Return of the 'Romero' name in New Mexico
Romero Productions launches with March card; former champ Danny to return in summer

Story & photos by Chris Cozzone

Several bearers of the name ‘Romero’ are looking to infuse new life in New Mexico’s local boxing scene.

Danny, Juan and Dan Romero, Sr. will kick off “Romero Productions” on March 4 with a pro-am card; the former two-time champ plans to climb back into the ring by early summer; and, after years of sparring with brother-in-law Danny, Daniel Gonzales will turn pro.

“It’s time for a return,” Danny said Friday afternoon at a press conference in Albuquerque. “It’s time to help re-energize the local boxing scene here.”

In the past three years, Danny has fought but once—a lackluster draw against Alex “Ali” Baba last summer in Las Vegas—and has all but faded from the headlines in his home state.

“I had to wait until Pop was 100% better before I could commit to fighting again,” he said.

For the last two-and-a-half years, the health of his father/trainer, Dan Romero, Sr., has been touch and go, due to a failing liver. But, after a transplant last year, his health has been steadily improving.

“It’s hard to want to fight when you’re staring at your dad sitting in a wheelchair,” says Danny.

“But now it’s time. My brother Juan—the promoter on record—and I, want to keep boxing alive here. The way to do that is to help, both, the professionals and amateurs . . . .”

The March 4th card, billed as “Delivering the Knockout—Punches for PAL,” held at Sky City Casino in Acoma, NM, will be a charity event to raise funds for the Albuquerque PAL boxing club.

“People have forgotten that without amateurs, there are no pros . . .”

Well, no good pros, anyway. Both Romero and former nemesis Johnny Tapia were produced in an era that saw heavy amateur action. Since then, the amateur scene has slipped with each passing year.

The card on March 4 will not only benefit the Albuquerque PAL but will be a pro-am show with five amateur bouts and five pro.

Headlining the card are two New Mexican transplants—both from Illinois, but both now choosing to call the Duke City home. Both have been part of the Romero camp for last couple years.

Talmadge “Two Guns” Griffis (22-6-3, 14 KOs) will fight the main event, against an opponent-to-be-determined, in what will be his first fight as a cruiserweight.

Originally from Rockford, Ill., Griffis is 1-5 in his last half-dozen fights—all against heavyweights who dwarfed him in size and height. Now, after getting in the ring with names like Joe Mesi and David Tua, Griffis has slimmed down and will focus on his true weight class of cruiserweight.

Griffis’ stablemate, big 6’5”, 235-pound heavyweight Felix “Problem Solver” Absher will also make his pro debut on the card. Absher, a former Chicago Golden Gloves champion, will take on local heavy, little-known Alieas Martinez of Northern New Mexico.

Also on the undercard, Danny and Juan’s brother-in-law, Daniel Gonzalez, a.k.a. “Latin Heat,” will make his pro debut, against Jeremy Vigil of Santa Fe; Espanola’s Tony Valdez (5-2, 5 KOs) will end his two-year absence in the ring, against a TBA; and local female scrapper Tonia Cravens (1-1-1), who is coming off a six-round slug-out draw with Yvonne Chavez, will go four with Santa Fean debuter Tamika Portis.

As for Romero?

He’s still signed with Don King, but says, despite his lay-offs, their relationship is still good (“Don’s been great, and very understanding,” says Romero) and that a possible co-promotion isn’t out of the realm of possibilities in the future.

“Last year, I wasn’t 100% mental,” says Romero. “I thought I did enough to win the fight with Baba, but I wasn’t there.

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