Parlier High alum was about to quit boxing until the De La Hoyas took interest in him
Boxing in Mexico was starting to take a toll on unbeaten Evan Sanchez.
Of his six pro fights, four were in Tijuana while the other two took place in Los Angeles.
Not that he minded boxing in Mexico, but he wanted to sign with a top promotional company.
He wasn’t getting any looks from anyone in the boxing world.
He was about to call it quits. How close?
“Pretty close – it’s because we were going to Mexico,” Sanchez said. “We weren’t fighting in the U.S. and nobody was helping us.”
Enter the De La Hoyas. And it was kind of by accident.
Six months ago, Joel De La Hoya went to a Southern California boxing gym to check on a prospect.
His attention soon turned to Sanchez, a Clovis native, as the 21-year-old dropped his sparring partner.
De La Hoya wanted to see more and invited Sanchez back to Los Angeles to spar with another fighter.
De La Hoya was more than pleased and Sanchez’s future was handed over to Oscar De La Hoya, Joel’s brother and the founder of Golden Boy Promotions.
The former world champion didn’t hesitate.
Golden Boy Promotions signed the Parlier High graduate to a five-year contract in early January and Sanchez will make his debut with the company Feb. 14 at the Honda Center in Anaheim.
Joel De La Hoya said Golden Boy is excited to add Sanchez (6-0, five knockouts) to the fold and will develop him before possibly having him fight in the central San Joaquin Valley.
“That’s all it takes – that one break,” De La Hoya said. “That’s something I asked his dad as well. ‘What’s going on? Why hasn’t anyone signed you guys? Why aren’t you guys out with a bigger promotional company right now?’ I’m glad to meet him and fell in love with the kid. ... We’re going to take him far.”
Sanchez, once a bag handler at Fresno Yosemite International Airport, met with supporters Wednesday in Parlier and is relishing the opportunity to fight for Golden Boy Promotions.
“It is a big blessing,” he said. “I was about to quit and this blessing came into my life and motivated me more to push myself. ...
“Everything else will fall into place.”
Anthony Galaviz: 559-441-6042, agalaviz_TheBee
This story was originally published January 22, 2020 at 4:32 PM.
