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Erick Ituarte Headlines ‘Locked n’ Loaded’ Friday Night from Ontario, CA

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ORANGE, Calif. (April 17, 2019) – Featherweight Erick Ituarte (20-1-1, 3 KOs), intent on working himself into world title contention, headlines “Locked n’ Loaded” this FridayApril 19, from the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif.  

Ituarte, who lives in Santa Ana, Calif., faces veteran Jose Estrella (20-15-1, 14 KOs) of Mexico in the 10-round main event.

Ituarte, a former Junior NABF featherweight champion, elaborates on his main event match up, his world title aspirations, and why Friday’s fight is one of the most pivotal of his young career.

Your last win came nearly a year ago against former world title challenger Carlos Carlson. Why the long layoff and do you anticipate any ring rust?

“I had a lower back injury going into the Carlson fight, but I didn’t want to back out because I knew I could beat him. After the fight, I started to feel more pain so I got an MRI and it revealed some problems. Thankfully I didn’t have to have surgery, but I was tied up with rest and physical therapy last year. Basically I had to re-strengthen the muscles in my lower back. I feel great now. I’m completely healthy with no issues. I don’t see ring rust being an issue because I got some pretty good sparring in for this training camp.”

How did your training camp unfold for this fight?

“I feel strong and ready to fight. I sparred twelve rounds for this fight so I know my conditioning is going to hold up. I feel comfortable and just anxious to get in the ring.”

What do you expect to see from Jose Estrella on Friday night?

“We know he’s a tough fighter. He’s shorter than me so I think he’ll want to fight on the inside and try to lock me up. I’ll feel him out the first few rounds and go from there. I like to pick up the pace as soon as possible so fans won’t have to wait too long to see some fireworks.”

Do you feel you’re ready to challenge for a world title?

“I hope this is my year. I’m obviously focused on Estrella because that’s a tough fight, but I feel I’m ready to compete for a world title. Oscar Valdez comes to mind because he’s a guy I have tremendous respect for, but we’ll have to see what develops there. The plan is to let everyone know on Friday that I can challenge for a world title very soon.”

You turned professional in 2011 when you were just 17. Now 24, is there any piece of advice you’d like to pass on to those that are about to turn pro?

“The best piece of advice I can give to those starting out is to be very careful with your body. What you put in and how you train. When you’re young, you feel like you can bounce back from anything, but the reality is how you treat your body in your late teens and early 20s does impact you as you get older. So I would recommend to all the young guys about to turn professional to really focus on creating good habits early on because you are more likely to stick to it if you make it part of your daily routine from an early age.”

Limited tickets for “Locked n’ Loaded” are priced at $40 & $100, and are available for purchase on the day of the event from the will call booth at the Doubletree Ontario (see address below).

All fights will be live streamed on TB Presents: Locked n’ Loaded via our Facebookpage, YouTube channel, and ThompsonBoxing.com. Beto Duran will handle blow-by-blow duties, while Doug Fischer provides expert, color commentating.

The livestream starts at 8:00 p.m. PT / 11:00 p.m. ET.

The Doubletree Hotel is located at 222 N. Vineyard Ave., Ontario, CA 91764 and can be reached at 909-937-0900.

“Locked n’ Loaded” is presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Everlast. 

For more information, please visit ThompsonBoxing.com. To follow the conversation on social media, please use #LockednLoaded, #TBPresents, and #ThompsonBoxing.

For regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please check our Facebook Page, watch our YouTube channel on Thompson Boxing TV, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @ThompsonBoxing.

The Inland Empire Business Journal (IEBJ) is the official business news publication of Southern California’s Inland Empire region - covering San Bernardino & Riverside Counties.

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Sports Business

Fontana’s Raymond Muratalla Defends IBF World Title in Las Vegas

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Sponsored by Lluvia, the undefeated champion earns unanimous decision victory with guidance from Robert Garcia

Premium alkaline water brand Lluvia proudly stood behind Raymond Muratalla this past weekend as the Fontana, California native successfully defended his IBF World Lightweight Championship with a unanimous decision victory over Andy Cruz in Las Vegas.

Muratalla delivered a composed and technically sound performance, controlling the pace of the fight and earning a majority decision on the judges’ scorecards. The win further solidifies his position among boxing’s elite lightweights and marks another defining moment in his championship run.

Lluvia, a premium 9+ pH alkaline water brand inspired by rain and engineered for modern hydration, served as an official sponsor of Muratalla for the bout. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to preparation, performance, and intentional excellence—qualities Muratalla continues to display inside the ring.

Guiding Muratalla’s success is renowned trainer Robert Garcia, recently named Trainer of the Year by Ring Magazine. Garcia’s championship pedigree and strategic leadership were evident throughout the fight, reinforcing the strength of a team built for sustained success at the highest level of the sport.

Beyond the victory itself, Muratalla’s rise continues to resonate with his hometown of Fontana, where he has become a source of pride and inspiration for aspiring athletes. His disciplined approach, humility, and dedication to craft have helped establish him not only as a world champion, but as a respected representative of his community.

Lluvia’s sponsorship underscores the brand’s growing presence in elite athletics and performance-driven environments. Packaged in plastic-free aluminum cans and protected by advanced can technology, Lluvia is designed to help preserve water quality, taste, and pH stability—delivering clean, elevated hydration for athletes and active lifestyles.

As Muratalla continues to build his legacy as IBF World Lightweight Champion, Lluvia looks forward to supporting the journey ahead—both in and out of the ring.

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Sports Business

City of Ontario Announces “Ontario Sports Empire” as Name for Largest Multi-Use Sports Complex on West Coast

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The City of Ontario, The Sports Facilities Companies and Greater Ontario CVB scheduled to open 190-acre facility in fall 2026

The City of Ontario, The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), and the Greater Ontario Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) announced the official name of their groundbreaking multi-use sports complex: The Ontario Sports Empire. Set to open in fall 2026, the complex is positioned to become the premier venue for major regional and national tournaments, elevating Ontario as a key sports destination in the United States.

With 190 acres of top-tier athletic facilities, including 20 long fields, 14 youth diamond fields, eight full-size diamonds, four football/rugby fields and two championship baseball fields, the Ontario Sports Empire will be the largest sports complex of its kind west of the Rocky Mountains.

“The Ontario Sports Empire will bring new jobs, boost tourism, and create lasting opportunities for our local businesses,” said Paul Leon, Mayor of Ontario. “This project represents a key part of Ontario’s future as a regional hub for commerce, recreation, and culture.”

“This complex is not just another sports facility; it’s a national destination for elite competitions and youth development. It will also be home for the community to host events and celebrations,” said SFC Partner and National Director of Business Development Jim Arnold. “We’re excited to work alongside city leaders and industry experts to create a venue that will elevate Ontario’s profile on the sports tourism map and serve the community for years to come.”

Located just 10 minutes from Ontario International Airport, the Ontario Sports Empire is designed to draw teams from across the country. The city already boasts 6,000 hotel rooms and numerous entertainment options, making it an ideal location for visiting teams, athletes, and fans.

“This venue will position Ontario as a must-visit city for major sporting events. It’s an exciting development that will put Ontario on the national stage, driving significant growth in both sports tourism and local economic impact,” said Michael Krouse, President and CEO of GOCAL (Greater Ontario California) and the Greater Ontario Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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Sports Business

$1.7 million project with lead partner San Manuel Band of Mission Indians provides quality, safe space for over 9,800 San Bernardino youth

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Home Run for Youth: Dodgers Foundation and Partners Unveil New Dreamfields at Blair Park

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF), with lead partner San Manuel Mission Band of Indians and in collaboration with the City of San Bernardino, will proudly unveil Dodgers Dreamfields 61, 62 and 63 at Blair Park on Saturday, May 18. These fields bring LADF closer to completing its goal of 75 fields by 2033 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Dodgers’ move to Los Angeles in 1958.

The ceremony, which culminates the construction of LADF’s latest project, will include a brief program featuring remarks from LADF CEO Nichol Whiteman, City of San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran, and additional partners and sponsors. Special guests include Los Angeles Dodgers Third-base Coach Dino Ebel. Following the unveiling, local San Bernardino youth baseball and softball players will participate in a skills clinic on the new fields.

This $1.7 million transformative investment will support youth ages 5-18 with three refurbished fields. Crucial upgrades at Blair Park include new playing surfaces and grass, enclosed fields, upgraded dugouts, upgraded irrigation systems, new pitchers’ mounds, bullpens and LED scoreboards resembling Dodger Stadium.

“The unveiling of three new Dodgers Dreamfields is a celebration of the power of community, the joy of play, and the boundless potential of our youth,” said Nichol Whiteman, CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. “These fields represent dreams taking flight and where transformative play ensures every child has a place to dream, grow and shine.”

LADF’s newest refurbishments were made possible by a nearly $1.3 million grant from lead partner San Manuel Mission Band of Indians, and it is the largest gift for a Dodgers Dreamfield project to date. Additional project sponsors include Security Benefit, LA84 Foundation and the Helen and Will Webster Foundation. The fields constructed, as a result of these strategic partnerships, align with LADF’s new Strategic Plan: Lasting Impact for Los Angeles, which builds upon its successes by amplifying best practices, scaling solutions to reach more Angelenos, growing its capacity, and refining its work to create a lasting impact for Los Angeles.

“Our partnership with the youth of the Inland Empire region continues to grow just like the boundless energy, creativity, and pursuits of our bright young people,” said Lynn Valbuena, Chairwoman of San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. “Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels is only the most recent example of the potential of San Bernardino youth. We are confident that future Major League Baseball stars will crowd the Dreamfields at Blair Park very soon!” 

According to Parks for California, 65% of San Bernardino residents live in areas with less than three acres of park space per 1,000 people, and 39% live further than half a mile from a park, where the national average is 55%. Upon completion of the fields, over 9,800 youth under 18 living in San Bernardino will have access to a safe place to play and baseball and softball programming at Blair Park. The City of San Bernardino hopes the project will help curtail these statistics and help maintain the city’s vibrant and unique culture.

LADF builds and refurbishes baseball and softball fields in underserved communities through the Dodgers Dreamfields program, providing families with safe havens and points of pride in their neighborhoods. Dodgers Dreamfields are game-changers, revitalizing green spaces to help re-energize the community’s involvement in baseball and softball while boosting the safety of local parks and providing a place where neighbors can gather, exercise and play. Since 2003, LADF has invested over $20 million to refurbish 63 Dodgers Dreamfields and provide more than 400,000 kids access to playable baseball and softball fields. 

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