Ricardo Lucio-Galvan is ready to answer the bell, but he needs the phone to ring before he can step back into the ring. Expect to see “The Dreamer” back in action soon.
After several months of negotiations, Lucio-Galvan has signed a four-year contract with newly licensed Las Vegas based boxing management group VegasStar Boxing. The organization is headed by Bill Nelson, a Las Vegas court reporter originally from Youngstown, Ohio, and from a boxing family with more than 50 years combined experience in the industry and partner Marvin Simeon, a Las Vegas attorney who works out at the Mayweather Boxing Club.
A 20-year-old University of Nevada, Reno, student, Lucio-Galvan has been hitting the books more than boxing opponents. He improved his record to 2-0, winning both by knockout. But the junior lightweight hasn’t fought since Feb. 16.
Now he’s leaving the matchmaking in the hands of a team that can move a career. It is exciting news for the local region, as most fighters in the area are unsigned and in the position of having to wait for the phone to ring, followed by contemplating stepping in as the opponent or continuing to have an inactive pro career. VegasStar Boxing considers Lucio-Galvan as a contender, not an opponent.
Nelson said: “I just turned down a couple of fights offered to me for him, but the guys had too much experience for him and I want to start him out right. I really believe Ricardo can go somewhere. I don’t want to put him in over his head.”
Lucio-Galvan will continue to live and attend college in Reno. If he succeeds in pro boxing, it should open doors for the scouts and management teams to stop avoiding this area when scouting talent, as has been the case in the past. Los Angeles and Las Vegas are natural cities to find talent and many of the smaller areas seem not to pick up the professional mentality of how the business operates. That lack of understanding has affected the Reno area for years, as it has featured prominent amateur trainers and fighters, but the lack of professionals and understanding the business side of the pro ranks has limited many fighters. For Lucio-Galvan, a gym rat who follows his own strict schedule and training regime, the date of his next fight is not a concern. He’ll be ready to answer the call for his management team and his community — and for his own dreams to come true.
Remember September
Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua overcame a slow start to TKO former champion Alexander Povetkin in the seventh round as 80,000-plus fans filled Wembley Stadium. Joshua’s victory keeps intact the unification showdown with Deontay Wilder, hopefully on April 13, assuming that Wilder gets past unbeaten lineal champion Tyson Fury on Dec. 1 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Fury defeated Wladimir Klitschko for the crown, but relinquished as he checked into drug rehab. Now back and with two wins under his belt, Fury will attempt to get back the belts and stature of a champion. I expect an awkward bout that will get sloppy, but in the end Wilder should prevail by late-round stoppage.
The welterweight division had another great fight to start the month, as “Showtime” Shawn Porter and Danny “Swift’” Garcia put on a show in Brooklyn, New York. Porter earned the close majority- decision victory. That bout was followed by the long-anticipated rematch between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin in which Canelo was awarded a majority-decision victory. I agreed with that on fight night and also after watching the replay. I scored the bout 115-113 for Alvarez.
HBO pulls plug on boxing coverage
Speaking of watching replays, HBO announced that after 45 years of televising boxing, it will no longer continue to be a part of the sport after an Oct. 27 telecast featuring middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs. It’s a shame, but all great things must come to an end.
The writing was on the wall, with top fighters in recent years signing with Showtime or ESPN. HBO Boxing was left in the hands of a gentleman in Peter Nelson, who maybe didn’t really know much about boxing and also seemed to have no interest in moving the brand of HBO Boxing forward.
It reminds me of a time when newspapers all seemed to have a boxing writer on staff, and when casinos in Reno and Tahoe regularly hosted events. When a CEO or sports editor takes over who isn’t a fan of the sport, boxing suffers and that seems the case with HBO. At least I can call and cancel my subscription on Oct. 28 and save some money. Remember that Showtime, which is now a hot commodity in the sport, also had a hiatus from boxing. With a few changes in management, perhaps HBO Boxing will reinvent itself in the future.
Don Chargin, fighter and promoter, dies at age 90
It is with sadness that I note the passing of the first promoter I ever fought for, Don Chargin. He died Friday, Sept. 28, age 90. The Hall of Fame promoter was famous for his weekly fights at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles and also promoted Sacramento champions Tony “The Tiger” Lopez and Loreto Garza.
I will be attending a boxing event at Cache Creek Casino in Brooks, California, on Saturday, which is the show Chargin was putting together when he passed away. His protege promoter, Paco Damian, is moving forward with the card because that’s what Don would have wanted. As senior advisor to Golden Boy Promotions, Chargin also helped groom Golden Boy’s Eric Gomez into the established matchmaker that he has become. Also recently passed away was former super middleweight champion from Germany, Graciano Rocchigiani, who died in a car accident. Among his title defenses was a 15-round decision victory over Carson City’s Nicky Walker in 1988.
— Simon Ruvalcaba
