By Francisco Salazar

Manager Cameron Dunkin has always had a keen eye on talent in the fight game. Then again, look at the success of the fighters he has managed or continues to manage.

That includes the likes of Kelly Pavlik, Timothy Bradley, Nonito Donaire, and Brandon Rios, just to name a few.

Dunkin continues to sign young talent and is very high their continued progress will one day pay off.

A number of those fighters will be on display tonight at the Dixie Center in St. George, Utah.

In the main event, amateur standout and heavyweight Pano Tiatia will make his pro debut against John Orr in a four round bout.

Tiatia was an accomplished amateur, culminating in winning the junior world championships and the Golden Gloves over the last couple of years. He was also a standout high school football player.

At 5’9” tall, Tiatia may not pose much intimidation outside of the ring, but Dunkin said his skill-set is underrated and he will only get better. 

“He’s a really good person,” Dunkin told Boxingscene.com earlier this week. “He has fast hands and feet, but that left hook of his is something. He’s impressed me with how he uses his size and he can really punch.”

Tiatia also works at father’s restaurant in the St. George area, putting in 10-hour shifts.

Welterweight Carlos Sanchez has impressed early on in his career, putting forth a perfect record of 6-0, all by knockout.

He hails from San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico, but he spars in the Los Angeles, getting work in different gyms.

Sanchez faces Rashawn McCain (3-5-1) in a four round bout.

“Carlos has a lot of experience for a Mexican fighter,” Dunkin said of the 21-year-old Sanchez. “He fought about 185 amateur fights. He beat many Russian and Ukrainian fighters as an amateur. He’s extremely strong, but is quick on his feet. He has a lot of ability and he can fight. He will get better with the right trainer, which I’m looking for.”

Dunkin has managed many fighters over the years, but junior middleweight Zsolt Daranyi (8-0, 8 KOs) could be a diamond in the rough.

Daranyi squares off against Daniel Gonzalez (12-38-2, 4 KOs) in Daranyi’s first six round fight as a pro. Originally from Hungary, Daranyi lives and trains in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

“He (Daranyi) is a tremendous puncher. He’s the best puncher of all the young fighters I manage. He hits harder than any of them. He’s possibly the best puncher I’ve had. He tall (6’2”) and he has a very good jab. He reminds me a lot of (unbeaten light heavyweight) Oleksandr Gvozdek.”

Two other fighters Cameron Dunkin manages will also be on tonight’s card. Junior middleweight Donovan Cameron (2-0, 2 KOs) faces Jason Tresvan (0-4), while Joshua Jones will make his pro debut against Jason Thompson (0-6).

Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (CA) Star newspaper, RingTV, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing