Moments after Robert Marroquin’s unanimous decision victory over Gilberto Sanchez Leon, I was able to a quick ringside snap of Top Rank photographer Chris Farina next to newly-crowned WBC and WBO bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire. Farina has been a staple in the boxing world for the past twenty years and his work is recognized worldwide while Donaire is fresh off of a scintilating 2nd round TKO over Fernando Montiel last weekend at the Mandalay Bay. Photography obviously is a huge passion of Donaire’s as he surprised many people by making a guest appearance at the final press conference for tonight’s Miguel Acosta-Brandon Rios fight at the Palms Casino with his camera in hand. While it’s not uncommon to see Donaire out and about at the Vegas fight scene, it was different to see him in the role of a photographer.
Farina has been a part of Top Rank for over twenty years and has been caught up in a busy schedule, from capturing the Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley press tour, filming Miguel Cotto in training, and much more. Farina is always on the go and his work is always top-notch.
Mere moments from now the two men will capture what is likely to be one of the year’s best fights in the lower divisions when Acosta defends his belt against the aggressive Rios. Mixing Acosta’s great length and range with Rios’ penchant to hammer away on the inside figures to give us a fight-of-the-year type of battle.
