Tony 'The Tiger' returns to boxing

By HÉCTOR NAVEJAS / Vida En El Valle
(Published Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 09:05AM)

Tony 'The Tiger' returns to boxing

Tony 'The Tiger' López never has shied away from a challenge or an opponent.

So it's not surprising López is throwing a right hand at the foundering economy and becoming a boxing promoter.

"I want to put back something Sacramento always has had but hasn't had recently," López said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon. "There has been a void in the Sacramento area in boxing, and I want to give it consistency."

Tonythetiger Promotions will present Night Out, Lights Out, a combination of five amateur fights and six professional bouts Aug. 8 at Raley Field.

Two of the pro bouts will be classified as main events. The winner of each will earn a $2,000 bonus.

Cosme Rivera (30-11-2, 22 knockouts) of Culiacán, Mexico, will fight Bobby Joe Valdez (9-4-2, four KOs) of El Paso, Texas, in one of the main events.

"I'm not a jabber," Valdez said. "I throw down, because that's what fighting is ... throwing down."

López said boxers respond to incentives.