Boxing Star & MMA Star at Weekend Show

Former WBC Welterweight Champ Victor Ortiz will square off against nemesis Andre Berto in their February 11 rematch scheduled to take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. As their second collision nears, “Vicious” Victor took a little time off to check out the 2012 “Fit Expo” held this weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The boxer, who trains in Ventura, returns to the ring after his Floyd Mayweather Jr. match which ended in a controversial fourth-round knockout loss for Victor. Team Ortiz is looking ahead to their upcoming bout–and also looking forward to celebrating Victor’s 25th birthday tomorrow, January 31. Ortiz (wearing a heavy duty ring with some serious diamonds) was with some pals visiting the huge fitness expo, sponsored by BodyBuilding and Subway, among others. He took some time to greet fans before heading off to watch the combat competitions that were starting on the stage and on the mats.

There was also another fighter named Ortiz holding court at this annual fitness extravaganza. Mexican-American MMA superstar and former UFC Champion Tito Ortiz made the masses happy as he made a special appearance at his company’s Punishment Athletics and Nutrition exhibit. Tito had visited the event on Saturday, where fans had waited six hours to score a photo or autograph with their favorite mixed martial arts hero.

While at the booth, I chatted with two friendly Team Punishment girls, blonde Sara Robichaud and brunette Lauren Vellanoweth. The gals told me that the lines to meet Ortiz snaked around the venue. On Sunday, the Punishment Training Center owner surprised the fans by making an encore return to the show. After meeting fans for over an hour, I asked how long Tito was staying at the booth. “He said he’ll stay and make sure everyone gets an autograph or photo,” his team told me.

For the thousands of fans and vendors coming from all over the world, the fitness fair was ruled a “knockout” by all as fitness gurus and fitness fanatics alike all invaded Southern California. The fans were thrilled to touch gloves with some of the sport’s biggest icons and buff beauties making the rounds.

Several faces from the fight game were recognized. I caught up with boxing trainer Edmund Tarverdyan (Vanes Martirosyan), strength and conditioning coach Larry Landless (Daniel Ponce De Leon), World Boxing Hall of Fame alum Henry Vega (at the Labrada booth), Strikeforce star Ronda Rousey, fighter/actor/stuntman Roman Mitichyan, boxing video Internet sensation Elie Seckbach (“Reporting!”) who was rockin’ a Javier “Pelos” Garcia shirt, MMA legend Ken Shamrock (who was supposed to fight James “Lights Out” Toney last year), “Mr. Olympia” Jay Cutler, among many other combat heroes from boxing, kickboxing, MMA, wrestling, weight lifting and more. Global superstar “Iron” Mike Tyson also made an appearance on Saturday.

Fighter, referee and judge Larry Landless was spotted with his trademark blonde Mohawk and joined fellow referee Herb Dean on stage. Larry mentioned besides working with Ponce De Leon, he’s also training a nephew of Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez, who passed away last year. “‘Chicanito’s nephew Julian Ramirez will be making his pro boxing debut on February 4 in Anaheim,” Landless, who owns the Submission Factory told me. “Julian’s got a lot of talent.”

And there was a room full of talent taking over the Convention Center. With over 300 vendor exhibits, fitness challenges/competitions, interactive displays, seminars, tons of free giveaways and so much more, the expo featured both an electric crowd–and an eclectic crowd.

Seeing everything and anything geared toward sports and fitness for all ages and levels, I tested out state-of-the-art new boxing gear, sampled innovative choices in nutrition, and listened in on the latest trends in the sport all promising to enhance performance, health and well being. I saw everything from Subway sandwich hero Jared’s size 60″ x 32″ pants (yes, his waist size used to be 60 inches) to cutman Jacob “Stitch” Duran’s hand wrap device to Celliant’s socks and wristbands touting new technology to harness the body’s natural energy through special minerals and fibers.

If wearing a new pair of cushy socks increases athleticism and durability, the fans were all for it.

The fitness-minded crowd also welcomed the chance to mingle with the pro fighters and trade training tips and secrets.

While speaking to various fitness experts, I asked about their training regimen. Most told me they hadn’t tasted a real candy bar, greasy junk food or a six pack of beer in years. I could tell; the only “six pack” seen on these specimens were their “six pack” abs of concrete.

They say seeing is believing, so feast your eyes on some exclusive photos from the show of Victor Ortiz, Tito Ortiz, fighters, athletes, “Iron Man” competitors, ring card girls, spokesmodels, fitness kings and queens galore shining bright at the 2012 “Fit Expo”!

Photos by Michele Chong and Steve Harpst