Gabriel Fanous aims to have Red Owl Boxing stand out in an ever-changing boxing landscape.
Red Owl’s next show, Boxfest XVI, will take place on Friday, headlined by Deonte Browne versus Grimardi Machuca in a 10-round junior lightweight bout.
Fanous, the President of Red Owl Boxing, describes himself as a lifelong boxing fan who entered the sport to help a young fighter in his area. The result saw him catch the boxing bug.
He built a facility in Houston, and they broadcast fights from there. Now, Red Owl is taking the show on the road.
“At the time, there were only a few people focused on prospects,” Fanous said. “We have had success in Houston, and we are considering building another facility.”
There is a catch. Boxing is the most volatile it has ever been. With the entry of Zuffa Boxing and a major player like Top Rank Inc., currently not having a network deal, it is harder than ever to understand the marketplace. Having a set location is helpful as variables such as having the ring set in place, the seating set, and the cameras having set positions make shows easier to manage.
“I think what is happening for boxing is ultimately great for boxing,” Fanous said. “We have more prospects getting opportunities to fight. We have a lot of big players putting money into the sport,” Fanous added.
For Fanous, a key is a three-act structure of fights. He aims to have the main event, which he describes as a “crowning fight,” which is a consequential bout between prospects or fringe contenders. One of the main card bouts will be a “redemption” bout, which is a fight allowing someone to overcome a loss or battling back from adversity, and finally, a bout that is an introduction to an up-and-coming fighter, typically with accolades
On this card, Brown, 16-0 (11 KOs), serves as the main event against Venezuela’s Machuca, 17-2 (14 KOs). Brown, a 29-year-old from Morgan City, Louisiana, fought in April on the Red Owl Boxing card, defeating Dennis Contreras. Before that bout, in 2022, he defeated Jesus Saracho, a solid veteran who has pulled off a string of upsets over the past few years.
Machuca, 34, enters on a two-fight losing streak, most recently suffering a 10-round unanimous decision defeat to Branden Pizarro a year ago.
“This is a classic boxer versus explosive puncher fight,” Fanous said. “I think he is a talented kid. He is in tough, but we want him in tough.”
In the co-feature, Encino, California’s Saul Sanchez, 21-4 (12 KOs), lost his unblemished record in 2019 to Edwin Rodriguez. The two have taken distinctly different paths. Since then, Sanchez, now 28, fought for a title in 2024, nearly defeating Jason Moloney. In Sanchez’s last bout, he was stopped by John Riel Casimero in one round after Casimero failed to make weight. Rodriguez has taken no easy fights since his win over Sanchez. He drew with Joshua Greer Jnr and defeated unbeaten Edgardo Rolon Varela, but beyond that has suffered four losses. He enters the bout on a two-fight losing streak, with his last loss coming against Angel Barrientes in July by majority decision. It is a crossroads bout for two veterans in uniquely different but somewhat similar stages in their careers.
“I love giving a chance to somebody,” Fanous said. “He is trying to redeem himself from the last time they fought.”
Then there is Rashida Ellis, a 2020 U.S. Olympian, who will be turning professional at featherweight. Ellis is the sister of Rashidi Ellis and Ronald Ellis, and the 30-year-old from Massachusetts is looking to move quickly as a professional, given her experience in the amateurs. This can be seen with her starting in a six-round fight and her choice of opponent, Maria Salinas, 27-12-6 (7 KOs). Salinas, a 36-year-old from Saltillo, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico, faced Kenia Enriquez, Arely Mucino, Reina Tellez and had a draw with Nicola Adams.
“I think Rashida Ellis sincerely has a great chance to become a world champion,” Fanous said. “We like the fighters who want to take a chance to be great and want the smoke.”
Fanous’ vision appears to propel young fighters to meaningful fights.
“To me, this is a passion project,” Fanous said. “I am a lifelong boxing fan, and I am trying to put on a broadcast and make a television product that I myself would enjoy and love to watch. That is all I am trying to do.”
