Commerce Weigh-In Results & Photos

Tonight’s All Star Boxing’s fight card features seven bouts

Fourteen ring hopefuls weighed in yesterday in preparation for tonight’s “Battle of the Rising Stars” presented by All Star Boxing. Seven bouts are scheduled to take place in the Crowne Ballroom of the Commerce Casino located in Commerce, CA. The venue is new for the promoters, Ed Holmes and Pete Hironaka, who usually hold their action-packed fight cards at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello.

“Everyone’s been great here, especially Tom Malkasian and Haig Papaian,” says All Star’s Holmes. “The Commerce Casino has been so supportive. I also want to thank my friend Mike Sana, who’s a big boxing fan!”

His matchmaker Hironaka is also looking forward to trying out this new location, “We’ve been wanting to fight here for a long time. Now we get our chance.” He hopes to return to Commerce Casino for future fight nights, but in the meantime they will be back at the Quiet Cannon site on July 10.

For the boxers and trainers in attendance, there was an air of anticipation as the bouts drew near. “There will be great fights here, Ed and Pete always make sure of that,” enthuses Hervi Estrada of Team Estrada. He is another one who’s happy with the switch in locations. “I’d love to come back to this venue. Everyone knows where this is, it’s a good location.” His fighter, Hilario Lopez, will be featured in the main event against Aaron Martinez.

Willie Torres, Martinez’s advisor, said his welterweight is ready for battle, “Aaron’s been training for three to four months for this. He’s very disciplined, very dedicated and I’ve never had a problem with him training. And he recently won a title at San Manuel.”

Since their fighters will be going toe-to-toe against each other, Torres and Estrada jokingly sparred with each other in a mock face-off.

At the weigh-in were some other familiar faces from the L.A. boxing scene including trainer Clemente Medina (wearing a T-shirt with his fighter Alfredo “Perro” Angulo’s logo), Olympic Gold Medalist Paul Gonzales, “The Contender’s” Willie “Indian” Schunke, and trainer Al Stankie (“The Ultimate Fighter”).

When I first entered the room, the veteran trainer was hooked up to a body scan testing area by Negative Ion Inc., who offered onsite scanning for the boxing clubs to test out. Stankie’s always a character, willing to try anything. The outgoing trainer then introduced me to his fighter Mario Evangelista, or as the colorful boxing coach bellowed, “Super Mario from the Barrio Eeeeeee-vangelista!”, who Stankie predicts will win by a KO.

Hervi Estrada also braved the body scanning and was told he passed with a high 90% on all fields. The other trainers, seconds, and fighters razzed the likable Hervi a bit, but Estrada was happy to receive the excellent evaluation. Must be the boxing, we all decided.

Here are some snapshots from the weigh-in and the scale results.

6 Rounds
Aaron Martinez (148.75) vs. Hilario Lopez (156)

6 Rounds
Benjamin Diaz (170.25) vs. Danny Perez (178.25)

6 Rounds
Efrain Esquivias (121.5) vs. Kristian Magallon (122)

4 Rounds
Abraham Lopez (145) vs. Ricky Duenas (142.5)

4 Rounds
Anthony Jimenez (152.5) vs. Ruben Rivera (154)

4 Rounds
Chris Chatman (TBD) vs. Mario Evangelista (TBD)

4 Rounds
Ethan Cox (TBD) vs. Seth Colebrook (TBD)

Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
First bout 7:30 p.m.

All Star Boxing’s “Battle of the Badges”
Crowne Plaza Hotel/Commerce Casino, 6131 E. Telegraph Road, Commerce. Tickets start at $50. Call 323-816-6200 for more information.

Photos by Michele Chong: Esquivias vs. Magallon; Clemente Medina; Aaron Martinez; Hervi Estrada and Willie Torres; Ed Holmes jokes with Ruben Rivera; Whit Haydon, Seth Colebrook and Mike Finney; Ricky Duenas; Al Stankie with Paul Gonzales and Mario Evangelista; Team Diaz