager and matchmaker Alex Camponovo and special guest in former World Boxing Hall of Fame President and WBC Advisor Dr. Joe Noriega.
Then it was time to give the golfers their opportunity for bragging rights that they earned–until next year’s tournament. Franco announced the winning 1st Place Foursome: the Thompson Building Materials Team from Fontana, along with the 2nd Place Foursome of the Thompson Building Materials Team from Lomita. In the celebrity boxer category, featherweight Abe Lopez bagged Ist Place, with runner-up and Jonathan Arellano finishing in a close 2nd Place berth.
Then it was time for the big prize raffle with tons of premium items up for grabs, including a deluxe Fire Magic Electric Barbecue, large flatscreen TV, Las Vegas vacations, tickets to future Thompson Boxing fights, along with plenty of golf clubs, drivers, putters and Thompson Boxing gear, and even a NASCAR driving experience (donated by Jonathan and Selina Arellano).
Thompson Boxing’s Jeanette Gonzales circled the dining room as the guests clamored for tickets. Then as Franco called out the winning numbers, the lucky winners got an added bonus as they collected their prize. The boxing champs all lined up as they presented the bounty of goods to the chosen winners.
After the raffle, I chatted with fan favorite Israel Vazquez. The Mexican warrior said he really enjoyed trying golf for the first time. He was a trouper as he tested his putting skills while braving the dry desert heat. Both he and wife Laura said they had a great time at the tournament.
During dessert, I had a chance to catch up with the Arellanos. Jonathan just fought on April 29, scoring a victory over Denver’s Shawn Nichol. The super bantamweight and his wife, Selina, are looking forward to an exciting month of June, with a possible TV fight for Jonathan as well as the birth of their second child.
Jonathan Arellano and Artemio Reyes Jr. are part of Thompson Boxing’s “Magnificent Seven” of seven up-and-comers signed with the promoter and businessman. Thompson’s also co-promotes WBC and WBO Light Welter Champ Timothy Bradley, who an avid golfer usually attends the tournament. But this past weekend the “Desert Storm” was in Vegas as Bradley was there to take in the Pacquiao-Mosley fight.
After the golf clubs were all put away, it’s back to business–and back to boxing–for the whole Thompson team. Their fighter, Julio “The Kidd” Diaz, is the main event at Chumash Casino. Diaz, a former IBF Lightweight Champ, will square off against Kendall Holt in this latest installment of “Friday Night Fights.”
Thompson and Camponovo will also be putting on their own popular fight series on June 24 in Ontario.
So with the Thompson Boxing Promotions’ 8th Annual Tournament of Champions coming to a close, the team stepped off the golf course and will soon step back in the boxing ring once again.
Congratulations to all the winners and participants in the 2011 tournament!
Photos by Michele Chong
