(MAR 30) For those who keep chanting the mantra “Boxing is dead” one can only say they certainly could not possibly have been to Europe, Mexico, or in this case, Panama. Lisa “Bad News” Brown has been inundated with radio, television, newspaper and photography demands. Everyday the papers have had photos of Lisa and her opponent. You cannot walk out of the hotel without people stopping to say hello to “El Campeon.” Construction workers shout hello in the street. Waiters at restaurants ask for photos. On and on it goes and it is inspiring as a boxing fan.

Arena Roberto Duran’s fifteen thousand seats were sold out last week for the WBA title doubleheader: World no. 1 ranked WBA Champion Luis “El Nica” Conception from Panama vs Mexican Hernan “Tyson” Marquez and Lisa “Bad News” Brown of Canada vs Shantell “La Fiera” Martinez of Panama for the WBA Super Bantamweight Championship. Brown and Martinez, much to the delight of a large media turnout at the “pre- weigh” in here yesterday, engaged in a substantial back and forth, in your face, shoving match. Both fighters weighed in at 125 lbs with the official weigh-in to take place Friday at three pm, the day before the fight.

Tuesday’s press conference was a full turn out affair at “Fantastic Casino Dorado” with no further physical hostilities engaged between Brown and Martinez. Next Stop: Official Weigh-In at three pm on Friday. Saturday’s fight card has thirteen scheduled fights including the two championship fights.