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By David A. Avila
Back to normal in Southern California.
Two boxing cards battle it out in the Los Angeles area with All Star Boxing in Commerce and MarvNation Promotions in Pomona, California.
MarvNation Promotions returns to the Derby Room at the Pomona Fairgrounds with another full stacked card on Saturday April 2. Doors open at 6 p.m.
All Star Boxing returns to the Commerce Casino in Commerce, California on Saturday April 2, doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Both boxing cards feature six undefeated fighters each among other expected bouts. Welcome to California.
Commerce
Ed Holmes and All Star Boxing returns to the boxing game after a brief retirement due to the pandemic. He assisted Red Boxing International in their recent effort and decided to get back in the fight game.
For more than 20 years All Star has brought boxing to the Los Angeles area and featured many fighters that became stars. Many are still competing like super lightweight contender Jose “Chon” Zepeda, heavyweight contender Murat Gassiev, and multi-division world titlist Mikey Garcia.
On Saturday, All Star presents super middleweights Raul Lizarraga (6-0) facing Emmanuel Sanchez (7-15-1) in the main event and undefeated lightweight Eric Mondragon in the co-main event at Commerce Casino.
Pomona
About 26 miles east, MarvNation has its own slew of undefeated fighters led by Chicago’s Summer Lynn (6-0) meeting Jaica Pavilus (2-4-1) in a welterweight clash at the Derby Room on the Pomona Fairgrounds in Pomona.
Lynn is coached and managed by Rick Ramos and undisputed welterweight world champion Jessica McCaskill. All are currently in Southern California to participate on the MarvNation fight card.
Ramos said his protégé is ready to move up in competition and looks to this fight as important to gauge her abilities.
“She’s tough,” Ramos said while in Pomona.
It’s a large boxing card that usually draws a big crowd who will be anxious to meet undisputed welterweight world champion McCaskill and her manager/trainer Ramos. Others expected to appear at the boxing card are Adelaida Ruiz who won her fight last week by knockout.
Basically, MarvNation is a new promotion company that has also been staging boxing cards outside of the U.S. Last week they promoted a boxing card in Costa Rica that featured IBF minimumweight world titlist Yokasta Valle.
This is their third boxing card at the Derby Room in Pomona that was formerly known as the Finish Line. The outdoor venue has been used for boxing for over a decade. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Lightweight showdown – Kambosos vs Haney
Things are picking up in the boxing world as WBC lightweight titlist Devin Haney has agreed to face George Kambosos Jr. for undisputed status as the lightweight world champion on June 4, at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, announced Top Rank and DiBella entertainment on Thursday. ESPN will telecast the event.
“He sought out the challenge of Vasiliy Lomachenko to give the people of Australia the biggest event possible. When duty to country (Ukraine) made ‘Loma’ unavailable, George demanded the biggest event possible and greatest challenge in Devin Haney," said Lou DiBella, president of DiBella Entertainment. "June 4 will be epic. Credit goes to George for his unprecedented drive to greatness and to Devin Haney for being a man of his word and accepting the final lightweight unification for boxing fans worldwide.
Australia’s Kambosos holds most of the belts after winning a split-decision over Teofimo Lopez last year in a fight where both were knocked down and battled until the end. He decided to defend his titles in his home country.
Haney, 23, has blazed to the top with victories over former world champions Jorge Linares and Jojo Diaz. In both wins he showcased the athleticism and skill not often seen. He also signed a three-fight contract with Top Rank and DiBella Entertainment to obtain this historic fight.
“George Kambosos Jr. and Devin Haney demanded this fight, and it will be a historic night of boxing that will capture the attention of fans from around the world,” said Bob Arum of Top Rank.
Ryan Garcia
Lightweight contender Ryan Garcia (21-0, 18 Kos) heads to San Antonio next week to face Ghana’s Emmanuel Tagoe (32-1, 15 Kos) in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday April 9, at the Alamodome. The fight will be streamed on DAZN.
Garcia, 23, is ranked number three by the WBC and holds the interim title. Few dispute his athletic talent and ability to dismantle opponents in seconds. What fans wonder mostly is whether he can do the same against top contenders like Teofimo Lopez, George Kambosos, Devin Haney and Vasyl Lomachenko?
Tagoe, 33, is ranked number nine by the WBC and his only loss occurred during his pro debut in his native Ghana back in 2004. Since then, no one has been able to defeat the fighter known as “Game Boy” who fashions himself as a unorthodox style of fighter with power.
Both will be performing workouts at the Will Naylor Smith Riverwalk Plaza in San Antonio on Wednesday April 6, at noon Texas time.
On Thursday, a press conference open to the public takes place in front of the Alamodome south entrance at 12:30 p.m. Texas time.
On Friday, the weigh-in takes place at the Alamodome south entrance at 12:30 p.m.
The actual fight between Garcia and Tagoe takes place on Saturday April 9, at the Alamodome. First bout begins at 4:00 p.m.
Fights to Watch
Sat. Sky Sports 1 p.m. Savannah Marshall (11-0) vs Femke Hermans (12-3).
Sat. ESPN+ 6 p.m. Yulihan Luna (22-3-1) vs Mayeli Flores (8-0-1).
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