Here we are with another edition of ITR AZ Boxing Weekly. This one’s coming a little later in the week, but I wanted to make sure I covered most of the latest news. As always, we’ve got a mix of updates from the amateur and pro scenes. First, let’s dive into the pro side.

Tomorrow night at the Celebrity Theatre, it’s time for Iron Boy 73!

This is shaping up to be a stacked card, with many of the top local names set to fight. The lineup includes Joseph Rivas, Trini Ochoa, Checo Rodriguez, Jordan Martinez, Conner Goade, and more. This is going to be one hell of a show, you will not want to miss. Tickets are still available as of this writing and can be purchased at the box office. We did a brief giveaway for a pair of tickets on IG yesterday, be sure to follow us for random giveaways.

Also in action tomorrow night is 18-year-old sensation Damarrius “DMO” Watson. D-Mo turned pro in January of this year and will be performing for the first time inside the Celebrity Theatre. We caught up with him briefly after weigh-ins for this week’s fighter spotlight and here’s what he had to say:

Now that weigh-ins are over, the hard part is done! What is your first post-weigh-in meal going to be?

“My first meal after weigh-ins was spicy chicken wraps with chips on the side, along with a bunch of water and electrolytes.”

What are you expecting from your opponent tomorrow night?

“I’m expecting my opponent to come ready to fight. He’s been in there with a lot of good fighters, and I don’t take any opponent lightly. Regardless of his record, I’ve prepared for him the same way I do for all of my opponents.”

Your opponent has 36 pro fights, has been a pro for ten years, and has seen it all in the ring. How do you prepare for someone like this, knowing he’s already experienced just about every style?

“In terms of experience, he has a lot, but it doesn’t worry me at all. He hasn’t been in the ring with me yet. Whatever he thinks he does best, I’ll adjust and take that away from him. Although my record isn’t as extensive as his, I’ve been in the ring and competed at a high level with multiple great fighters, whether in sparring or in the amateurs.”

You’ve been very active this year, with this being your fifth fight of the year. How many more fights can we expect before the year ends?

“I’m extremely blessed to have stayed so active, but I try not to set expectations for things like that. I believe God is going to open up opportunities when they’re meant to happen. So, whatever happens—whether I fight ten more times or no more times—it’s all in God’s plan.”

At only 18 years of age, do you have a timeframe for hitting certain milestones in your career, or are you taking it day by day, week by week?

“Like I said, I try not to put timelines on things like that. When I’m ready, the opportunities will present themselves. I’m living in the moment and staying grateful for all the blessings I have and continue to receive.”

Lastly, what can fans expect tomorrow night, and do you have any final comments for everyone?

“Tomorrow night, fans are in for a show—from the walkout song to the outfit, and most importantly, the performance. Everyone there may not know me yet, but tomorrow night, they’ll remember the name Damarius ‘DMO’ Watson from Phoenix, Arizona. I expect them to leave with an urge to come back and see me fight again. I’m coming to steal the show—expect fireworks! I’m going in there to do what I do. I can’t say much more than that.”

Best of luck tomorrow night, DMO!

In other news, Solomon Okoronkwo (7-0, 4 KOs), representing T-Town Boxing out of Tucson, has just signed for the biggest step-up fight of his career. He’ll be facing an undefeated fighter from across the pond. Also on that same night, Emmanuel David Hernandez will be making his pro debut. I’ll be heading down to T-Town Boxing soon to gather more content for you all. Additionally, Julio Munoz Jr. will be in action this September.

If you missed it, Andrew “Hurricane” Hernandez (21-8-2, 9 KOs) has officially signed to fight Hector Camacho Jr. on October 12th in Durango, CO. The bout will be for the LBF Middleweight Championship. Best of luck to Andrew!

Now, onto the amateur scene. Big shoutout and congratulations to Marzela Catalan, representing Boxing Fit University in Tucson, for winning her second national championship this past weekend in the bantamweight division. She has a bright future ahead of her! Anyone who has met her knows she’s full of charisma, and when she steps into the ring, she’s all business.

Yesterday, Kingdom Boxing out of South Phoenix announced an exciting card for September 28th—Texas vs. Arizona! This should be a fun event and a great opportunity for us to show how we handle business in AZ. The show is scheduled for September 28th at South Mountain High School in Phoenix, AZ. Tickets are $25 for VIP and $20 for General Admission. For more details, contact @Kingdomboxingllc_southphx on Instagram.

That’s about it for this week. Look out for next week’s edition, coming earlier with full results from Iron Boy 73 for those who couldn’t make it.