Influencer Fight League Returns

Showdown at SAS Movie Studio – Influencer Fight League

By Lauren Rodriguez

NORTH HOLLYWOOD-It’s the age of Influencers.

The Wednesday after Valentine’s Day, the semi- professional Influencer Fight League hosted their media workout before their upcoming fight card. The latest lineup of “influencers” are set to go head to head at IFL5, on Saturday February 18th at SAS movie studio in Los Angeles.

The event presented by FIT TV is a charity benefit that promotes Project Hope CA as the official fight night charity.

Nestled in the arts district of North Hollywood, the workout was held in Prevail Boxing gym. Prevail boxing’s biography claims to “provide high energy” training and lead coach of the event, Justin “Juice” Van-Hairston displayed that.

More modern than the typical media workout, Van-Hairston gave a preview of the format of classes provided at Prevail. With a headset microphone fitted on his head, Van- Hairston’s voice flooded the room with instruction. Participating in the display, the fighters for IFL’s latest card followed, showing the media the regimen they follow at Prevail.

The influencers turned fighters, went along with instructions as they simultaneously lined up at each training station. The stations included the bags, shadow boxing, weights and wall balls.

The main event of the night is a duel between 23-year-old Albert Ochoa and Marcus Portillo. An IFL and ICB [Influencer Championship Boxing] Championship in the super welterweight division.

Ochoa, originally from Sacramento and fighting out of Las Vegas, has been boxing for a year. The fighter had originally turned down the opportunity to fight on an IFL card but eventually agreed when the match “made more sense.” Although fighting for only a year, Ochoa is confident in his ability to stop his opponent early in the match.

“I want to say first round but if not second, he’s going to get tired”

The fight card also boasts a female fight, a “battle of the blondes.” A match between musician, Alaena and Fitness content creator Lindsey Flanders.

Pittsburgh native, Alaena, has been boxing since 2020 but  decided to take fighting seriously in the last year while training at Prevail.

“My coach Justin has been wanting me to do [IFL] since June but I had too much going on with music,” said Alaena.

Grateful to be a female on the main card of the event, Alaena plans on continuing to progress in the sport, win or lose.

“I actually feel like this is a really big part of who I am in general, my brand as an artist is power and stretch and being unbreakable. There’s nothing better, why not fuse the two.”

The alternative-angst pop musician isn’t intimidated by her fitness content creator opponent. The singer explained that she’s been in the gym everyday for the past year working for this moment.

“I’ve seen some things online and she’s putting in work, but I think I have the length advantage and power, speed going for me,” said the singer.

Tickets for the event can be bought on eventbrite, linked on Influencer Fight Leagues Instagram @influencerfightleague . The event will also be live streamed on Bxngtv.com.