PHOTOS: Pros & Amateurs Enjoy the Fights

The Inglewood Forum has been home to many historic prizefights through the years. At times billed as the “Great Western Forum” or the “Fabulous Forum,” the storied arena has seen many epic battles through the decades.

On Saturday, September 10, the boxing world got to witness live boxing once again with K2 Promotions (in association with Teiken Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions) presenting a title tilt between Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez and Carlos “The Prince” Cuadras for the WBC Super Flyweight championship, with a co-main featuring Yoshihiro Kamegai vs. Jesus Soto Karass, a Ryan Martin vs. Cesar Villaraga bout for the WBC Continental Americas Lightweight title, a female match between Seniesa Estrada vs. Nancy Franco, and more in this HBO evening of championship boxing. The venue drew over 6,700 rabid fans all cheering loudly for the Nicaragua vs. Mexico and Tokyo vs. Los Mochis rivalries in the ring.

And to honor this epic event, K2 Promotions’ Tom Loeffler invited the World Boxing Council (WBC) President Mauricio Sulaiman and his organization to bring a star-studded squad to watch the fights live at the Forum. While Tom and Mauricio were in London (for the Gennady Golovkin-Kell Brook match), the Green and Gold team was represented in Southern California with the WBC/WBC Cares’ Pepe Sulaiman, Jill Diamond, Nancy Rodriguez, Mo Noor, Pepe Toño Sulaiman, and more in attendance.

I had a chance to visit with the special guests (invited by the WBC) including both pros and amateurs, veteran pugs and current fighters, male and female, Olympians past and present. Familiar faces included the legendary Roberto Duran, champs/pro boxers Mia St. John, Gabriel Ruelas, Brandon Rios, Josesito Lopez, Wayne McCullough, Paul Banke, Lupe Aquino, Chango Carmona, Abraham Lopez, Maricela Cornejo, Ronny Rios, Alexis Rocha, 2016 Olympian Karlos Balderas, WBC amateur champ Christian Perez, LAPD officer John Negrete and the Newton PAL amateur boxing team, the Bazaldua trio (amateur champs/siblings Browny, Criztec and Perla), artist Gretchen Ryan, trainer/former fighter John Bray, trainer/artist Steve Harpst, National Boxing Hall of Fame’s Bill and Linda Young, Mike Donohue (Team Bobby Chacon), etc. I also caught up with fighters Daniel Ponce de Leon, Oscar Negrete, Angel Bojado, Richard Rodriguez, trainer Ricky Funez, author/boxing historian Gene Aguilera, actor Verne Troyer (“Mini-Me” from “Austin Powers”) and many others. The amateur kids said it was a blast getting to hang out with their heroes and receiving sage advice and words of inspiration from the pros.

It was truly a night to remember.

All of the athletes said thank you to President Sulaiman, the WBC and K2 for bringing everyone together. And that was one of the goals of the famed organization, who was helmed by the late Don Jose Sulaiman, and now by his son, Mauricio. The boxing family is strong in the sport and this was clearly evident while I chatted with the fighters at the Forum.

The group transcended decades with past fighters and current boxers all melding together. They had a chance to make new connections or reminisce with those they hadn’t seen in years. There were many intriguing stories I heard throughout the night.

For the veterans, the flashbacks were out in full force. Paul Banke won his own WBC championship belt at the Forum and this building will always hold a special place in his heart. And Lupe Aquino told me about his own memories from the Forum; Aquino fought Rudy Hernandez in 1983 for the Schlitz Championship Tournament held at the Forum. And coming full circle, Lupe saw his former nemesis Rudy up in the ring as the chief trainer for the main event’s Carlos Cuadras.

And the younger boxers also took in the eye-opening revelry during Saturday’s fisticuffs. New champ Abraham Lopez told me of his past sparring sessions with Cuadras when they were both young up-and-comers. And Abe also reconnected with Josesito Lopez at the fights. Jose (known as the “Riverside Rocky”) and Abe both began their careers with Thompson Boxing Promotions but hadn’t seen each other for years. The two got the opportunity to talk a bit between bouts.

Josesito and Brandon Rios also chopped it up ringside as well as Mia “The Knockout” St. John and “Bam Bam” Rios too. Rios named one of his daughters Mia (after the champ). Brandon was also there to see his current trainer Ricky Funez in the ring (in the corner with Team Cuadras). There were so many bonds on Saturday night.

Irish favorite Wayne McCullough said he had a great time at the fights. He also shared many past moments with his fellow champs there. Wayne (known as the “Pocket Rocket”) regaled me with vivid memories about when he first arrived in the U.S. in 1993 and seeing the Ruelas brothers (Gabe and Rafael) fight live. Both boxing bros fought at the Forum during this era in the sport.

Olympian and world champ McCullough also had a first-class show of sportsmanship when he and Abraham Lopez happened to cross paths sitting nearby. Young Abe had faced Wayne’s fighter Julian Ramirez in June of this year. While Lopez won a championship title in their matchup, both Abe and Wayne greeted each other with a smile and had a nice friendly chat. That’s often the story in boxing; fierce camps in opposite corners inside the ropes but gentlemen and class acts outside the ring. It was cool to see this show of sportsmanship by both men.

While the past fighters have all been to the Forum before (most of them having actually fought there), Josesito Lopez and Abe Lopez both told me that the Chocolatito-Cuadras card was the very first time they had ever been to the Forum! Both guys said it was an amazing venue and were really enjoying their time there.

Champion Lupe Aquino traveled over two hours from the Bakersfield area to attend the fights, saying he is honored to be part of the WBC championship family. He also got to spend time with his longtime amigo Ricky Funez (Ten Goose Boxing). Lupe said he’s known Ricky since he was about 16 years old and it was good to see him in the corner with Carlos Cuadras. In a fiery war, Cuadras was defeated by Chocolatito in what many say is a top “Fight of the Year” candidate.

And the fans in the building also got a big kick out of seeing all the champs in person. The sluggers took many photos with the ticket holders and made many in the crowd smile. Female puncher Maricela Cornejo also got a huge reception from the boxing fans. The tall beauty will be fighting on October 7 and the boxing world has certainly noticed the champ’s talents.

The Forum was pure electric on Saturday night. Many of the veteran pugs told me they hadn’t experienced such a huge wave of energy from a boxing crowd in a long time. Once the bell rang, the fuse was lit and the crowd came alive. It was nonstop cheering and flag waving from the masses. There was also a moving tribute to Bobby “Schoolboy” Chacon with a classy “Ten Count” and video montage and a live walkout performance by the popular Banda La Maravillosa group. Chacon went through the ups and downs during his career–and in his life–that the majority of pro fighters experience. But on Saturday, these warriors got an opportunity to relive the glory. I saw the faces of the pros light up when they were enveloped by the energy of the crowd.

It was a memorable event for all and the champs said thank you to K2 and the WBC for the experience.

“We witnessed a historic night at the Forum, possibly the ‘Fight of the Year’,” Nancy Rodriguez (WBC Senior Executive Director) stated. “September 10th is a night to remember.”

Photos by Michele Chong