Join us as we celebrate L.A.’s biggest boxing stars with two outstanding panels and an expo featuring boxing legends and other vendors. Food and drink available for sale from La Parilla. In conjunction with LA Plaza’s exhibition “18th & Grand: The Olympic Auditorium.”

From the 1920s through the early 2000s, the Olympic Auditorium was a hub of sports entertainment on the West Coast. The “Sweet Science” of boxing was one of the pillars which made the venue popular with fans around the world.

Plática: The Olympic Auditorium and the Legacy of Aileen Eaton: Women in Charge | 1pm
Olympic promoter Aileen Eaton became business manager of the Olympic Auditorium in 1942, rebuilding the business of what was then a money-losing arena. The only woman in her sport, Eaton was a master promoter who developed championship talent and managed to fill an outdated, 10,000-seat venue for nearly forty years, a pioneer in sports entertainment.

LA Plaza CEO Leticia Buckley moderates a conversation with women in the sports and entertainment worlds who have also found success in male dominated fields, including Lisa Fancher, founder and owner of Frontier Records, Rita D’Albert, Producer of Lucha VaVoom, Graciela Casillas, World Champion boxer and kickboxer.

Plática: The Golden Era of Los Angeles Boxing: The Olympic vs. The Forum | 3pm
In the 1960s and 70s, with two major boxing arenas competing head-to-head, Los Angeles sports fans could see the greatest fighters in the world on a weekly basis. Specializing in talent born the neighborhoods of Southern California and Mexico, boxing thrived in L.A., launching stars like Olympic favorite Mando Ramos and Forum superstar Ruben Olivares, Danny “Little Red” Lopez and Bobby Chacon. Join 18th & Grand: The Olympic Auditorium co-curators Steve DeBro and Gene Aguilera, along with Carlos Palomino: Former World Welterweight Champion, and Alberto Davila: Former World Bantamweight Champion in a conversation about a golden era in L.A boxing history.

12 to 5pm - Vendor Fair
Jesse Marez | The Libros, Lincoln Heights
Linda Young | National Boxing Hall of Fame
Steve DeBro | Filmmaker, 18th and Grand: The Olympic Auditorium Story
Gene Aguilera | Latino boxing historian and author
Graciela Casillas | Former boxer and kickboxer
LA Tienda | LA Plaza’s Museum and Gift Shop
Joseph Robledo | Author, Blood on the Canvas
Danny “Little Red” | Lopez World Champion
Herman Montes | Top lightweight contender