Fight Town Texas

If Afghanistan is the graveyard of empires then San Antonio might be the graveyard of out of town boxing promoters who come from other cities hoping to strike it rich here. Do you remember seeing fights at Randy’s Rodeo on Bandera Road but do not recall who fought or who the promoter was? Perhaps you remember the Godfather of all sports writers in these parts the late Dan Cook reporting on yet another out of town boxing promoter who disappeared with the gate receipts, a trail of hot checks, unpaid fighters and creditors holding worthless IOU’s?

Make no mistake about it San Antonio is a fight town with a rich history of boxing in the River City. In 1979 the fight of the year was the Mike Ayala vs. Danny "Little Red" Lopez fight. That fight ended in the 15th round when Ayala was knocked out. It was a fight that likely makes every knowledgeable fan’s list of 100 Greatest Fights of All Time

Controversy inside the ring has surfaced in San Antonio too. In September of 1993 more than 56,000 fans saw Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker robbed of a victory over the greatest champion Mexico ever produced in Julio Cesar Chavez, Sr. Standing on my chair that night from my $600 ringside seat I even managed to get a glimpse of promoter Don King’s hair. Thankfully only once. The ring apron that would be blocked from every set of eyeballs in the dome was selling for $50,000 and in the words of King’s representative "it’s an awesome deal". Earlier on that card Jesse James Leija fought Azumah Nelson to a draw despite an incorrect announcement that Nelson won. A year later Nelson would lose his championship belt to Leija.

2012 San Antonio was graced with three fight promotional efforts. Bob Arum’s Top Rank Boxing, Leija-Battah Promotions (LBP) in partnership with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions and Zeferino Entertainment of Kingman, Arizona.

Looking at each of these and seeing their most recent efforts it’s easy to see who is coming out on top, the clear winner was San Antonio’s boxing fans.

Top Rank recently brought in Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. to fight a tough veteran contender, Marco Rubio. It was a great fight for San Antonio and drew 18,000 fans to the Alamodome.

Leija-Battah in concert with Top Rank brought in Kelly Pavlik, a former world champion who has worked himself back into contention. Again the San Antonio fan was treated to a great night of boxing. Leija-Battah promoted another card "Cinco De Mayo" featuring great young fighters like Kennedy high school senior Javier "The Pitbull" Rodriguez and national prospect Ivan "Bam Bam" Najera.

Think Jesse James Leija and Mike Battah were finished trying to establish San Antonio as their turf? Hardly as three more cards were promoted each one with great fighters and great action in and out of the ring. Bryan Vera defeated Sergio "The Snake" Mora in a internationally televised event at the Alamodome. Next up on their promotional schedule was Olympic Silver medalist Rocky Juarez knocking out El Paso’s tough Antonio Escalante. The year was capped off with a sold out Christmas event at the Villita Assembly Hall.

These were exactly the type of fight cards San Antonio not only wants but deserves.

Zeferino Entertainment brought in an out of shape Hector "Macho" Camacho, Jr. who once fought Leija in a fight where both fighters suffered cuts from accidental head butts. But it was Camacho who, ahead on the judges cards, did not want to continue, a decision that dogs him to this day.

Zeferino's card also featured four competitive and exciting local match ups featuring hard hitting Kente Sipio Cook, Christina Ruiz, Joseph Rios (pictured above, right with Joel Garza) and Rolando Campos. But Zeferino couldn’t sell out Maverick Plaza, an outdoor venue. In spite of the promoter cutting deals out on the sidewalk the summer heat worked against him. But when it comes to working the crowd give Zeferino Ramirez credit (pictured above right) San Antonio is a very tough nut to crack.

Looking at each of these promotional companies this is clear, they are not equals. Top Rank is the oldest and most successful of the three. Bob Arum’s deep pockets are unmatched in the sport at this time. His library of past fight films alone could bring $100 million if they went on the market. He is a Fight Maker who has fought long and hard for his place at the head of the table. His company will continue without him when father time finally gives him the 10 count.

But not just anyone can come into San Antonio and dislodge the local appeal of two time world champion Leija. But the public is fickle and memories can be short. Bringing in Chavez was Arum's way of sending a message he has no intention of ceding San Antonio to anyone. But that messaage might seem like catnip to Oscar De La Hoya (pictured above right in an updated photo from April 2013).

So LBP joined forces with boxing super star turned promoter, Oscar De La Hoya to form a venture that will put nationally respected competitive fights in the ring. What remains to be seen is how the heated rivalry between De La Hoya and Arum affects the San Antonio boxing scene. For now it appears the city will benefit as each promotional company wants to come out on top.

A clear advantage Leija-Battah have is this is their town. This is their turf. If they keep up their grass roots marketing then combined with the national profile and access De La Hoya brings they should enjoy growth and profitability.

According to promoter Zeferino Ramirez, who doubles as faded star Hector Camacho, Jr.’s fight promoter, he lost money on their first San Antonio fight card and were not planning to return to San Antonio if their Maverick Plaza card didn’t make money which drew less than an estimated 700 people including fighters. Ramirez sold tickets through Groupon so it’s doubtful he broke even much less made money.

Give Ramirez credit, he does it all. From selling tickets to paying fight managers before the bouts began while his wife worked the beer booth and handled requests from patrons. But I can’t help feeling this promotion is best suited for much smaller markets that don’t have the depth of entertainment choices San Antonio has.

Zeferino Entertainment has a clever offering, great music from a DJ, great ring lights, a professional ring announcer and post fight in ring interviews over the public address system by a competent announcer.

The one thing Ramirez forgot to do was produce a competitive fight for his out of shape main event fighter Camacho. Zeferino Entertainment should it fail in San Antonio will be because it has no advertising sales, no local sponsorship sales and because the Camacho fight was in the words of one ringside official from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, "a farce’.

One thing is also for certain, Leija-Battah produces as much excitement outside of the ring as they produce inside of it.


Copyright 2012 Joseph J. Calvey, Sr. All rights reserved. This article may not be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission of the author.