Goodbye Thompson Boxing

Thompson Boxing Promotions Farewell Card

By Tarrah Zael

ONTARIO-It was the end of an era and a home to many fighters who fought their hearts out in the ring amongst fight fans, friends and family. Thompson Boxing Promotions held their last show Saturday night at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California.

Before the final bout unfolded, the arena called into the ring many unforgettable fighters, contenders and trainers who were in attendance to show their respects to the promotional card that gave them a spotlight: Aron Martinez, Oscar Torres, Paul Banke, Sindy Amador, Mauricio Herrera, Josesito Lopez, Isaac Zarate, Carlos Bojorquez, Chris Arreola; Trainers: Joel Diaz, Danny Zamora, Eddie Gonzalez and Henry Ramirez and Timothy Bradley’s father, Timothy Ray Bradley Sr.

Alex Camponovo, Thompson boxing’s general manager and matchmaker took the mic and thanked everyone in the ring and in attendance, “I wanted to thank all of our fans who have been with us for 23 years who have made this possible.”

Hard hitting, Louie Lopez (14-2-1, 5 KO) of Corona, California headlined the series finale of “A path to Glory” in a scheduled 8-round welterweight bout against Ghana’s Benjamin “Daddy Lumba” Lamptey (13-12-2, 9 KO). Lopez completed the show with a knockout when referee Ray Corona counted Lamptey out only 1:22 in the third round.

Other fights

A fan favorite from Whittier, California, George “El Yuyu” Acosta (16-1, 3 KO), California battled it out with super featherweight opponent, Edy Valencia “DInamita” Mercado of Culiacan, Mexico in a scheduled 8-round bout. Acosta landed hard shots on his opponent, however, Mercado responded with various landing shots of his own. But, after an 8-count for Mercado in the fourth round, and more hard shots from Acosta led him to not wanting to leave his stool in the fifth round. This was Acosta’s third knockout win in his professional career.

Los Angeles’ southpaw super middleweight, Nelson “Nuckle” Oliva right hook landed perfectly on his opponent Jeremaine “Chico” Whittington (2-2, 1 KO) one too many times. Referee Ray Corona stopped the fight 1:57 in the second round after three knockdowns for the fighter was enough.

Kevin “El Gallo Colorado” Salgado (3-1) stopped his opponent, Izaiah “Icey” Vargas (1-7, 1 KO) only 2:08 in the first round after hard shots to the liver.

Esteban “Stonehands” Munoz (7-3, 4 KO) of San Bernardino, California wins the unanimous decision in a 6-round welterweight bout against Izaiah “Babyface” Vargas (4-8, 1 KO) of Scranton, Pennsylvania.