It’s an event that puts Fallon in the national spotlight for one night in the summer.
The 10th annual Fallon Rural Rumble returns this month when professional boxers battle at the Churchill County Fairgrounds in front of thousands of fans. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the first bout is at 7 p.m. on Aug. 12 as Reno’s Oscar Vasquez and Gabe Flores Jr. headline the event, which was broadcast nationally on ESPN in 2014.
The annual boxing event unofficially marks the end of summer sports in the Lahontan Valley with the high school about to open its doors for the upcoming Greenwave season. It’s one of my favorite summer events in the region because boxing outdoors, under the stars and lights, is a great way to spend a relaxing evening while watching a professional sport.
Fans get to see boxers trying to break through the wall in the professional circuit like Flores, a 17-year-old boxing prodigy who makes his professional debut next weekend. Fans also get the opportunity to witness local and proven talent like Vasquez, who’s ranked No. 15 by the World Boxing Organization.
Outside of the ring, Fallon’s been fortunate to roll out the red carpet to the biggest names in boxing recently. Mills Lane, the famous boxing referee, came to Fallon several years ago as did Evander Holyfield. Unknowingly following Holyfield’s driver from Walmart to the fairgrounds and then watching him open the door for the famed boxer in front of the entrance remains as one of my favorite moments.
Advance general admission and ringside tickets are $20 and $35, respectively, while the price at the gate jumps by $5. General admission and ringside tickets are $15 and $25, respectively, for military. VIP tables begin at $500. For more information, visit fallonfights.com.
Greenwave registration takes place until Aug. 10
Students wanting to compete for the Greenwave this season will need to register at the high school today for football only, and then all next week for the remaining sports.
Registration times are from 8 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. at the main office. All athletes are required to complete the sport participation packet prior to participating or trying out for any sport for the upcoming school year. Packets can be found online at www.churchill.k12.nv.us.
CCHS athletic participation fee is $70 and the CCSD athletic participate fee is $50. Mandatory student ID card is $20.
Fall sports begin in less than two weeks with the first games scheduled at the end of the month. Fallon is coming off a successful fall season when the girls tennis team won the regional title and the volleyball, football and boys tennis teams qualified for the postseason.
A humbling honor from NNA
It was announced this week that the LVN received four awards from the National Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest for works published in 2016.
The LVN’s editorial pages placed second overall while a photo essay recognizing military heroes was named honorable mention. The LVN also was selected for General Excellence and nabbed a first-place award for best sports photo.
This job — or service — isn’t done for the awards but it’s nice and humbling to be recognized from peers across the country. Being awarded best sports photo is such a great achievement for me, the LVN and the community.
I didn’t take sports photography as serious as I do today, now that I’m shooting sports and portraits on the side with my wife. Before, the focus was more on writing, which was my strength because of my father’s mentoring and the internships and schooling at the University of Nevada, Reno. But now, I’ve been able to find the right balance between writing and photography.
It’s a great honor for me and the LVN and there have been many along my journey who have helped me go past my potential.
Thomas Ranson can be contacted at lvnsports@yahoo.com.