Thompson Boxing’s Two Champs!

January 26, 2010

Bradley and Perez at Friday’s fights

It was a “House of Champions” at last Friday night’s live boxing show held at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario. The “New Blood” fight card, promoted by Thompson Boxing Promotions, offered Southern California fans the very first show for 2010 by Promoter Ken Thompson.

Since May 2000, Thompson, along with his Matchmaker and General Manager Alex Camponovo, has presented a series of sold-out events including “Path to Glory,” “High Stakes,” and “New Blood.” They have consistently built a strong stable of champions, unbeaten contenders and hot prospects.

Hoping to continue to add to a long line of champions, the two were in Laredo, Texas this month for their WBC #1 Contender Juan Carlos Burgos’ TKO win against Juan Carlos Martinez.

And at their recent show, two of their brightest stars, WBO Champion Timothy Bradley and IBF Champion Yonnhy Perez (both are co-promoted by Gary Shaw Productions) were in attendance and were greeted with a huge ovation from the crowd. The two boxers had previously fought at the Doubletree and the outdoor Omega Products International while earning their shots at a title.

The year 2009 was a career defining one for Yonnhy. He defeated tough warriors Silence Mabuza and Joseph Agbeko to win his IBF championship red and gold belt, which he brought to the show last weekend. Perez’s trainer, Danny Zamora, told me Yonnhy just returned from his homeland where he received a hero’s welcome, complete with a celebratory parade through the city.

The Colombian slugger is now scheduled to fight at Staples Center on May 22, on the undercard of the Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez IV fight. He’ll be facing another talented and undefeated bantamweight, Abner Mares, in what should be a thrilling matchup for the fans.

The other superstar sitting in the front row was the pride of Palm Springs, Timothy Bradley. The dynamo has been blazing a trail while beating a long streak of worthy opponents, including Junior Witter, Edner Cherry, Kendall Holt and Lamont Peterson.

Chatting with the “Desert Storm” champion, I asked him if he still wanted to fight Amir Khan. “Yes, I want to fight him,” he quickly replied. “But his camp won’t make that fight.” There has also been a lot of buzz about the junior welter facing Manny Pacquiao sometime in the future. But there’s nothing set in stone yet, as far as Bradley’s next battle.

While Bradley and Perez took in six bouts of boxing, they took time to greet fans who approached them for photos or autographs. Timmy was also there in support of his trainer, Joel Diaz, whose fighter Patrick Lopez was the main event of the evening.

Lopez is promoted by Thompson Boxing, along with fellow fighters Daniel Hernandez (also fighting to a victory that night), Jose Lopez, Dominic Salcido and Mauricio Herrera, who all came out to catch the action. Mauricio was wearing a “Dynamite Herrera” shirt, the nickname of his younger brother, Albert. “Baby Dynamite” went on to score a win against Hilario Lopez later that night.

Ring Announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. announced the celebrities and VIPs in the audience and also held a Ten Count for Master of Ceremonies Danny Valdivia (a special photo tribute was also handed out to attendees). At the “New Blood” show were boxers Alejandro Perez, Andy Nance, Rodolfo Gonzalez, Mando Muñiz, and CSAC’s former Chief Athletic Inspector Dean Lohuis.

New pro Jonathan Arellano, who made his debut at an Omega fight last summer, was also there to give a shout out to his stablemate Hector “Teco” Serrano. Jonathan and Hector train with Henry Ramirez at “Indian” Willie’s private gym, along with heavyweight Chris Arreola and Jose Lopez, who were at the event as well.

With Arellano was his little “Mini-Me” son, Josiah, who already has his own “fan club.” With a cool stylish Mohawk and a love for boxing, the two-year-old’s photos appear frequently in the fight program. His mom, Selena, tells me that the toddler enjoys being around the energy of the packed crowd. When they arrived at the venue earlier in the evening, she said Josiah asked excitedly, “Is Daddy fighting?”

Speaking of that, both Jonathan and Jose told me that they’re planning on fighting again in the next couple of months, possibly at the March show.

Watch for these “New Blood” fighters to continue their path to their own championships, just like Timothy Bradley and Yonnhy Perez.