Connect with us

We Speak Boxing

Greg Bloom Is Building Red Owl Boxing Into the Number One Prospect Series in Boxing

Published

1 hour ago

on

Erron Peterson
Erron Peterson has his hand raised after a win. Photo by Red Owl Boxing.

Most promoters rent a building, put on a card and move on. Red Owl Boxing built its own home, runs on a steady rhythm out of Houston, and this Friday takes its show on the road to Philadelphia, where BoxFest XXII puts a championship on the line at the 2300 Arena. At the center of it is CEO Greg Bloom, who has spent 23 years in combat sports and answered our questions in writing ahead of the biggest night of his promotion’s year.

The main event on Friday, November 13 is a 10 round middleweight clash between undefeated Erron “Junkyard Dog” Peterson (15-0-1, 14 KOs) of Philadelphia and Dallas knockout artist Miguel Angel Hernandez (9-1-1, 7 KOs), with the vacant NBA Americas 160 pound championship at stake. The co-main event sends Angel “Sharpie” Perez (11-0-1, 8 KOs) in against Wesley “El Bongocero” Ferrer (18-2-1, 8 KOs) over eight rounds. The main card streams live on DAZN from 8 p.m. ET, with the preliminary card on Red Owl Boxing’s YouTube channel from 6 p.m. ET. Here is Bloom, in his own words, on the night, the model behind it, and where Red Owl Boxing is going.

For readers meeting you for the first time, how did you come to promote boxing, and what is Red Owl Boxing built to be?

I’ve worked in combat sports for the past 23 years as a manager, attorney, promoter and CEO, and when I met Gabriel Fanous, the owner of Red Owl Boxing, I knew it was a promotion that I wanted to be a part of. Red Owl Boxing is built to be the number one prospect series in all of boxing.

Red Owl has built its name on regular shows out of its own arena in Houston. Why did that model, a steady home and a steady rhythm, matter to you?

We felt that having a “home base” was important to build consistency for both the brand and the fighters signed to Red Owl, and Texas, Houston in particular was the place we felt was a hub for both fighter talent and passionate boxing fans.

The November 13 event is a championship night. What is on the line in the main event, and what should fans be watching for?

As with every Red Owl card, we set out to showcase three things during our events: a debut in which a fighter has his first pro fight; a redemption in which a fighter gets a second opportunity coming off of a tough loss or difficult fight; and a crowning in which a fighter is participating in a title fight that traditionally places that fighter in the top 15 of the rankings with the ratings organizations.

How do you choose the fighters who get on a Red Owl card, and what do you owe a young fighter beyond the purse?

Our matchmaker/promoter, James Bartley scours the globe looking for the best, most credentialed young prospects and then we select what we believe to be the fighters with the best shot at becoming world champions; beyond the purse we are looking to help young fighters gain exposure, get experience and find a pathway to becoming a well-recognized prospect in the hierarchy of their respective division.

What does a championship night do for the fighters underneath it, the ones still building their records?

Every fighter on a Red Owl card is getting national and international exposure through our multiple distribution partners, and it also allows them to be part of the fastest growing prospect series in the sport of boxing.

Where does Houston stand right now as a fight town, and what is missing?

Houston is a top-notch fight town and the only thing it is missing is the new, state of the art Owl’s Nest which is currently under construction and should have its first event in the 3rd quarter of 2027.

Streaming has changed who can watch a championship level boxing show. How has that changed the way you build a card?

Our cards are built specifically to showcase the best boxing prospects in the world and streaming has just made it easier for people all over the world to watch Red Owl Boxing and see the type of top level talent the promotion is attracting, from former Olympians to national champions to undefeated professional fighters looking for a bigger platform to participate on.

What is the hardest part of promoting at this level that fans never see?

It is a 24/7 job. The fans get the benefit of the end result, but it is hard work to put any level of boxing event on and credit to the Red Owl staff who is amazing at what they do.

If everything goes to plan, where is Red Owl Boxing in two years?

The biggest and most well recognized prospect boxing series in the world.

Is there anything about November 13 you want our readers to know before the first bell?

November 13th at BoxFest 22 will be the most exciting night of fights of the year. It will showcase the best and most talented prospects in the world so don’t miss out!

BoxFest XXII takes place Friday, November 13 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. Tickets are on sale at 2300Arena.com. The main card streams live on DAZN from 8 p.m. ET, and the preliminary card streams on Red Owl Boxing’s YouTube channel from 6 p.m. ET.

Read Next

More from We Speak Media
Related Topics:
Continue Reading

We Speak Boxing

Benavidez Tells Phoenix “This Is Monstro’s World” at Media Workout Ahead of December 5 Unification With Cieslak

Published

3 hours ago

on

November 10, 2026

By

David Benavidez at his Phoenix media workout ahead of the December 5 fight with Michal Cieslak
David Benavidez at his Phoenix media workout. Photo by Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions.

David Benavidez brought his December 5 homecoming back to Phoenix early, working out in public in his hometown on Saturday and telling Arizona fans that a third cruiserweight belt is next. The unbeaten unified WBA and WBO champion faces WBC champion Michal Cieslak in a unification clash at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, and his media workout quotes leave no doubt about how he sees the fight.

Mexican Superstar & Unified WBA & WBO Cruiserweight World Champion David Benavidez Faces WBC Cruiserweight World Champion Michal Cieslak Saturday, December 5 Headlining a PBC Pay-Per-View Event Available on DAZN Through Prime Video from Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona

Unbeaten Mexican superstar and unified WBA and WBO Cruiserweight World Champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez showed off his skills in his hometown of Phoenix on Saturday at an open to the public media workout before he faces WBC Cruiserweight World Champion Michal Cieslak in a high-stakes unification clash on Saturday, December 5 headlining a PBC Pay-Per-View event available on DAZN through Prime Video from Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

One of boxing’s pound-for-pound best and most exciting champions, Benavidez’s Arizona homecoming event will see the 29-year-old look to capture a third cruiserweight world championship against the bruising WBC champion Cieslak. The showdown will mark Benavidez’s first fight back in Arizona since a 2022 destruction of David Lemieux.

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and available through Ticketmaster.com.

Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) made his cruiserweight debut in style this past Cinco de Mayo Weekend, dominating then champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez on his way to an emphatic sixth-round stoppage. The victory followed up an impressive 2025 that saw him best rival and then unbeaten David Morrell Jr. by unanimous decision to add the WBA Light Heavyweight World Championship to the WBC title he’d earned in 2024 against former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk

Here is what Benavidez had to say at the media workout that took place at the Gila River Resorts and Casino at Vee Quiva on Saturday:

DAVID BENAVIDEZ

“The is ‘Monstro’s’ world. I have arrived, and I’m not going anywhere. Greatness isn’t given, it’s taken. And I’m gonna take my greatness.

“I’m really grateful for the people of Arizona. Having a Phoenix-native getting into the ring here in a three-belt unification is historic. I’m happy to be representing Phoenix just like I always do no matter where I am.

“My mindset and my focus is the same for every fight. I’m attacking every training camp with ferocity and viciousness. Because that’s what I want to show in the fight. I want to take these fighters apart and make a statement to everybody. I’m not playing with anyone.

“I got two belts in my first fight at cruiserweight and now I’m going for a third. Me being undisputed is inevitable. I’m going to make my way to the top of the pound-for-pound list very soon. I will be number one.

“The past three years, because I’ve been facing top opposition, I’ve been able to sharpen up my style and my skills. I’m working a lot on combinations, defense and body shots, but particularly the jab. The jab opens doors, but it closes doors as well.

“I’m always the kind of fighter who has plans A, B and C. So if he wants to complicate things in the first couple of rounds, then I have plans to stop whatever it is that he’s doing well.

“The biggest challenge with Cieslak is that he’s coming into this fight defending his title for the first time. Every fighter has that motivation after winning the title that you really don’t wanna let it go. He’s gonna come in strong, but I don’t run away from any competition.

“This workout is a way for me to give back to the community and show love to the people here. It’s something fun that we don’t do every day. I’m thrilled we were able to make this happen for the people.”

ABOUT BENAVIDEZ VS. CIESLAK

Benavidez vs. Cieslak will see Undefeated Mexican superstar and unified WBA and WBO Cruiserweight World Champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez make his Arizona homecoming in a high-stakes unification clash against WBC Cruiserweight World Champion Michal Cieslak on Saturday, December 5 headlining a PBC Pay-Per-View event available on DAZN through Prime Video from Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

The pay-per-view begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features a co-main event that will see all-action undefeated star Vergil Ortiz Jr. step into the ring against former unified world champion Keith “One Time” Thurman in a 12-round middleweight affair.

The pay-per-view will also see a trio of rising stars enter the ring in separate bouts as unbeaten phenom Emiliano “El General” Vargas competes in a 10-round super lightweight fight against contender Omar Juarez, plus unbeaten Australian star Nikita Tszyu makes his U.S. debut in a 10-round super welterweight fight against Roberto Valenzuela Jr. and rising middleweight star Marco “El Tiburon” Romero returns to action in the eight-round opening bout dueling Cruse Stewart.

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and available through Ticketmaster.com.

The event is promoted by Sampson Boxing and TGB Promotions. Ortiz vs. Thurman is co-promoted by Golden Boy Promotions. The Vargas vs. Juarez fight is co-promoted by Top Rank. The Tszyu vs. Valenzuela fight is co-promoted by No Limit Boxing and the Rose Brothers.

Read Next

More from We Speak Media
Continue Reading

Trending