Exactly one year ago yesterday, Golden Boy Promotions kicked off its Golden Boy Live! series on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes, an undertaking that led to 24 fight cards in a single year featuring hundreds of fighters in front of thousands of fans from numerous venues across the United States and Puerto Rico.
“When we created Golden Boy Live!, our goal was to showcase up-and-coming fighters to fans eager to see the next generation of superstars,” said Oscar De La Hoya, founder and president of Golden Boy Promotions. “We have been thrilled by our partnership with FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes and look forward to continuing our collaboration for many years to come.”
The Golden Boy Live! series continues this Friday, August 22 from the Allan Witt Sports Center in Fairfield, Calif. featuring Manuel “Tino” Avila vs. Sergio Frias in the main event.
“As FOX Sports 1 celebrates its first year, it’s great to have some of our original partners marking the occasion along with us,” said Patrick Crakes, FOX Sports Senior Vice President of Programming, Research and Content Strategy. “Golden Boy Live! continues to deliver quality fights, including three great fight cards scheduled over the next month. We’re looking forward to continuing to grow the relationship between Golden Boy Promotions and FOX Sports 1.”
Nine of the 24 Golden Boy Live! events featured main event knockouts, including its inaugural fight night from the Best Buy Theater in New York City featuring the recently crowned WBA Middleweight World Champion Daniel “The Miracle Man” Jacobs when he knocked out Giovanni Lorenzo in the third round.
“Fighting on the first Golden Boy Live! event against Giovanni Lorenzo was one of the biggest moments of my career,” said Jacobs. “To be at home in New York against a top contender and to win by knockout, let me know that I was on the right track to a world championship. Congratulations on the one-year anniversary and here’s to many more years on FOX Sports 1.”
Rising star Julian “Camaron” Ramirez spoke about his experience on the series adding, “When you’re an up-and-coming fighter learning and improving on your craft, watching my favorite fighters on television was how I got inspired. To be able to fight on Golden Boy Live! and to be the guy that people are watching now, is very exciting and motivating and I can’t wait to be back on the series.”
After kicking off the series in the Big Apple, Golden Boy Live! events landed in 13 different markets in 15 different venues from the House of Blues in Boston to the Alamodome in San Antonio and worked with various top local promoters in order to plan and execute the best events possible.
“Golden Boy Live! is a throwback to a great era in boxing when the fights were the main thing,” said Paco Damian of Paco Presents, a promotional company based in Woodland, Calif. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a big name or not; if you’re on this show, you’re going to be in for a fight where the fans are always the winners.”
Echoing Damian’s sentiments was prominent Texas promoter, Mike Battah: “Whether you’re a prospect or a contender, Golden Boy Live! gives boxers the national showcase they need to show their talents to fans and to the industry,” Battah said. “This series has provided great opportunities for the fighters. Look at Luis Collazo – he fought on the series and then made it all the way to the MGM Grand on one of the biggest cards of the year (facing Amir Khan on the Floyd Mayweather vs. Marcos Maidana Pay-Per-View Undercard). These weekday events give boxers a great outlet in which to showcase their talents in front of a large audience and build themselves for that next step. These are competitive, evenly matched fights in great venues and I’m proud to be associated with it.”
Over the first year, no venue hosted more Golden Boy Live! fight cards than Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. which hosted four series events. Speaking about the series’ connection to its’ most frequented property, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino General Manager Paul Ryan stated, “Fantasy Springs Resort Casino has worked with Golden Boy Promotions on various platforms, including the Golden Boy Live! series, to provide the Coachella Valley with quality boxing entertainment all year round. The popularity of the series’ fights at Fantasy Springs has been in large part due to the community support given to our local boxers inside the Golden Boy ring and we are eager to see the next generation of excellent talent come through our doors.”
Olympians Sadam “World Kid” Ali, Jamell Herring, Rau’shee Warren, Joseph Diaz Jr., Dominic “Trouble” Breazeale and Diego De La Hoya found homes on the Golden Boy Live! fight cards, many of whom were repeat stars of the shows. Those with championship hopes began vying for their chance to prove themselves on boxing’s most emerging stage.
“It’s been a great privilege to be showcased on Golden Boy Live! The exposure has been tremendous and I have been able to reach out to a lot of new fans. I am honored to be part of the Golden Boy family,” said Golden Boy Live! participant Joseph Diaz Jr.
Diego De La Hoya spoke about the invaluable opportunity that the Golden Boy Live! series affords aspiring champions stating, “To be a young fighter and to get such a great chance to compete on television from the start, I can’t thank Golden Boy and FOX Sports enough. You learn a lot fighting at this level and I can’t wait for my next fight!”
“Golden Boy Live! helped propel my career,” said Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas. “Getting to fight on television for fans around the world is an honor and a privilege for any fighter. I can’t wait to get invited back!”
“Being part of this promotional company has been a great journey and I’m looking forward to watching another great show on Friday night. I’m very excited and grateful to be part of this series,” added repeat Golden Boy Live! fighter Antonio “Relentless” Orozco.
With shows twice a month, Golden Boy Promotions took advantage of different holidays, and happenings throughout the year including fights on Memorial Day, St. Patrick’s Day and even during the first ever New York City Super Bowl week with a special edition fight hosted at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
“We have hosted two Golden Boy Live! events in the last year and we are thrilled that Golden Boy and its relationship with FOX Sports 1 have provided such a tremendous platform to showcase major boxing at Barclays Center,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Barclays Center.
“It’s been a great first year for Golden Boy Live! and the fighters who have been on the series always bring it when the camera lights are on,” said Malignaggi. “For a fighter to get the opportunity to perform on such a huge stage is a big deal and they’ve embraced it. Just look at Daniel Jacobs, a few months ago he was on Golden Boy Live! against Giovanni Lorenzo and now he’s a world champion. This show builds stars and champions.”
