Boxing part of Nevada Day

Nevada Day celebrations have become a staple of Carson City with carnivals, plenty of food and of course the parade, that pretty much shuts the city's streets down for much of the day.

But for Vic Bruno, Nevada Day means boxing.

"I like the Nevada Day fight because I feel like a part of the community, not only as a boxing club, but as an individual," said Bruno owner of Bruno's Boxing Club. "When first started the club, I always heard there was boxing on Nevada Day and there was no boxing.

"I think it was Mayor Marv (Teixeira), who called me and said he knew I had a boxing club and if I'd be willing to put on a boxing match on Nevada Day."

That was 10 years ago. Now Bruno is putting on his 9th annual Silver State Rumble in which 36 amateur fighters are scheduled to face off at the Carson Community Center Gym at 3 p.m. today.

The event features fighters as young as 8 year old, and from 50-pounders to heavyweights.

The main event is Gio Magana against Ulies Soriano, both 17-year-old 132-pounders.

Briggs Foreman will face Jordan Weber in the semi-main event. Weber, a sophomore at Carson High School, lost to Foreman in his first-ever fight.

"Last time I lost by decision," Weber said. "I think I'm going to do better this time because I train harder (now). I've got more experience from my last two fights."

Also fighting are heavyweights Gabe Sanchez and Bubba Dupree along with Dieago Elizondo facing Josh Santana. Elizondo, the younger brother of local fighter Chuy Elizondo, is only 10 years old but already has 20 fights to his credit as he continues what has become a family tradition.

"I want to become a professional boxer so I can show people what I like," said Elizondo, whose 9-year-old nephew Christian Avalos is also fighting. "I want to be a better person than other people, like other people in gangs and stuff. i just want to be a professional boxer and make our life a good life."

The Rumble is just one of several Bruno's Boxing Club puts on during the year. Bruno charges just $25 a month for fighters to use his gym, a price he said doesn't exactly cover all the bills.

"We have to put these shows on to keep the club open," Bruno said. "And plus these kids, they get to compete. They get to a lot of different places, Vegas, we go to Oregon, we've gone to Sacramento. We compete about twice a month, whether it's our own show or somewhere else.

"I think what (boxing fans) are going to see is what they'd like to see when they watch the pros. Me, myself, I don't like the pro fights because I don't like what I'm seeing. What they're going to see is athletes, who know how to box, who have been trained well but they're young. Fighting for nothing more than pride."