The Thompson boxing promotions are going the way in which they began.
Their first and final combat playing cards, 23 years aside, occurred within the ballroom of a metropolis lodge in Ontario, California.
What occurred in between was a small promotional crew that grew into probably the most respected firms, coping with among the strongest individuals within the sport.
Tonight, Thompson Boxing Promotions will finish its streak, which has seen fighters turn out to be well-known champions within the sport or given younger boxers a platform to combat on.
Luis “Louie” Lopez will face Benjamin Lamptey within the eight-round major occasion. At Thursday’s weigh-in, Lopez weighed 149.2 kilos. Lamptey got here in at 152.7 kilos.
Within the co-feature, junior light-weight prospect George Acosta will tackle goaltender Edy Valencia in an eight-round bout.
The cardboard will happen on the Doubletree Lodge, which has turn out to be the primary venue for the Thompson Boxing playing cards which often happen as soon as a month. Their first card in Could 2000 was held throughout the road on the Oak Tree Inn.
As Thompson Boxing playing cards turned extra frequent, they started signing fighters, each residing in Southern California or abroad. Josesito Lopez, Yonnhy Perez, Mauricio Herrera, Timothy Bradley, Jr., Danny Roman all turned world title holders and contenders who fought beneath the Thompson Boxing banner after making their skilled debut or signing up as a prospect.
Fighters like Lopez (13-2-1, 4 KOs), who resides in close by Corona, and Los Angeles resident Acosta (14-1, 2 KOs), have constructed a powerful fan base as they usually fought in Ontario or Corona.
Together with the imaginative and prescient of Thompson, who died Feb. 10 on the age of 85, Alex Camponovo, normal supervisor and matchmaker for Thompson Boxing, excelled in not solely placing out high quality combat playing cards, however placing fighters by robust exams.
Camponovo was additionally the creator of Thompson Boxing’s hit 3.2.1 boxing playing cards that occurred throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The combat playing cards would happen behind closed doorways at a warehouse on the grounds of Omega Merchandise Worldwide in Corona.
As the favored “Path to Glory” playing cards come to an finish, Lopez and Acosta are saddened by the information, however grateful for what Thompson Boxing has finished for his or her careers.
“It will be a really emotional day for everybody combating on the cardboard, myself included,” stated Lopez, who misplaced by unanimous determination to once-beaten Angel Beltran in his final combat on March 10. “The Thompson Boxing household has been near all of us who’ve fought on their exhibits. I need to thank everybody at Thompson Boxing for giving me the chance to pursue my desires. I’ll have a lot of household and buddies in attendance and I’ll go away all of it within the ring.
Acosta agrees.
“I’ll miss combating on the Doubletree beneath the Thompson Boxing banner,” stated Acosta, who has gained his final eight fights since dropping to fellow Thompson Boxing fighter Ruben Torres. “They all the time handled me properly and I’ll always remember the help they gave me. There isn’t a different promoter like Thompson Boxing, in my humble opinion. They actually cared about their fighters and educated lots of Southern California guys. I’m grateful to the complete Thompson Boxing household.
Lamptey (13-11-2, 9 KOs), who resides in Accra, Ghana, began his skilled profession undefeated in his first 11 fights. The 35-year-old has shared his final 4 fights.
Valencia (20-11-6, 7 KOs) misplaced by unanimous determination to undefeated Otay Eranosyan in his final combat on Could 17. Valencia, which resides within the boxing hotbed of Culiacan, Mexico, has misplaced 5 of its six fights, together with losses to Jessie Magdaleno, Enrique Vivas and undefeated prospect Tsendbaatar Erdenebat.
Additionally on the cardboard, middleweight prospect Nelson Oliva (7-0, 6 KO) of Los Angeles will face Jeremaine Chico Whittington of San Antonio (2-1, 1 KO) in a four-round bout.
Francisco A. Salazar has been writing for The Ring since October 2013 and has been protecting boxing in Southern California and internationally since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Star newspaper in Ventura County, California. He could be reached at (email protected)
