Walking Down Memory Lane at the Final Thompson Promotions Boxing Card

ONTARIO, Calif.-Tears flowed, hugs were distributed and punches were flung for Thompson Boxing Promotions one more final time at the Doubletree Hotel on Friday.

Twenty-three years seemingly flashed by in the blink of an eye.

Louie Lopez (14-2-1, 5 KOs) delivered the final knockout blow as he deposited Ghana’s Benjamin Lampley (13-12-2, 9 KOs) to the canvas with a body shot in the third round. The African fighter was counted out at the Thompson Boxing show called “One Last Time.”

No further boxing shows will commence by the company based in Orange, Ca.

Ken Thompson, the founder of Thompson Boxing Promotions, passed away last February. He was the anchor for the company that scheduled monthly fight cards in mostly Ontario, and also in Corona and Orange.

Through the years Thompson Boxing discovered numerous fighters including five world champions. Danny “Baby Assassin” Roman was the last of the champions and he recently retired after briefly dominating the super bantamweight division.

Many prominent prizefighters arrived to show their respect for a promotion company that led to many successes in the prize ring. Among those who appeared as guests on Friday were Sindy Amador, Carlos Bojorquez, Mauricio Herrera, Josesito Lopez, Chris Arreola and trainers Eddie Gonzalez, Joel Diaz, Danny Zamora and Henry Ramirez.

It seemed just yesterday that all were trading blows in this same venue.

I can remember the amazement fans had watching unknown Mauricio Herrera show off his slick skills against another slickster Cleotis Pendarvis. Or the time Josesito Lopez defeated Luis “Vampiro” Arceo by knockout.

And then there was the first fight card at the Doubletree Hotel and a press conference was held at the steakhouse. About 100 people gathered there and no one knew what to do. Somebody passed the microphone around and people simply introduced themselves.

It was there I met trainer Willy Silva who worked with Carlos Bojorquez and Jaime De La Torre in Mira Loma. He also would take care of trainer Jose “Chepo” Reynoso’s charges like Oscar Larios and Javier Jauregui who became world champions.

Later, Chepo would introduce me and the world to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

And then there was the day Thompson Boxing signed Timothy Bradley Jr. to a contract. Somehow all the powerhouse promoters passed on the kid from the Palm Springs area. He was rather small for a welterweight, but lightning quick and fearless.

Thompson signed him at a golf course if I recall correctly. He fought on a Thompson card and Ken Thompson was sold. He also predicted Bradley would be in the Boxing Hall of Fame some day. He was enshrined this year.

Bradley could not attend the final Thompson show. He is currently in Las Vegas preparing for a broadcast of a Top Rank show for ESPN. His father Ray Bradley did attend the final Thompson show and spoke on his son’s participation in the early years.

For me, I vividly remember a showdown Bradley had with an unknown Brazilian fighter who towered over him and was a southpaw. The fight was held in downtown Los Angeles and after a back-and-forth struggle Bradley knocked him out. That sold me on the Palm Springs fighter’s greatness.

So many stories to tell.

Other Fight Results

Whittier’s George “Yuyu” Acosta (16-1, 3 KOs) used his boxing mastery to befuddle and force Mexico’s Edy Valencia to stay on his stool at the end of the fifth round. It was ruled a knockout win for Acosta in a super featherweight fight.

Los Angeles-based super middleweight Nelson Oliva (8-0, 7 KOs) blasted out San Antonio’s Jeremaine Whittington (2-2) in second round. The southpaw slugger knocked down the Texas fighter three times before referee Ray Corona ended the match at 1:57 of the second round.

Welterweight Kevin Salgado (3-1) of Murrieta, Calif. knocked out Maryland’s Izaiah Vargas (1-7) at 2:08 of the second round.

San Bernardino’s Esteban Munoz (7-3) defeated Pennsylvania’s Nelson Morales (4-8) by unanimous decision after six rounds in a welterweight contest.

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