Hottest ticket in town, Danny Roman vs. Chris Martin

In 2013, Chris “The SD Kid” Martin was the headliner on the latest Thompson Boxing Promotions Show at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif. Two years later, it appears he’s still a headliner. This time around he’s being challenged by one of the fighters who got his start on his undercard. Some things change, others don’t.

Thompson Boxing Promotions is celebrating their 15 years in the boxing business in a big way with a fight card featuring the always exciting super bantamweight Christopher “Marvelous” Martin (28-5-3, 9 KOs) from San Diego in an eight-round match against Danny “The Baby Face Assasin” Roman (14-2-1, 5 KOs) from Garden Grove, Calif. at the beautiful Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif. At this point in their careers, this is what you would call a 50-50 match-up of two outstanding boxing technicians. If you were to bet everything you have on either with the local bookie, it’s likely he’d be giving you even odds on the outcome. We all knew this day was coming because the two men are like bookends in height, weight, power and now the all important experience level. Great fights, great match-ups come and go, but the true boxing fan is always on the lookout for these special match-ups and when they come, they wouldn’t miss it for all the tea in China.  

Garden Grove’s Daniel “The Baby Face Assasin” Roman goes for his seventh straight victory on Friday Night when he faces San Diego’s Christopher “The San Diego Kid” Martin. Photos: Carlos Baeza/Thompson Boxing Promotions

Roman, who is blazing hot after six straight wins, has been routing his opponents. He started his streak in 2014 with a second round knockout of Jose Angel Cota. In June, he followed up with a near shut out of Jonathan Arellano, the talented counter-puncher. Roman knocked him down twice in the eighth to secure an unanimous decision with scores 80-70, 80-70, & 79-71.

Fast-forward to August, and Roman was busy knocking out Pedro Melo in the second round. A month later, he taught Jonathan Alcantara a lesson by sweeping a unanimous decision with three scorecards of 80-72.

Some people say maturity has set in. “Last year was a tremendous year for me,” said the recently turned 25-year-old. “Everything slowed down for me. I was able to see things before they happened, which made me real comfortable, and it was easy to find my rhythm.”

This year Roman continued his scorecard domination. In March, he faced the veteran Miguel Tamayo and managed to score two knockdowns, one in the fourth and another in the sixth round. He would cruise to an unanimous decision win, 80-70 again on all three scorecards. A month later, he outboxed the far more experienced Giovanni Caro and left the ring with the very same sweep on the scorecards of (80-72).

The memories keep mounting up. (top, left) Chris Martin, who first started out in the local USA Amateur Boxing Program, turned professional in 2006. He then went on to win not only the California State Championship belt but the WBO NABO and the WBC United States Super Bantamweight Championship belts. One belt we see slung over his right shoulder. Since his pro debut, Martin has now fought 36 times.

What a battle this turned out to be, Chris Martin versus Gary Russell Jr.

Along comes Christopher Martin who has to be Roman’s most difficult opponent to date. The 28 year-old Martin has gone the distance in memorable battles with Gary Russell Jr. (24-1, 15 KOs) and Luis Orlando Del Valle (19-2, 14 KOs). The only time he failed to go the distance was against Miguel Marriaga (20-0, 18 KOs) who is now scheduled to fight Nicholas Walters (25-0, with 21 KOs) for the world title. Martin has defeated such stellar opponents as Chris Avalos, Roberto Castaneda, Charles Huerta and Jose Luis Araiza plus he fought to a draw with Teon Kennedy in Las Vegas on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights.

“I know Martin is well experienced and he knows how to use angles to get inside,” said Roman. “I just have to stick with my game plan and not worry about the judges.” 

Not to overlook Friday’s opponent, but Efrain Esquivias (r) had his most memorable bout at the Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, Calif. versus Rafael Marquez when he knocked the legendary boxer out in round 9 of their 10 rounder, September 7, 2013.

On Friday night, Efrain Esquivias (l) will be facing Jose Haro.

On the undercard is Efrain Esquivias (17-3-1, 10 KOs, 134.2 pounds) who unbeknownst to the Promoter moved up in weight to the lightweight division. If the California State Boxing Commission allows him to fight at that weight on Friday night, he will likely benefit from his four and a half pound weight advantage when facing the younger Jose Haro (8-1-1, 6 KOs who on Thursday weighed in at 129.8 pounds, the maximum allowable for a Super Featherweight). Haro is from Salt Lake City, Utah where the boxers comply with the weight requiremments. Their fight is scheduled for eight rounds.

Juan Reyes (l) will be facing a fading Robert “Azabache” Castaneda (r).

(l to r) Juan Reyes and Robert Castaneda

In another of the marquee match-ups, they have 25 year-old super bantamweight 5’6” Juan Reyes (12-1-3 draws with just 2 KOs) of Riverside, Calif. who weighed in at 126.7 pounds, .7 pounds over his required weight limit. Reyes will be facing 23 year-old 5’8” Robert “Azabache” Castaneda (21-9-1, 15 KOs) from Mexicali, Mexico in an 8-round scrap. After going (20-1-1 with 15 KOs) in his first 22 fights, Castaneda has suddenly lost his luster over the past three years. He has now lost eight of his last nine and failed to go the distance on six occasions.

Time will tell, but some people are claiming the former Olympian Cesar Villarraga (6-0, 4 KOs) is one of the brightest prospects in the lightweight division.

Erick “Monke” Aguirre (l) who is set to face Cesar Villarraga (r).

Also on the fight card you have former Olympian Cesar Villarraga (6-0, 4 KOs), one of the brightest prospects in the lightweight division. Villarraga, out of Colombia, is looking to remain unbeaten when he faces the 24 year-old super lightweight Erick “Monke” Aguirre (6-7-1, 4 KOs) of Tijuana, B. C., Mexico in their scheduled six rounder. Aguirre has losses to Erick Ituarte, Fernando Fuentes, the late Pablo Armenta, Jose Galvez and a draw against San Diego’s Prince “Tiger” Smalls in Small’s debut. 

Since turning professional two years ago, Villarraga has split his time between Los Angeles and his native Colombia. He’s trained by the Southern California-based Danny Zamora. Villarraga had more than 200 wins as an amateur, and represented Colombia in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Villarraga, a southpaw, registered four wins last year and is coming off a first round knockout win over Jesus Angulo in February. The scouting report on Villarraga mentions his outstanding hand speed and knockout power from either hand.

(l to r) Luis Josafat Hernandez Castillo and Rigoberto Flores

In conclusion, they have the much shorter 32 year-old Rigoberto Flores (6-1, 2 KOs) from Northridge in LA’s San Fernando Valley facing 28 year-old Luis Josafat Hernandez Castillo (0-1) from Rialto, Calif. who was a 35 second, first round knockout victim in his first fight.

Fans can still get tickets, which are priced at $40, $60, and $100, by calling 714-935-0900, or by going online at ThompsonBoxing.com.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. PT and the first bout starts at 7:45 p.m. The Doubletree Hotel is located at 222 N. Vineyard Ave, Ontario, CA 91764, and can be reached at 909-937-0900.