Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Delivers in Yakima Valley

Roy Jones Jr. Boxing brought the boxing action to Legends Casino Hotel Event Center this past Friday night, and this was my first time attending. My jaw dropped at the new world of boxing. I was finally able to pierce the veil and see firsthand live and in person, and I have some thoughts.

Boxing Up Close: Live, Real, Surreal

I’m no stranger to live fights on TV. I’ve seen my fair share of boxing, MMA, UFC, and, of course, I’m a huge fan of WWE Wrestling. I’ve even seen a couple of wrestling events live in person, but this was my first for boxing.

women about to bxo

With wrestling, I know it’s entertainment and that the people in the ring are co-workers and, for many of them, friends. They are athletes, and I’m not taking anything away from them on that, but I also know that one of their goals is to not seriously hurt one another.

After witnessing the first bout in the boxing ring, I had to temper my nerves from yelling:

“Run away; he’s hitting you, and you’re not defending yourself. Someone stop this! Just run away!”

I had to do a reality check on myself. They are really hitting; they’re purposefully inflicting damage on one another; that is their job; they trained, they’re doing it for my entertainment, and entertained I was. Especially in the 2nd round, where it was a K.0. within 53 seconds.

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Yelling At The TV

In many aspects of live entertainment, you don’t talk to the entertainment. Stage plays, stand-up comics, concerts. You can cheer, but other than that, you stay quiet and enjoy the show. Not in boxing. I was taken aback by how it seemed like you were actually encouraged to talk (respectful) smack, play 'armchair coach' and just flat out, as I’ve always joked in my time of doing stand-up comedy, “yell at the TV”.

boxers

I would say “they can’t hear you,” but in the boxing, the crowd had waves of noise energy, and when it was on a quieter note, the boxers would be able to hear your trash talk, encouragement, or coaching tips.

It was wild to me, especially the creativity of the taught!

“She’s Canadian, and her points are tallied in metric; you got this!” - my buddy Todd!

women boxing

Boxing Action At Legends In Toppenish

The show itself was phenomenal. Not a bad seat in that venue, and Roy Jones Jr. had the event live-streamed, which was also televised on Roku, so the whole thing had great production value!

boxing ring

Pyrotechnics, smoke machines, and amazing music to keep the audience entertained and engaged.

Ring announcer, ring girls, refs, coaches, and boxers all made for one epic night of boxing action in the Yakima Valley! I’ll definitely be back.

boxers in a ring.