Thompson Boxing Promotions is going out the way they started.

Their first and last fight cards, 23 years apart, took place at a hotel ballroom in the city of Ontario, California.

What took place in between was a small promotional outfit that grew into one of the most reputable companies, dealing with some of the most powerful people in the sport.

Tonight, Thompson Boxing Promotions will end their series, which saw fighters become well-known champions in the sport or gave young prizefighters a platform for them to fight.

Luis “Louie” Lopez will face Benjamin Lamptey in the eight-round main event. At Thursday’s weigh-in, Lopez weighed in at 149.2 pounds. Lamptey came in at 152.7 pounds.

In the co-feature, junior lightweight prospect George Acosta will square off against gatekeeper Edy Valencia in an eight-round bout.

The card will take place at the Doubletree Hotel, which has become the main venue for Thompson Boxing cards that usually take place once a month. Their first card in May 2000 took place down the street at the Oak Tree Inn.

As Thompson Boxing cards became more frequent, they began signing fighters, both residing in Southern California or abroad. Josesito Lopez, Yonnhy Perez, Mauricio Herrera, Timothy Bradley, Jr., Danny Roman all became world titleholders and contenders who fought under the Thompson Boxing banner after making their pro debut or signing on as a prospect.

Fighters like Lopez (13-2-1, 4 KOs), who reside in nearby Corona, and Los Angeles resident Acosta (14-1, 2 KOs) built a strong fanbase as they fought often in Ontario or Corona.

Aside from the vision of Thompson, who passed away on February 10 at the age of 85, Alex Camponovo, Thompson Boxing’s General Manager and Matchmaker, excelled in not only putting on quality fight cards, but putting fighters in tough tests.

Camponovo was also the creator of Thompson Boxing’s successful 3.2.1 Boxing cards that took place during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fight cards would take place behind closed doors at a warehouse on the grounds of the Omega Products International in Corona.

As the popular ‘Path to Glory’ cards come to a close, both Lopez and Acosta are saddened by the news, but grateful for what Thompson Boxing did for their careers.

“It’s going to be a very emotional day for everyone fighting on the card, me included,” said Lopez, who lost by unanimous decision to once-beaten Angel Beltran in his last bout on March 10. “The Thompson Boxing family has been close to all of us who have been fighting on their shows. I want to thank everyone at Thompson Boxing for giving me the opportunity to follow my dreams. I will have a lot of family and friends in attendance and I’m going to leave everything in the ring.”

Acosta agrees.

“I’m going to miss fighting at the Doubletree under the Thompson Boxing banner,” said Acosta, who has won his last eight fights since losing to Ruben Torres, another Thompson Boxing fighter. “They’ve always treated me good, and I’ll never forget the support they provided. There is no other promoter like Thompson Boxing, in my humble opinion. They really cared about their fighters and built up a lot of guys from Southern California. I’m grateful to the entire Thompson Boxing family.”

Lamptey (13-11-2, 9 KOs), who resides in Accra, Ghana, began his pro career unbeaten in his first 11 fights. The 35-year-old has split his last four fights.

Valencia (20-11-6, 7 KOs) lost by unanimous decision to unbeaten Otay Eranosyan in his last bout on May 17. Valencia, who resides in the boxing hotbed of Culiacan, Mexico, has lost five of his six fights, including losses to Jessie Magdaleno, Enrique Vivas, and unbeaten prospect Tsendbaatar Erdenebat.

Also on the card, middleweight prospect Nelson Oliva (7-0, 6 KOs) of Los Angeles wll face San Antonio’s Jeremaine Chico Whittington (2-1, 1 KO) in a four-round bout.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at [email protected]

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