New promoter joins busy New Mexico boxing scene

Though Donald Sanchez Promotions is a new entry on the New Mexico boxing scene, DSP’s owner makes it clear he’s no novice.

Two decades ago, Sanchez said in a phone interview, he promoted a cage-fighting card in Albuquerque.

“I don’t know if many people know that,” he said, “but 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’s when I first started fighting, so I stepped away from (promoting) and focused on fighting.”

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’s scheduled a pro boxing card for Aug. 8 at the Embassy Suites.

As a fighter, Sanchez fought on cards staged by dozens of promoters — watching and learning, though not necessary planning to promote again himself. One of those promoters was Santa Fe’s 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.

“He’s my mentor,” Sanchez said of Holmes. “… I’ll be with Pat to the end of the days.”

Just as Sanchez has been a part of Holmes Promotions, Holmes will be a part of Sanchez Promotions.

“He’s got one of his fighters on this card, and he’s going to just step back and let me run the show this time,” Sanchez said. “…. He’s a part of this. It’s Holmes and Sanchez, for sure.”

Holmes said in a phone interview that he’s confident Sanchez is ready for this next step — though he won’t be doing it alone. The relationships Sanchez has built in the combat-sports community over those two decades, Holmes said, will serve him well.

“He’s just got so much momentum,” Holmes said. “… He’s just established himself so much that, I don’t care what he does. He could have a puppet show.

“I think he’ll probably be the best promoter we’ve seen in a long time.”

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’s 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’s debut, Legacy has a card scheduled for July 31 at the Embassy Suites.

Holmes is planning to promote in October. It’s possible Legacy and Tapia will promote later in the year. Down south, Hobbs’ Isidro Castillo could be heard from.

Holmes and Sanchez were asked, with almost five months left in 2026 after Sanchez’s debut card, if there’ll be enough boxers (and paying customers) to go around the rest of the year and beyond.

Both answered yes.

“I bring my own crowd,” Sanchez said. “I’m not trying to step on (other promoters’) toes… I would never try to get any of their fighters if they have their fighters locked down.”

Sanchez said that whenever possible he intends to avoid New Mexico-vs.-New Mexico matchups.

“Hopefully, we can all continue to support each other and bring up the youth and the up-and-comers,” he said. “I’ve always said this in every interview that we have the best fighters in the world, and we need to showcase that.”

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.

“There’s definitely plenty of fighters now,” 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 — 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’t 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’eese Aleem weighed in significantly over the 126-pound featherweight limit.

Nonetheless, Holmes, who’s in close touch with Miguel Leo, his son’s 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, “and he’ll be coming down to Santa Fe and preparing pretty soon.”

The Amateurs

On June 27 in Wichita, Kansas, Las Cruces’ Chris LaBounty defeated Georgia’s 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’s Isaiah Garcia and California’s Christian Marin.