Combat sports in California is going on a hiatus through at least the end of March because of the global pandemic coronavirus, BoxingScene.com has learned.
On Wednesday evening, California Governor Gavin Newsom said that California public health officials have determined that gatherings of more than 250 people should be postponed or canceled across the state until at least the end of March.
By Thursday morning, the California State Athletic Commission officially advised Lights Out Xtreme Fighting, an MMA promotion, to postpone its show at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles to a future date. Thompson Boxing’s show this Saturday in Orange, Calif., headed by a fight between Michael Dutchover vs. Rafael Reyes, has also been forced to be postponed.
The move by the CSAC follows other major leagues like the NBA, NHL and MLS, who have all suspended their seasons in the last 24 hours.
“Changing our actions for a short period of time will save the life of one or more people you know,” Newsom said in a statement. “That’s the choice before us. Each of us has extraordinary power to slow the spread of this disease. Not holding that concert or community event can have cascading effects — saving dozens of lives and preserving critical health care resources that your family may need a month from now. The people in our lives who are most at risk – seniors and those with underlying health conditions — are depending on all of us to make the right choice.
“These changes will cause real stress — especially for families and businesses least equipped financially to deal with them. The state of California is working closely with businesses who will feel the economic shock of these changes, and we are mobilizing every level of government to help families as they persevere through this global health crisis.”
Los Angeles-based promotional company Golden Boy has a show March 28 at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. headlined by Vergil Ortiz Jr. versus Samuel Vargas and March 19 headlined by Joet Gonzalez versus Chris Avalos at The Avalon in Hollywood, Calif.
An official announcement has not been made yet by Golden Boy or broadcast partner DAZN as to how those shows will shape out, or if they will be rescheduled to a future date.
In a separate situation in New York, two Top Rank shows, one headlined by Shakur Stevenson on Saturday, and the other by Michael Conlan on Tuesday, will proceed without fans due to coronavirus.
BoxingScene.com’s Keith Idec has learned, however, that canceling both cards remains possible, depending on government mandates issued by the state of New York. In the meantime, only essential production and support staff, in addition to fighters, necessary team members and credentialed media will be permitted to attend the two cards.
Other boxing action in California for the month of March includes a show March 21 in Stockton headed by a six-round middleweight fight between Quillisto Madera and Alexis Gaytan. There is also a show promoted by Tom Loeffler on March 29 at The Avalon between Brian Ceballo and Brian Jones.
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist and member of the Boxing Writers Assn. of America since 2011. He has written for the likes of the LA Times, Guardian, USA Today, Philadelphia Inquirer, Men’s Health and NFL.com and currently does TV commentary for combat sports programming that airs on Fox Sports and hosts his own radio show in Los Angeles. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan or via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com.