SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio boxer Vincent Siordia, a Filipino-American, was invited to audition for the Philippines National Team to fight in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. He made the team, but the Olympics were moved to this summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Siordia trained once more to represent his native country this July, but was told he’d have to wait to compete in the next Olympic cycle in 2024 due to a lack of prior international experience.
It was a place to work, improve yourself and admire the poster covered walls, each displaying some of the biggest fights in boxing and Leija’s career. Thanks to the pandemic, the gym has hosted its last client. ChampionFit Boxing Gym is no more. Say hello to Leija Boxing and Fitness, located near the intersection of Loop 410 and Broadway. Ad“It’s strange being here, it’s like being in someone else’s house,” Leija said last week to KSAT 12 Sports.
SAN ANTONIO – After competing in heavyweight boxing, Robert Luna and his sons, Robert Luna Jr. and Tony Luna, created boxing programs for other gyms before launching their own. It’s been 24 years since they introduced the “boxing as a workout” concept to San Antonio and now they are located at 257 Stonewall in San Antonio. Not only do they train professional boxers, they offer workouts for everyone and they have an open gym with flexible hours. For more information, click here.
SAN ANTONIO – If you’re looking to knock-out those 2021 fitness goals, San Antonio-native and 2-time world boxing champion Jesse James Leija can help you do just that. Classes and personal training are currently available at the Leija Boxing & Fitness gym off 6824 San Pedro Ave., but the new gym will be located at 8418 Broadway--closer to Loop 410. The goal is to have plenty of space to keep the social distance while maintaining their class loads and that means the San Pedro location will close. The new gym should be opening in the next few weeks, be sure to follow Leija and his gym on Instagram. For more information on classes and personal training, click here.
SAN ANTONIO – Some people leave Las Vegas winners. On Saturday, “Bam” Rodriguez (12-0, 8 KOs) will face Mexico’s Saul Juarez (25-12-2, 13 KOs) in a junior flyweight bout at “The Bubble” in the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Rodriguez, who left for Las Vegas today, has been training for this fight since late September because his third fight of the year had been canceled twice before. No-Contest and AftermathA lot of people in the boxing world were really looking forward to the rematch between Joshua Franco and Andrew Moloney. “Honestly, I don’t even know how it started, I just know it got heated after the fight,” explained Rodriguez.
According to multiple sources, including one close to the negotiations, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez will make his return to the Alamodome on Saturday, December 19. 🇲🇽 Mi próxima pelea será en el @Alamodome de SATX, este 19 de dic vs @CallumSmith23 🥊 Venta de boletos miércoles 25. 🇺🇸 My next fight will be at the @Alamodome in SATX, this upcoming Dec 19th vs @CallumSmith23 🥊 Ticket sale Wed 25th. @MatchroomBoxing @DAZNBoxing #CaneloSmith pic.twitter.com/4B68BzJwF8 — Canelo Alvarez (@Canelo) November 20, 2020Canelo (53-1-2, 36 KOs) will be facing Britain’s Callum Smith (27-0, 19 KOs) in a 12-round super middleweight contest that will air live on DAZN. The fighters will be attempting to take each other’s belts, with Canelo owning the WBA “regular” super middleweight title and Smith’s WBA “super” super middleweight title.
San Antonio’s Joshua Franco was defending his WBA World Super Flyweight title against Australia’s Andrew Moloney, the man Franco took the belt from in June. Franco’s right eye immediately began to swell badly. At the end of the second round, Franco’s right eye was completely swollen shut. Multiple reviews aired showing what members of the broadcast believed to be the left jab by Moloney to cause the swelling of Franco’s right eye. After almost a half-hour of review, it was announced that the swelling was due to a accidental head-butt and Franco retained his championship belt.
It was also the first successful defense for a world title by a San Antonio boxer in history. “El Profesor” took that belt away from Moloney in late June and was the talk of the boxing world through the summer. “By comparison, I think my trilogy was way tougher than my fight with Moloney,” said Franco to KSAT 12 Sports Thursday. Franco Moloney 2 will be the co-main event under the Terence Crawford vs. Kell Brook welterweight title bout. Daniel P. Villanueva has worked with KSAT 12 Sports for over 17 years and is an award-winning sports producer.
By the next round, Karl’s momentum and speed slowed down considerably. By the sixth round, Barrios stepped on the gas pedal. I was just being patient and I was ready for a 12 round fight. “I’d give myself a B (for the fight),” Barrios said. 37 of Barrios' 121 landed punches were body shots #BarriosKarl pic.twitter.com/FZZRftJSw6 — CompuBox (@CompuBox) November 1, 2020“Part of my style is attacking the body,” explained Barrios.
“Come Saturday night, it’s going to be an explosive night of boxing throughout this whole card. I couldn’t imagine a better co-main event.”Barrios received mixed reactions from the crowd when he won his title belt on September 28 of last year. Saturday night, I’m going to show everyone how I’ve improved.”Karl is three years older than Barrios and has never fought for a belt in his professional career. “I come to fight, I’m rough and ready and I’m coming to win any way possible," said Karl. Saturday’s fight night will be the first in the nation to have fans present since the start of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States.
SAN ANTONIO – Towards the end of 2019, no one could have predicted that the Alamodome could host two major boxing events this year. First, Mexico’s rising star Jaime Munguia crushed Gary O’Sullivan in January, which was the first big boxing event of 2020. Although he does enjoy his current surroundings, the undefeated fighter added, “I don’t picture myself living anywhere else other than San Antonio. The same rules will apply for fighters, personnel and media this week in downtown San Antonio. Thursday will be the main event press conference for Gervonta Davis and Leo Santa Cruz starting at noon.
SAN ANTONIO – The boxing world continues to schedule big fights as the end of 2020 approaches. The title fight will be the co-main event heading into the Terence Crawford and Kell Brook bout live on ESPN. Best of luck to @JoshuaFranco_ on his rematch and @KendoTremendo on his fight Saturday night! “Vargas hasn’t really been tested like this, going up against fighters like me, someone who causes trouble to elite fighters,” said Castaneda. He moved his training camp to Houston for five weeks to work with fighters including Regis Prograis and Miguel Flores.
SAN ANTONIO – It’s finally official: boxing is returning to the Alamodome and fans will be allowed to be in attendance. This will be the first boxing event in the United States to have fans present since the start of the coronavirus outbreak. “I’m very excited for my first title defense to be back home at the Alamodome,” Barrios said to KSAT 12 Sports Thursday. “Last fight I had (in San Antonio) was a sensational turnout and I know October 31st will be no different. According to the Alamodome events staff, 11,000 fans will be allowed inside for the fights.
– San Antonio’s world champ is coming home to defend his world title. Barrios has fought in San Antonio four times but never in the Alamodome and never as a defending world champion. “I’m very excited for my first title defense to be back home at the Alamodome,” Barrios said to KSAT 12 Sports Thursday. “Last fight I had (in San Antonio) was a sensational turnout and I know October 31st will be no different. Leo Santa Cruz has fought in San Antonio before in 2013.
SAN ANTONIO If you dont know Jesse Bam Rodriguez, you will soon enough. The younger brother of world champ Joshua Franco fought in the same ring as his older brother who took home the championship belt back in late June. And if things keep going the way they are, San Antonio could see another world title down the road. Rodriguez (12-0, 8 KOs) won his light flyweight contest on Saturday in Las Vegas against Janiel Rivera. https://t.co/hO4SGpqBKU Mario (@Boxer_Barrios) September 6, 2020Kendo Castaneda sends out some love for "Bam" Rodriguez after his latest win in Las Vegas Saturday night.
SAN ANTONIO By the time Mario Barrios enters the ring as the world champ, it would have been almost 365 days since he won that title. On September 28, 2019, Mario Barrios defeated Batyr Akhmedov by unanimous decision to win the WBA World Super Lightweight championship belt. The Barrios vs. Karl fight will be one of four title fights on the Showtime/Premier Boxing Champions PPV card. Barrios told KSAT 12 Sports last year that he was more than willing to give Akhmedov the chance to fight him again. Karl is currently on a three-fight knockout streak after losing his second professional fight by technical knockout in 2018.
SAN ANTONIO Hector Tanajara Jr. was preparing for his second fight of 2020. Veteran boxer Mercito Gesta came down with food poisoning and their co-main event scheduled for DAZN tonight had to be cancelled. Sorry to announce, but my fight has been cancelled. Right now, there are no plans for Tanajara Jr. and Gesta to fight each other in the near future. Daniel P. Villanueva has worked with KSAT 12 Sports for over 17 years and is an award-winning sports producer.
