Our headline is a bit over the top but what isn’t these days in both politics and the world of sports. Tomorrow night, Boxing Promoters Bobby D Presents and Borizteca Boxing Promotions will present the first show in San Diego in many moons. To be exact, the last show, which featured Antonio Orozcovs. Martin Honorio in the Main Event took place back on May 15, 2014, at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. That show, like so many of the preceding shows, lost money. At the end of that show, there were far too many people with their hand out and as a result, the show’s Promoter, Bobby De Philippis lost money, again. That show plus the preceding shows were an unnecessary drain on his finances. It could be likened to a walk out of the Ocean Beach Pier and then just throwing your cash money into the ocean. The list of his co-promoters on that last show included Paco Presents – Paco Damian, Jorge Marron Productions- Jorge Marron, Golden Boy Promotions – Richard Schaefer, Don Chargin Productions – Don Chargin, plus A&T Promotions – Andy Perez, and as always Bobby D. Presents – Bobby DePhilippis was the last one in the line to receive his cut of the proceeds. It was reported the show lost right around six thousand dollars even though it had aired on USA Fox Sports 1.
Well, some people are really tough, just like the fighters they’re promoting and they’ll keep coming back again and again. Well, here comes the Hall of Fame Promoter again. Bobby DePhilippis is giving it another try. This time he is coming with a different cast of characters. The rock steady Saul Rios of Borizteca Boxing Promotions, Armando Bareno, CEO of Global Sports Streaming.com/Best N Boxing plus Bareno’s cousin Lou Messina, Bareno’s behind the scenes VP and Director of operations. Each is relying on the support of their family and friends, and long-time contacts in the sport. And yes, the quality of the boxers, as performers will remain the most important piece in this puzzle.
As far as the supporters who remained faithful and continued to follow our local boxers and promoters while making those exhausting treks back and forth across the border to watch a watered-down version of the sport, a huge thank must goes out for maintained your ties, and hopefully, that will no longer be necessary after Bobby D Presents and the come of age Borizteca Boxing Promotions showcases more and more memorable shows and performances by the many talented boxers who have lived or trained here in San Diego. In the following months, we’d like to do our part and list each and every one of them in our newest feature the Who’s Who of Local Boxing, a compilation of Professionals going all the back to Archie Moore, Manuel Mantecas Medina, Manuel Ortiz, Paul “the Ultimate” Vaden, Tony “Bazooka” Deluca, Bengi Garcia, Terry Norris, Tiger Smalls, etc., etc.
On Thursday afternoon, all 12 of the above combatants successfully weighed in and made their weight requirement to be eligible to battle it out Friday night at the Four Points By Sheraton Hotel. In the Main Event, Bout #6, they have one of San Diego’s top prospects super lightweight Kevin Torres (14-1-1, 13 KOs) who will be facing the always tough Andrew Rodgers (4-7-2, 2 KOs) from Elkhart, Indiana. (top right) Andrew Rodgers (bottom) Kevin “Diamond Boy” TorresAndrew Rodgers from Elkhart, Indiana
In Bout #5, the Co-Main Event, it is super-lightweight Jorge Marron Jr. from Lakeside, Calif. (15-1, 5 KOs) taking on 5'8" tall, Gonzalo "El Malo" Dallera (6-5, 4 KOs) 140 lbs., who now resides in Miami, Florida after moving to the U. S. from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Dallera reported that he actually has 11 wins, 5 losses and 7 KOs as not all of his wins in Mexico have been reported.
Serious as a heart-attack: At the conclusion of their weigh-ins, the two parties, Jorge Marron Jr. (left) and Gonzalo Dallera (right) gave each other a most intimidating stare. Bout #4: Here we see a somber Ricardo Valdovinos getting weighed-in.After suffering a knee injury in his last fight, back in September of last year on a Showtime telecast, San Diego’s Ricardo Valdovinos (7-1, 5 KOs) has been more focused than ever on making a good showing against Giovannie Gonzalez (9-3) from Stockton, Calif. Getting the best of a veteran like Giovanni Gonzalez (9-3, 7 KOs) is not going to be easy. With Valdovinos (left) giving his opponent Gonzalez the harshest stare imaginable, Gonzalez (right) couldn’t help himself and started smiling from ear to ear.After a while, the pleasantries ended, and both men faced the front.In Bout #3, it will be welterweight Adrian Gutierrez (9-0-1, 4 KOs) of San Diego facingfellow welterweight Carlos Huerta of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico (6-3-2, 3 KOs).Crowd pleaser: With Carlos Huerta being three inches taller and having a reach advantage, Gutierrez will have his hands full getting in close to work over Huerta’s midsection. What’s a fight card without the big guys? Bout #2 should be a thriller. They have ex-Marine and Armed Forces Boxing Champ Darnell Price from San Diego (above) making his Pro Debut against Nicholas “the Shadow” Gay (below) from Houston, Texas. Born April 14, 1995, the 24-year-old, righty Nicholas “The Shadow” Gay has been far more active in MMA where he is 7-4. Also, at 6-foot tall, the 195 pound Gay (0-1 in Pro Boxing) could surprise Price with his 78-inch reach. Nicholas Gay has this confidence/nonchalance that can fool you. You would think with all his experience in the Amateur ranks plus the fact that he was on the Marine Corps Boxing Team, and now being coach by Vince Parra, that Darnell Price is the side in this match-up. That being said, I wouldn’t discount Nicholas Gay’s MMA experience. He might just have some cards up his sleeve.
And finally, in the show’s opener, Bout #1, they’re featuring the highly touted James Earle of San Diego who is also now making his Pro Debut. Like Price, Earle now trains with Vince Parra at the Pacific Training Center in the La Jolla neighborhood of Bird Rock where Earle has on occasion had an opportunity to spar with the former World Lightweight Champion Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker. Earle’s opponent on Friday is Edgar Ivan Garcia (7-20-1) who just the other day arrived from San Luis Reo Colorado, Sonora, Mexico. If Garcia were to pull off the unimaginable upset of Earle, it could rank as the biggest upset ever. To say James Earle has been looking forward to making his Pro Debut or to say Earle is ready for his debut seem to be gross understatements. We can report Earle is in good hands. H’e been training with the best trainers and sparring with some of the best people in the sport.
The brave Edgar Ivan Garcia (7-20-1, 2 KOs), a teacher by trade, couldn’t possibly be prepared to face someone of the caliber of a James Earle.
(left to right) Prof. Edgar Ivan Garcia and the super-fit James Earle.
