TR PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM — Rivershot Boxing Club coach Adan Rodriguez heads to the ring for his fight with Scott Bruce. The match took place during Fight Night Boxing hosted by the Real Fighters Association. Des Moines' first professional amateur boxing event was held Saturday at the Recplex in West Des Moines.
WEST DES MOINES — Marshalltown was represented in the first-ever professional amateur boxing event in West Des Moines.
Fight Night Boxing, sponsored by the Real Fighters Association, is an event promoted by Gilbert Gonzalez of Clive, a Marshalltown native. He brought 22 boxers to the Recplex in West Des Moines on Saturday, including Marshalltown's Adan Rodriguez and Luis Garcia. Rodriguez fought Scott Bruce in one of his four amateur bouts. Garcia faced Artrell Durr in another amateur bout.
Gonzalez said Garcia agreed to fight on one day's notice.
“Holy smokers. That was incredible for that guy,” he said.
Gonzalez said he was pleased with the turnout, especially since this was the first event he promoted.
“I was expecting a decent turnout, but it was unexpected,” he said. “There were so many people that we ran out of seats and had to stand. The next venue will be bigger.”
Gonzalez plans to hold another boxing event in July and hopes Marshalltown will be the venue.
“There was talk about it,” he said. “That's where I'm from and there are some really good boxers. Marshalltown is a tough little town.”
Gonzalez also hopes to feature Tama native Jacob Youngbear at his next event. Young Bear was scheduled to compete in a Fight Night Boxing title bout for the cruiserweight title. Unfortunately, the match was canceled due to an injury to Young Bear's opponent.
“Hopefully he'll be on the next card,” Gonzalez said.
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Contact Lana Bradstream at (641) 753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradistream@timesrepublican.com.
