Dynasty Boxing co-founder Terry Lane speaks during Wednesday's media day for the Fallon Fights at John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks.
It is the best fight card in the history of the Fallon Fights.
With 11 winning records, an international, national and local spice, this year’s event has been years in the making for Terry and Tommy Lane of Dynasty Boxing.
The Lane brothers spearheaded the event seven years ago along with the city of Fallon and Churchill County.
About two years ago, the Lanes partnered with Dino Duva, a longtime family friend and boxing promoter. The trio formed Dynasty Boxing and have launched an aggressive campaign in China as well as scouring the U.S. for top-tier talent.
“This is the first fight we’ve done and it’s been a long time developing,” Duva said. “We’ve been working on this for five years, and with Terry and Tommy for about two years.”
At the Fallon Fights media day on Wednesday in Sparks, Duva said the road to China had been extensive, yet, has produced results. Dynasty has inked three Chinese boxers including Zhang Zhilei of Zhengzhou, Henan Province and the 2008 silver medalist in Beijing.
Zhilei was initially slated to fight in June, but an injury prevented his debut, according to Duva.
The Lanes, meanwhile, have also cultivated contacts with the Chinese government and boxing and sporting federations.
“Dino had been going back there since the Beijing Olympics,” Terry Lane said. “We started talking and it naturally developed. I think the Chinese knew that Zhang was going to be there heavyweight. That’s kind of the genesis of the project.”
Duva, though, said boxing is growing after only a recent introduction to the sport about 25 years ago. China’s first Olympic appearance in boxing was in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, while the country’s first professional brawlers came about several years ago.
“Boxing really didn’t exist in China until about 20 years ago,” Duva said. “It’s all been growing very quickly since the Olympics in 2008. That started the popularity of boxing in China.”
As Chinese boxers have started turning pro, it has opened a new market, specifically in the resort city of Macau, which is also challenging Las Vegas as the gaming capital of the world.
“He (Zhang) has always been the centerpiece for this model,” Duva said. “We have some other great Chinese boxers from the Chinese Olympic and national teams. This is the beginning of building a great boxing promotional company.”
Despite Dynasty Boxing’s growth in the Chinese market, the Lanes and Duva were quick to point out they have not abandoned U.S. talent.
One of their U.S. hopefuls is Reno’s Oscar Vasquez, who sports a 6-1 record in the flyweight division and was signed with the Lanes’ Let’s Get It On Promotions after a solid amateur career.
But the nerves are on edge as the three partners anxiously await today’s outcomes. Although the event is packed with a talent-rich pool and a soon-to-be Hall of Famer, the relationship with the city of Fallon is what really allowed the trio to have a premium show.
“We have Zhang, Osacar, Holyfield and ESPN, so it’s finally what we wanted,” Lane said. “Constant support from Mayor (Ken) Tedford Jr. and especially Rick Gray and Candy Dolan (of the Fallon Convention and Tourism Authority). They just got the job done.”
“I love these guys,” Duva added. “I hope we can keep bringing TV back here because it’s been unbelievable.”