COMBAT SPORTS
New promoter joins busy New Mexico boxing scene
Donald Sanchez, a veteran fighter with at least 67 bouts, is stepping into promotion with an Aug. 8 card in Albuquerque.
Though Donald Sanchez Promotions is a new entry on the New Mexico boxing scene, DSP鈥檚 owner makes it clear he鈥檚 no novice.
Two decades ago, Sanchez said in a phone interview, he promoted a cage-fighting card in Albuquerque.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if many people know that,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut I think I was one of the very first people to actually use the New Mexico Athletic Commission for mixed martial arts back in 2006. That鈥檚 when I first started fighting, so I stepped away from (promoting) and focused on fighting.鈥�
Now, after at least 67 fights and at least 41 victories in MMA, boxing and most recently bare knuckle, Sanchez is a promoter again. He鈥檚 scheduled a pro boxing card for Aug. 8 at the Embassy Suites.
As a fighter, Sanchez fought on cards staged by dozens of promoters 鈥� watching and learning, though not necessary planning to promote again himself. One of those promoters was Santa Fe鈥檚 Pat Holmes. Primarily an MMA fighter during his 20-year career, Sanchez appeared twice on Holmes boxing cards in 2019. Holmes also helped Sanchez get a 2020 bout in Miami.
The relationship endured, and when Holmes began promoting again last November after a 5 1/2-year hiatus, Sanchez became his right-hand man.
鈥淗e鈥檚 my mentor,鈥� Sanchez said of Holmes. 鈥溾�� I鈥檒l be with Pat to the end of the days.鈥�
Just as Sanchez has been a part of Holmes Promotions, Holmes will be a part of Sanchez Promotions.
鈥淗e鈥檚 got one of his fighters on this card, and he鈥檚 going to just step back and let me run the show this time,鈥� Sanchez said. 鈥溾��. He鈥檚 a part of this. It鈥檚 Holmes and Sanchez, for sure.鈥�
Holmes said in a phone interview that he鈥檚 confident Sanchez is ready for this next step 鈥� though he won鈥檛 be doing it alone. The relationships Sanchez has built in the combat-sports community over those two decades, Holmes said, will serve him well.
鈥淗e鈥檚 just got so much momentum,鈥� Holmes said. 鈥溾�� He鈥檚 just established himself so much that, I don鈥檛 care what he does. He could have a puppet show.
鈥淚 think he鈥檒l probably be the best promoter we鈥檝e seen in a long time.鈥�
A Crowded Room
Assuming all unfolds as scheduled, Sanchez on Aug. 8 will become the fourth promoter to stage a boxing card in New Mexico this year, following: Teresa Tapia, Jan. 9 at Cananas Night Club and May 30 at Leo鈥檚 Bar; Holmes, Jan. 18 and April 18 at Ohkay Casino & Resort near Espanola; Legacy Promotions (Aaron Perez and Gabriel Carlin), April 4 at the Embassy Suites.
And before Sanchez鈥檚 debut, Legacy has a card scheduled for July 31 at the Embassy Suites.
Holmes is planning to promote in October. It鈥檚 possible Legacy and Tapia will promote later in the year. Down south, Hobbs鈥� Isidro Castillo could be heard from.
Holmes and Sanchez were asked, with almost five months left in 2026 after Sanchez鈥檚 debut card, if there鈥檒l be enough boxers (and paying customers) to go around the rest of the year and beyond.
Both answered yes.
鈥淚 bring my own crowd,鈥� Sanchez said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not trying to step on (other promoters鈥�) toes鈥� I would never try to get any of their fighters if they have their fighters locked down.鈥�
Sanchez said that whenever possible he intends to avoid New Mexico-vs.-New Mexico matchups.
鈥淗opefully, we can all continue to support each other and bring up the youth and the up-and-comers,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e always said this in every interview that we have the best fighters in the world, and we need to showcase that.鈥�
Holmes, whose cards typically focus on Northern New Mexico fighters, believes Sanchez has the backing to populate nearly one-half of his cards with out-of-state fighters matched against New Mexico boxers.
鈥淭here鈥檚 definitely plenty of fighters now,鈥� Holmes said.
Leo Update
Boxing Scene has reported that the International Boxing Federation has ordered Omar Trinidad and Luis Nunez, its top contenders for the IBF featherweight title held by Albuquerque native Angelo Leo, to meet in an elimination bout 鈥� the winner to challenge Leo for the title.
With a Trinidad-Nunez bout yet to be scheduled, will Leo be seen in the ring before the year is out? Leo hasn鈥檛 fought since his successful May 24, 2025 title defense against Tomoki Kameda in Osaka, Japan. A scheduled May 9 defense was scratched when then-No. 1 contender Ra鈥檈ese Aleem weighed in significantly over the 126-pound featherweight limit.
Nonetheless, Holmes, who鈥檚 in close touch with Miguel Leo, his son鈥檚 manager and trainer, said he expects the younger Leo to be back in the ring in 2026.
The Las Vegas, Nev., resident is already training, Holmes said, 鈥渁nd he鈥檒l be coming down to Santa Fe and preparing pretty soon.鈥�
The Amateurs
On June 27 in Wichita, Kansas, Las Cruces鈥� Chris LaBounty defeated Georgia鈥檚 Jacque Varner by unanimous decision to claim the Elite Division 165-pound title at the USA Boxing Junior Olympics and Summer Festival.
In winning the title bout, LaBounty won all three rounds on each of five official scorecards. He reached the final via victories over Utah鈥檚 Isaiah Garcia and California鈥檚 Christian Marin.
