Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Final Goodbyes to Goodman, Thompson and More

Our prizefighting world lost two key figures in Kenny Thompson and Bobby Goodman these past two weeks. It’s not an exaggeration to say both were extreme gentlemen who exemplified professionalism not often seen.

Our boxing universe will never be the same.

Goodman (pictured at the International Boxing Hall of Fame) was a publicist and matchmaker and worked for various promotion companies such as Main Events, Top Rank and Don King Productions in a career that spanned from the 1960s to the present. He was the Vice President of Boxing Operations, matchmaker and Director of Public Relations for Don King for 25 years.

So many great fighters and events passed through his inspection including the heavyweight championship fights like Evander Holyfield versus Lennox Lewis. He also oversaw Felix Trinidad’s journey toward stardom and other fighters promoted by Don King Productions.

“Bobby Goodman was a great man, a dear friend and an asset to the sport of boxing,” said Hall of Fame promoter Don King.  “He was a tireless worker and loved boxing and everyone who was a part of boxing. We will truly miss him and we send our deepest condolences to his entire family. The Lord giveth and the lord taketh away.”

I remember being told to contact Goodman when I was an unknown journalist writing for a weekly throwaway newspaper in the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California. When you are at the bottom you often get treated as a nuisance. But when I reached Goodman on the telephone he acted as if I was one of the top soldiers in the sport.

I never forgot.

As a journalist you quickly realize there is a pecking order and sometimes the lower level people get mistreated or ignored. But that day Goodman treated me as if I were Walter Cronkite or Edward R. Murrow. I never forgot that lesson and treat all new journalists as if they are the top in their field.

Goodman always seemed a happy person, at least when I encountered him. He and his father Murray Goodman are both International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees.

Thompson

Kenny Thompson was very successful in almost everything he touched. Perhaps his greatest asset was kindness and a genuine love for all people. He especially loved boxing.

He gravitated toward boxing as a big fan of the sport who attended prizefighting events weekly at the Olympic Auditorium, Inglewood Forum and other venues. He was always a regular ticketholder who would purchase box seats as a way to entertain business clients and friends.

Thompson was wildly successful in creating an international building and supply company empire. It spread into Asia and throughout the USA. But he loved boxing and was one of the key figures in supporting the World Boxing Hall of Fame that preceded the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Once Thompson left the World Boxing Hall of Fame it slowly disappeared.

Still, his love for boxing led him to help others organize boxing events.The first was successful but not profitable. Of course, he fixed it and Thompson Boxing Promotions was created in 2001 and has run unimpeded till now. Along the way Thompson Boxing introduced the boxing world to Tim “Desert Storm” Bradley, Josesito “Riverside Rocky” Lopez, Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera and Danny “Baby Assassin” Roman among many others.

For several decades Thompson personally greeted thousands of fans into his events with a smile and handshake as if welcoming you to his home. He is one of the kinder gentlemen of the sport that will be remembered.

A ceremonial tribute boxing card is planned for this Friday, March 10, at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario by Thompson Boxing Promotions. The main event will feature Louie Lopez (13-1-1, 4 KOs) versus Angel Beltran (15-1, 9 KOs) in an eight-round welterweight contest.

Doors open at 7 p.m. For more information call (714) 935-0900.

Liverpool, England

South-Central L.A. pugilist Diego Pacheco travels to the United Kingdom to face Lancashire’s Jack Cullen in the main event for a vacant title on Saturday, March 11. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing fight card.

Undefeated super middleweight Pacheco (17-0, 14 KOs) meets “Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver” Cullen (21-3-1, 9 KOs) in a 10-round match at Echo Arena in Liverpool, home of the Beatles.

Pacheco has been training with Jose Benavidez and Team David Benavidez. Perhaps sparring with the WBC titlist will help.

Cullen has displayed on multiple occasions to be capable of providing any top super middleweight a problem in the prize ring. Will he be able to contend with undefeated Pacheco who has a height and power advantage?

Fights To Watch

Fri. www.thompsonboxing.com 8 p.m. Louie Lopez (13-1-1) versus Angel Beltran (15-1).

Sat. DAZN 11 a.m. Diego Pacheco (17-0) vs Jack Cullen (21-3-1).

Sat. ESPN+ 11:45 a.m. Tony Yoka (11-1) vs Carlos Takam (39-7-1)

Sat. SHOWTIME 7:45 p.m Tim Tszyu (21-0) vs Tony Harrison (29-3-1)

Photo credit: Rome Sentinel

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