This Friday night, Let’s Get It On Promotions and the Silver Legacy Resort Casino host the return of live championship pro boxing to Downtown Reno, Nevada as Kenny Davis Jr. is back home to defend his WBC USA lightweight title against Matt Conway in the ten-round main event. In the chief supporting bout, more than just local bragging rights will be on the line when Carson City’s Miguel “Tito” Elizondo meets Sparks’ Smathy Silva Gonzalez in a pairing of undefeated fighters.
Trained by his grandfather Jose Elizondo Sr., “Tito” is the latest in a line of professional boxers from his fighting family. Joining “Tito” on the card is his cousin Christian Avalos, who will fight Diego Dominguez in a junior welterweight bout on Friday night. Uncles Diego and Jose “Chuy” Elizondo turned professional after successful amateur runs as well.
“It is cool to get to fight with my cousin by my side,” says Elizondo, a three-time National Silver Gloves champion. “It has been a dream to fight with my uncles and my cousins. I just hope we both shine brightly that night.”
Smathy Silva Gonzalez (5-0-1, 4 KOs) also comes from a fighting family and is not a complete stranger to Elizondo, as the two sparred for eight to ten rounds early in the year.
“I’m not too familiar with him, but we did spar at the beginning of this year when I was getting ready for my pro debut,” recalls Elizondo. “I sparred with him two, maybe three times. I think I got a good read on what kind of fighter he is and what he will try to do.”
It is not often that two undefeated fighters from the same region agree to fight one another early in their careers, but Elizondo (2-0) has not shied away from quality competition yet. For the third time in three fights, the Carson City fighter will take on an opponent that has yet to lose as a professional.
“I never doubt myself going up against anybody,” explains Elizondo. “It just shows that I have a lot of belief in myself and my ability to win. My grandpa believes in me as well. He sees the work that I put in and the talent that I have. His belief in me helps me believe in me also.”
Elizondo turned professional just days after his 19th birthday with an exciting four-round dismantling of previously undefeated Yoel Sandobal Ochoa before his local fans and family at the Grande Exposition Hall inside the Silver Legacy Resort Casino this past March. While compiling a 49-20 record, Elizondo’s amateur career took him on the road often, so fighting with the crowd behind him was an experience the young fighter relished and looks forward to reliving at the very same venue this coming Friday.
“Just my family being there feels amazing,” explains Elizondo. “Pretty much all the fights that I had were at national tournaments, so they didn’t get to see me much and didn’t get to see me perform at the highest level, so it is good to be able to be fighting locally and for them to get to see me put my skills on display.”
Elizondo’s skills have had the Northern Nevada boxing scene buzzing since throughout his amateur run. Now entering just his third pro contest, Elizondo appears to have the tools to make his name known at the national level in the near future.
“Tito is a really special talent and we are excited to see his career begin to blossom,” says Elizondo’s promoter Terry Lane of Let’s Get It On Promotions. “He’s got the goods to go all the way.”
Elizondo aims to continue his upward trajectory and meet the growing expectations of his local fanbase with an impressive showing this Friday night in Downtown Reno.
“They can expect to see me prove that I am great and cut from a different cloth,” says Elizondo of those that come to see him. “They can also expect to see my hand getting raised at the end of the night.”
First bell is at 7pm at the Grande Exposition Hall inside of the Silver Legacy Resort Casino 407 N. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89501.
Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the Silver Legacy box office or by visiting ticketmaster.com.
CARD SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
