Connect with us

Articles

Thompson Boxing Celebrates 14 Years & Announces Solid Fight Card

Published

on

ONTARIO, CALIF.—After 14 years, a lot of boxing has passed under the bridge for Southern California’s Thompson Boxing Promotions.

A three title-fight boxing card will take place featuring IFBA junior flyweight titlist Sindy Amador defending against undefeated Maria Suarez on May 16, at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario.

On Wednesday, a large crowd saw the headliners and helped the promotion group celebrate their success the past 14 years, which has seen many stars come and go.

“I remember the first main even fight we ever had,” said Ken Thompson, president of Thompson Boxing. “It was Carlos Bojorquez and it brought all the drama and excitement you could want in a main event.”

Bojorquez, now 42 and retired, fought for the junior middleweight world title in 2004 and had wins over some notable fighters, such as Pernell Whitaker. The Mira Loma fighter now works with Thompson, along with three other former prizefighters.

It all began in the year 2000 with the city of Orange-based company promoting boxing cards primarily in Ontario, California which is about 20 miles north-east. From the very first fight card the boxing company was able to attract a large following.

“In our first fight card we had people coming from San Diego, L.A. and in Orange County,” said Thompson, who also owns Thompson Building Materials. “We’ve had 14 great years.”

In that span there have been 150 shows featuring 1800 prizefighters and they have sold 225,000 tickets. For a small promotion group it has become one of the most successful boxing companies of its size in the world.

During its first four years the company concentrated on producing good, entertaining fights for the boxing crazy fans in Southern California. The very first boxer signed by Thompson Boxing was Josesito “Riverside Rocky” Lopez, who remains part of their promotion team. Others signed in the past were Tim “Desert Storm” Bradley, Jonathan “Momo” Romero, Victor Burgos, Mauricio Herrera and Colombia’s Yonnhy Perez.

El Colombiano

Perez captured the IBF bantamweight world title in 2009 by defeating Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko by decision in Las Vegas.

It remains one of Thompson’s most cherished moments.

“Some of the greatest people are in boxing,” Thompson says. “Most of the boxers are very humble and come from poverty.”

Alex Camponovo, who serves as the matchmaker and coordinator for the boxing events, said Colombia’s Perez is a perfect example of a boxer coming from humble beginnings and then achieving fame as a world champion.

“When Yonnhy Perez won the world championship he asked if he could go home,” said Camponovo, remembering the conversation. “He wanted to go home and build a house with his money.”

Perez returned to Cartegena, Colombia to cheers and adulation after defeating Agbeko. He returned with his promoters and trainers to share in the glory and visit his homeland. He showed them his small house that featured two bedrooms and a kitchen. The bedroom where he slept had two hammocks. The kitchen had a small refrigerator about the size of small barrel. With his money won he was going to purchase another refrigerator and give the older one to his sister.

“When Yonnhy fought for the world title in Staples Center he was staying at the J.W. Marriott,” said Camponovo. “He slept on the floor, not the bed. He wasn’t used to sleeping on a bed.”

Perez spent years training in the small suburban town of Santa Fe Springs, Calif. Despite not speaking a word of English, the Colombian bantamweight acquired a huge following from that city who loved his humility and kindness. Whenever he fought large crowds would caravan from Santa Fe Springs to Las Vegas or Los Angeles. Even today, his fans ask how he’s doing?

“It’s true. Yonnhy had a lot of fans in Santa Fe Springs,” said Camponovo, remembering the crowd that showed up at Treasure Island Casino in Las Vegas when he won the world title.

Globe trotting

Thompson remembers traveling to Great Britain to see Bradley defeat Junior Witter and bring home the WBC junior welterweight world title. He also remembers going to Japan to see Burgos fight for the world title there. But his fondest moment remains a contest that was not a world title fight.

Of all the great moments and accomplishments, one event stands out over all others.

“When Josesito Lopez beat Victor Ortiz,” said Thompson, who co-promotes Lopez along with Goossen-Tutor Promotions. “That’s the high point.”

During the years they’ve signed fighters from Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico. They’ve also signed many from Southern California and one from Pennsylvania. Not all have been massive successes, unless you count the interest raised at each of their fight cards.

On Friday May 16, one of their new signees, Jose “Gato” Roman, meets Mexico’s Luis Solis in a battle of welterweights. The co-main event features Riverside’s sole world champion Sindy Amador defending her junior flyweight title against Santa Maria’s undefeated Marie Suarez.

Thompson has enjoyed the whole experience and looks forward to another 14 years.

“You meet some of the greatest people in the world in the sport of boxing,” he says.

WATCH RELATED VIDEOS ON BOXINGCHANNEL.TV

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles4 days ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles1 week ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles3 days ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles1 week ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles4 days ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles6 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles7 days ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles33 minutes ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Paro
Featured Articles23 hours ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles3 days ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles4 days ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles4 days ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles6 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles7 days ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles1 week ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles1 week ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending