CAMARENA: WORKING HIS WAY TO THE TOP THE OLD FASHION WAY… EARNING IT!
Camarena makes ShoBox debut against WBC#5/WBA #8 rated Bradley June 1
By Moncayo Blackbull

DENVER (IB-May 18, 2007) – Boxing is a tough way to make a living and most boxers become professionals not solely by choice but as a way to make of a living.

There is big money in this game but the real revenue lies at the top. Let’s face it, how many fighters can expect a 20 million dollar payday. The truth is there is big money in boxing and promoters know this, so the hunt for the next Oscar De La Hoya is on.

Many wealthy promoters will lose plenty of money in their quests to find the next box office hit pugilist and many thousand-aire promoters will go broke trying to keep up but the quest will go on. Thus continues the problem.

Back in the day champions became champions because of the talent and skill they possessed. Fighting whoever they put in front of them. The public knows skill when they see it, why do you think De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather jr. broke the revenue records? You don’t see people flocking in from all over the world to see Jermain Taylor vs. Cory Spinks do you.

Promoters try and groom fighters to become champions in hopes of catching the big fish by having them fight inferior opposition when in reality they hurt promising fighters by limiting any real experience the fighter may need in order to prosper. When the time comes to fight quality opposition, these fighters are met with a strong dose of reality and fail miserably. And the fighters that are handed a world championship never become household names much less box office hits.

Well, you can remove Donald Camarena from that list of “Lucky” fighters that have the blessings of a promoter feeding them with a golden spoon.

Camarena has worked hard to earn a little respect in this game, and the success he has gained, can be accredited to outstanding skills, talent and a team that works on blood, sweat and tears. Camarena has no wealthy promoter stuffing the ballet box yet, he has managed to win five minor championships, including the WBC World Youth, WBC Continental Americas, and the WBC Intercontinental Mundo Hispano titles.

Camarena became interested in boxing at the age of 13 while hanging out at the 20th Street Recreation Center in Denver, Colorado. He would see boxers train day after day and slowly worked his way into the regiment training of boxing.

At the age of 15 and living in El, Paso, Texas Camarena started to fight as an amateur. Three years later with 15 fights under his belt, Camarena accomplished what most amateurs only dream of. In 1999 he won the 139-pound division in a Texas vs. New Mexico contest. He also won three consecutive Texas State Golden Glove Championships. In 1999 he also won the Junior Olympic Championship. In 2000 he won the 132-pound novice championship and in 2001 he won the A class (open division) at 139 pounds.

Camarena had his last two amateur fights in Colorado but his desire was to turn pro.

"I accomplished what I wanted to as an amateur," Camarena said. "I won the Golden Gloves."

"I tried to discourage Donald when he told me he wanted to turn pro," said Aurelio Martinez, Camarena’s manager and trainer. "But Donald's mind was pretty much set on turning pro."

Camarena received a call to make his professional debut in Florida and was contemplating on taking the fight. But the notion was short lived after he confided in his friend Martinez.

"I told him going and fighting someone in their backyard was not the way to start a professional boxing career," Martinez said. "Donald has too much talent to become an 'opponent' in this game."

Martinez and Camarena teamed up, trained hard, and on May 19, 2002 Camarena ventured into the land of professional boxing winning his debut by TKO.

Like the Houston Oilers under the direction of Bum Phillips, Camarena has been knocking on the door but can’t seem to walk through. This time around Camarena intends to knock it down.

Camarena’s professional ring record stands at 18 wins to 3 losses with 9 knock outs. Of the 3 losses, Camarena claims victory to 2 of them.

Camarena’s first loss was to Luis Arceo when he ventured to the sin city of Las Vegas.

“I still remember the ugly feeling after the fight, helpless, how can this happen, you’ve just been robbed and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.” Said Martinez

“And to make it worse, you have the promoter’s guys smiling in your face and shaking your hand telling you what a good fight it was.”

Since the fight with Arceo on November 21, 2003, Arceo has fallen apart and dumped by his original promoter while Camarena continues with a promising career.

Camarena accepts the loss to Paulie Malignaggi but disputes the decision with Herman Ngoudjo.

“Officials work for the promoter therefore they become near sighted, how can you go against the boss man. Expressed Martinez “Judges see what they want to see and discard the rest.”

In Camarena’s last contest he traveled to Canada and fought the WBC’s #3 rated fighter Ngoudjo and felt he won the fight, now he finds himself in a similar position by heading to California to fight the WBC’s #5 rated fighter Timothy Bradley in his home town on his promoters boxing card.

According to team Camarena the fight is well worth the risks of dealing with the hostile environments of home town fans and officials whom receive paychecks from the promoter of the show. Defeating Bradley will secure Camarena’s contender status and place him a step closer to the world championship he seeks. With the fight being televised on Showtime’s ShoBox series boxing fans all across the country will be able to see the fight and be the judge.

If you are going to ever challenge for a world title then fighting on Showtime’s ShowBox is a step in the right direction. Shinning like a superstar on Showtime turns that step into a giant leap.

The Camarena vs. Bradley contest will be the co-main event on ShoBox behind middleweights James Kirkland vs. Ossie Duran 11PM ET/PT and be held at the Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, Calif.

Tickets $35, $45, $55, $65, $85. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.chumashcasino.com/entertainment/ or by calling StarTicketsPlus at 1-800-585-3737.