Borizteca Boxing Promotions returns Friday to the Salon Mezzanine
The latest poster for the Borizteca Boxing Promotions show of Friday evening, April 27, 2018, showcases the ultra-confident “defeat me if you can” headliners.
As in the past, the preparation for an upcoming Borizteca Boxing Promotions show begins just moments after the wrap-up of their last show which in this case took place on February 16, 2018. Sometimes things can run as smooth as silk and other times the rough patches become a matchmaker’s worst nightmare. That being said, the promoter’s latest hiccup came this past weekend when DeWayne Beamon, one the show’s headliners, had to pull out of the show after having eye surgery. We mention Beamon because it was his mug that was prominently displayed on the event’s handouts and of course the original fight poster.
“No problem!” said CEO Saul Rios, “when we learned of this development, we quickly signed additional talent. Showman Rafael Ramirez (19-4-2) was available and everyone knows he’s a draw. Like Domonique Dolton, Ramirez will be going after win #20.”
Fast forward to Sunday, April 22nd and there was Ramirez, The Pride of San Diego, showcasing his skills to a hundred plus fans at the Bound Boxing Academy in Chula Vista. Amongst the many fans was Ramirez’s dear friend Rod Luck who himself was quite a personality while working in television at KUSI in San Diego.
Rod Luck, a TV sportscaster and newsman for 40+ years (c) was joined by (l to r) Borizteca Boxing’s CEO Saul Rios, Rod Luck’s bodyguard Jerry McCaw, Borizteca Boxing’s Director of Operations Lou Messina and Rafael “The Pride of San Diego” Ramirez. Photo: Jim Wyatt
After the meet and greet, the affable Mr. Ramirez went to work sparring with the formidable Ricardo Valdovinos, followed by jumping rope at record speed, hitting the mitts with Juan Medina Jr. the well-respected coach and owner of the Bound Boxing Academy gym.
One of the many pugilists coming to town to fight on Friday night, April 27th is Kronk Gym’s, Domonique Dolton. What makes Dolton such a magnet for the Who’s Who of boxing? It might be the fact that over the past 10+ years, he’s been training at the Kronk Gym in Detroit formerly run by the late Emanuel Steward. In the above photo collage, can you name the five World Champions, the four current Pro boxers at the bottom holding up their pints of beer?
The 28-year-old, 5’10” Domonique “3 D” Dolton (19-2-1, 10 KOs) is from Sterling Heights, Michigan, a 20-minute drive from the current Kronk Gym now located in Detroit’s west side. In his last bout on November 17, 2017, Dolton lost a mixed decision to a 23-year-old southpaw by the name of Jamontay Clark from Cincinnati, Ohio (13-0, 7 KOs) who is 6’2″ tall and has an amazing 80″ reach. On Friday night, Dolton will be facing Salvador “Changuito” Tapia (7-1, 6 KOs) from Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico who in his last bout, on February 23, 2018, won a unanimous decision victory over Ramon Barajas at the Palenque de la Feria, Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico. When you compare their opponents it’s obvious Dolton has faced the tougher opponents. He stopped Victor “Sina” Fonseca of Tijuana in the fifth round, plus he earned a mixed decision draw when facing Oscar Molina in Las Vegas.
The city-owned Kronk Recreation Center was built in 1921 and named for Detroit City Councilman John Kronk. Its golden years came five decades later when boxing trainer/manager Emanuel Steward took over the center’s boxing program. All told, 50 amateur boxing champions, 30 world champions, and three Olympic gold medalists came out of this gym. Its roster of fighters included Hilmer Kenty, Mickey Goodwin, Milt and Steve McCrory, Duane Thomas, Jimmy Paul, William (Caveman) Lee and none more famous than Tommy (The Hitman) Hearns, the first boxer to win world titles in five different weight classes.
The various online articles, print media articles, photos and posters that were sent out in every direction should have beaten the drum loud enough for all to have gotten the word: “there is only one place to be on Friday night and that is at the Salon Mezzanine in Tijuana to witness another great night of boxing.
