In a sport as disorganized and politically controlled as boxing, it?s not uncommon to see the sport?s two most important entities — the fighters and the fans — get the short end of the stick.
Alonzo Benezra wants to see that change.
?It?s about the fighters and it?s about the fans,? said Benezra, the creator and organizer of the first annual Box Fan Expo. ?That?s the primary things. All the rest is secondary.?
Modeled after a similar annual event put on by the UFC, the first Box Fan Expo will take place on Saturday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT at the Las Vegas Convention Center on the same day as Floyd Mayweather Jr.?s rematch against Marcos Maidana at the MGM Grand Arena (9 p.m. ET, Showtime PPV).
?It?s going to be quite an experience for the boxing industry, as well as the fans who deserve this and need this,? Benezra said. ?Finally they get a chance to meet their boxing heroes and it?s a chance for the promoters to tap into the fans that never get to see the fighters face to face. We want the fighters to make money and brand whichever product they want to brand.?
Fans can expect to get a chance to meet some of boxing?s most popular names, past and present, including fighters, trainers, promoters and broadcasters. Some of the confirmed names include Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr., Riddick Bowe, Juan Manuel Marquez, Sergio Martinez, Robert Guerrero and Brandon Rios, with more constantly being added.
After watching the success of the UFC Fan Expo, Benezra had a vision of a similar event for boxing.
?When you watch the UFC, you see that they are branding their company so well and have really set the mark,? Benezra said. ?I want to salute them as they are showing us how to do this.?
Benezra, however, was quick to point out an obvious hurdle between the potential success of his event and that of the UFC — organization. Yet, despite the clear advantages of the UFC?s linear structure — with all entities ultimately falling under one flag — Benezra sees his event helping boxing get closer to a similar vision.
?Boxing is so fragmented, but because of that, it?s a chance to take all these fragmented pieces and come together under one roof and show the world we can come together when it?s for the fans,? Benezra said. ?This event was only built for the fans. But it also gives the boxing industry an opportunity to network in between for those who haven?t had the chance to connect.
?I?m sure there are going to be deals made at the expo and we welcome every single angle. We just wanted to create a platform for the fighters to have a chance to promote themselves.?
Getting boxing?s biggest rivals, from a promotional sense, to come together under one roof would surely be a rare occurrence for the sport. But it?s all part of Benezra?s long-term vision for the event, which would annually take place on the weekend of the sport?s biggest fight.
The way Benezra sees it, boxing?s hard-core fan base will always be there to support the sport through thick and thin. But for the sport to truly cultivate new fans, there needs to be harmony, with its biggest players coming together to put the fans first.
?The message that I want to send to the boxing industry and to the top promoters is that they should support Box Fan Expo 100 percent because, in return, it will come back to them,? Benezra said. ?Imagine if they have all of their fighters coming together under one roof. This is going to be the most powerful event of the year because you are having all of these fans and all of these countries and top celebrities together. How can anyone compete??
Tickets for the event are $30 in advance online and $40 at the gate. Fans can visit the Box Fan Expo website for more information.
