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Arizona Boxing News & Notes with Don Smith: Changing of the Guard, Arizona Boxing News By Don Smith PhilBoxing.com Sat, 20 Aug 2016  Matthew Valenzuela. Boxing Fans, On Friday, August 12, Arizona Boxing/ MMA Commission Executive Director Matthew Valenzuela sent emails to his subordinates (officials) requesting a mandatory meeting (held on August 13) to make known his plan to leave his position with the commission on September 9 and announce that the native Arizonian has accepted a lucrative offer to become Regulatory Affairs Director with the Ultimate Fighting Championship Company. The new job will require Valenzuela and his family to move to Las Vegas, Nevada. Valenzuela became Executive Director of the Commission in January 2014 succeeding Director Dennis O?Connell. The commission is governed by the Arizona Gaming Department; responsible for finding a replacement for the departing Valenzuela. Matthew is waiting for the new director to be named so he can help with the transition. How much input he will have in the selection process is unknown? We talked on Thursday, August 18 in Phoenix at the conclusion of the monthly Commission meeting and he seemed at peace with himself and happy with his decision to accept a new career challenge after 6 ? years with the boxing commission. As for his legacy, Matthew points to a growth in number of boxing/MMA events staged under his stewardship which translates into new jobs and adds revenue to the state till. In my opinion the only major controversy surrounding his tenure in office was his odd decision to sanction the Roy Jones Jr. vs. Vyron Phillips fight at the Celebrity Theatre in March, 2016; his approval definitely raised a few eyebrows. Phillips, an MMA fighter with limited experience, was making his professional boxing debut and the legendary Jones sent the pretender to the canvas with a single punch ending any doubt of who was the pro and who was the con. The match was promoted as one feature of a televised reality show that received mixed reviews and the format will be hard to sell, again. In his defense, I wouldn?t wish the position of Executive Director on anyone. The salary and department budget is less than what it should be and the Arizona State Legislature calls the shots and meaningful changes to the commission will only come when the system is overhauled and the director is given real power. The first positive step would be to move the commission from the control of Gaming Department and create a more independent entity. The current system is antiquated; are you listening Governor? For some time, Arizona Boxing News & Notes has championed the need for concussion testing in the sport and despite the need for 911 type action, the head trauma continues. We are encouraged by the work of individual efforts of commissioner Scott Peters and Arizona State Senator Catherine Miranda to find a way to fund baseline concussion testing. Hopefully, the senate will pass a measure in January of 2017 to treat the problem We wish Mr. Valenzuela (a former amateur boxer) the best and thank him for his work as Executive Director and although we clashed on several occasions, it was never personal. His cautious and methodical approach to his duties served him and the commission well. We gave him the opportunity to make a farewell statement and he declined. Boxing Notes: Our prayers go out to Phoenix boxer Edgar Brito after hearing that he and his family are going through a serious and personal family matter. We prefer not disclose the nature of the issue; but, we hope it is resolved on a positive note?.Ryan Riddell is fighting on the September 3 Iron Boy card, not Brandon Riddell as reported in our last column; Brandon is his brother.?..Native American boxer Albert Alvarez hopes to follow his debut win at Casino Del Sol with a fight in September or October. Our research shows that the most successful native boxer in modern boxing history is heavyweight Joe ?Boss? Hipp who won the WBF world heavyweight title in 1999. . ??..American Olympic boxers Shakur Stevenson (NJ) and Claressa Shields (Michigan) remained in medal contention as we went to press. Shields won gold in the 2012 London Olympics and her gritty life story has the ammunition for a future movie?.Roberto Duran?s film bio ?Hands of Stone? hits movie screens nationwide on August 26?..Erik A. Valenzuela, no relation to Arizona Boxing Commission Executive Director Matthew Valenzuela applied for a Arizona State boxing License and was approved pending approval for a bond, a standard requirement. Valenzuela, a sponsor of undefeated Arizona boxer Luis Espinoza has hired Mike Sanchez Jr. to handle matchmaking chores and he hopes to debut his first show before the end of 2016 or in early 2017. One of the problems he may face is finding an affordable venue. Also local fans want to see fresh talent and recycling the current pool of area fighters isn?t resonating with sports fans with a thirst for competitive boxing?..Arizona Boxing Commission and Gaming Department PIO Amanda Jacinto will no longer be my go to person at the commission as of August 29; she is taking another position with the state-good luck! ?.sorry to hear that middleweight boxer Lenny Correa (Pro Edge Boxing) is off the Iron Boy #35 card due to an injury suffered while training for his debut. Heck of a nice guy; we wish him the best?..Five time world boxing champion Michael Carbajal joined Channel 12 Sports Director Bruce Cooper and news anchor Mark Curtis on EVB Live, Monday August 15 to chat briefly about the 2016 USA Olympic Boxing Team. He said most young boxers were more interested in the glamor attached to the Olympics and weren?t prepared to dedicate themselves to become a champion. On September 17 the Olympic Silver Medalist will celebrate his 50th birthday and we salute him for his boxing accomplishments and service to the Arizona community; happy birthday and many more. Tournament Action: 3 upcoming Arizona amateur tournaments on the calendar: Madison Boxing Club Sanction #13693 will be held at Greenfield Elementary School (7009 S. 10th Street in Phoenix) on Saturday August 20th beginning at 2 PM?. F-1 Boxing put up a ring on 9/10 at 18701 W. Thomas Road in Buckeye and they encourage everyone to come out and watch their smoker that starts at 1 PM. call Alfredo at 602-690-1209 for additional info. The Gene Lewis Tournament ((11/10-12) will deploy 3 rings and 15 officials at their annual tournament. The venue is located at 59 E. Broadway in Mesa. Check website for further details?..Call Sonny?s gym in Goodyear Arizona to register for his Masters show November 4-5; expect some soreness the day after if you compete! Iron Boy 35: Here is the latest dope we have on the Iron Boy 35 show at the Celebrity Theatre held Saturday, September 3 in Phoenix. In the Main Event, Jose Zepeda 25-1 squares off with Emanuel Taylor 20-4 in an 8 round title contest. The co-main features Carlos Castro (15-0) vs. Jorge Diaz Jr. (18-4-1) in an 8 round battle that could lead to title considerations. Popular Francisco C. De Vaca (15-0) takes on Mario Villela (7-3-1) in an special 8 round tiff and the undercard reads as follows: super welterweight Rodrigo Garcia 17-0 vs. TBA (8 rounds), Luis Espinoza (4-0) vs. TBA (4 rounds), Jose Canez (debut) vs. Jose Mora 2-4 (4 rounds), Daron Williams (4-0)vs. Israel Valdez 2-0(4 rounds), Edgar Ortiz (1-1) vs. Rafael Rivera 2-9-1 (4 rounds), former Olympic hopeful Adrian Servin (debut) vs. Yosigey Ramirez 1-2-2 (4 rounds), Jose Herrera 6-0 vs. TBA (4 rounds), Ryan Riddell (2-0) vs. Alejandro Diaz (1-1) (4 rounds), Tony Vargas prot?g? Eben Vargas (debut) vs. Enriquez Randolph 0-0 (4 rounds), Chris Scala (debut) vs. Otto Sandoval 0-2 (4 rounds), Jaba Khositashuiki (2-0) vs. TBA (4 rounds) and Daniel Garcia (3-0) vs. Eduardo Ortiz (1-0). Our thought: a strong card with some interesting matchups. Tickets are available online and at the box-office. Ariel Arismendez, highly regarded amateur, is on the card. Doors open at 5 PM and 1st bell commences at 6 PM?..arrive early for the best available parking space. Weigh-in site and time is to be determined. Ticket prices begin at $33.00 and ringside side seating is still available. Fight Hard Card: Welterweight Abel Ramos hopes to capture an ABO title when he fights a ?To Be Determined? opponent at the Legends Event Center in Phoenix on Friday August 26 in a pro/am affair that features 15 bouts (10 professional bouts) including the Arizona debut of amateur Devon De La Hoya, son of the boxing icon. Sean O?Malley (1-0) is a last minute drop from the card. The amateur fights start at 4 PM and 1st bell for the professional bouts commence at 6 PM. Here is a quick rundown of the professional match-ups: Main Event: Abel Ramos vs. TBD (8 rounds ABO Title), Andrew Hernandez 13-4-1 vs. Jorge Silva 21-11-2 (6 rounds), Keenan Carbajal 11-2-1 vs. Francisco Dominguez 7-8 (6 rounds), Joshua Zuniga 3-0 vs. Miguel Espinoza 3-1 (4 rounds), Edward Cebalos 4-1 vs. Shawn Simpson 2-0 (4 rounds), Adam Lopez 2-0 vs. David Courtney 1-3 (4 rounds), Hector Lopez 2-0 vs. Saul Gomez 1-0 (4 rounds), Ilya Usachev (debut) vs. Roberto Ramirez 2-2 (4 rounds), Adrian Taylor (debut) vs. Harry Langhurst 1-0 (4 round and Max Ornelas 3-0 vs. TBD (4 rounds). The Arizona amateur fighters on the card include: Ariel Arismendez, Fernando Martinez Jr., Zeus Pinder and Maximus Castro. Boxing junkies should like this card. Ticket prices are $35.00 & $55.00 and parking is free. The Legends Event Center is located at 4240 W. Camelback and the official weigh-in is on Thursday August 25 (5 PM) at Midway Nissan on Bell Road in Phoenix. Until Next Time! Click here to view a list of other articles written by Don Smith.  |
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