Reno’s “Biggest Lil’ Bomber” Kenny Davis Jr. (16-2-1, 4 KOs) is back home to defend his home turf against Matt Conway (23-5-1, 10 KOs) of Pittsburgh, in Friday night’s main event as Let’s Get It On Promotions and the Silver Legacy Resort Casino host professional boxing at the Grande Exposition Hall in Reno, Both fighters came in under the lightweight limit, with Davis scaling 134.6 and Conway coming in at 134.4 pounds. Nevada. After taking his talent on the road for the majority of his career, Davis packed the Grande Exposition Hall in March and sent the crowd home happy with an eight-round decision against a determined Orlando Zepeda. “March was a sweet homecoming for me,” says Davis. “It was everything I expected. It was a great turn out and a very special feeling to defend my title in my hometown and honor my people and finally get a feel what it is like to have a crowd cheering for me. I’ve had to go fight guys in their hometowns.”
Davis will take on Conway in what could be the toughest fight of his career to date. The Pittsburgh native is no stranger to Reno, as he made the trek out west to the Reno-Sparks Convention Center as an undefeated fighter back in 2019. “This is my second time coming out to Reno,” recalls Conway. “I loved being here the first time and I am excited to be back.”
After successful pro debuts here in March, Carson City’s Miguel Elizondo and Reno’s Joshua Nelson will make their ring returns in separate four-round bouts. Three-time National Silver Gloves champion “Tito” Elizondo (2-0) will look to be the first to blemish his opponent’s unbeaten record for the third time in three fights as he takes on Smathy Silva Gonzalez (5-0-1, 4 KOs) of nearby Sparks, Nevada. Elizondo came in at 128.6 pounds, while Gonzalez scaled 129.8.
Joshua Nelson (1-0, 1 KO) will meet Fresno, California’s Darion Hall (1-2) in a four-round lightweight attraction. Nelson made short work of his opponent in his debut, scoring a first-round stoppage before his fanbase at this same venue back in March. Hall enters the ring fresh off an upset decision over previously unbeaten Keon Merlo just last month. Nelson came in at 135.6 pounds, while Hall scaled 135.4.
Two of the region’s homegrown fighters will make their hometown debuts in separate contests as Reno-born Mario Hernandez (3-4-1) of Sparks takes on Mexicali, Mexico’s Oscar Mora in a six-round light heavyweight bout and junior welterweight Harley Sampson (3-1, 3 KOs) of Reno takes on Jamal Johnson (2-2, 1 KO) of Baltimore, Maryland, in a four-round bout. Hernandez made 174.2 pounds and Mora came in at 174.8. Sampson came in at 140.6 pounds and Johnson scaled 139.4.
Carson City’s Christian Avalos (4-6-2) will take on Diego Dominguez (4-2, 1 KO) of Fontana, California, in a four-round junior welterweight bout. With a career of taking on tough fighters in their home areas, Avalos returns to Reno to fight before his home crowd against Dominguez. Avalos made the junior welterweight limit of 140, while Dominguez came in at 139.4 pounds.
In the night’s opener, Las Vegas’ Aidan Garcia (2-0, 2 KOs) will make his home state debut against Jesse Medina (0-1) of Gilroy, California, in a four-round junior lightweight bout. Garcia came in at 129.8, while Medina scaled 127 pounds.
Weigh-In Results
Kenny Davis Jr., 134.6 pounds -vs.- Matt Conway, 134.4 (lightweight, ten rounds);
Miguel Elizondo, 128.6 -vs.- Smathy Silva Gonzalez, 129.8 (junior lightweight, four rounds);
Harley Sampson, 140.6 -vs.- Jamal Johnson, 139.4 (junior welterweight, four rounds);
Christian Avalos, 140 -vs.- Diego Dominguez, 139.4 (junior welterweight, four rounds);
Joshua Nelson, 135.6 -vs.- Darion Hall, 135.4 (lightweight, four rounds);
Mario Hernandez, 174.2 -vs.- Oscar Mora, 174.8 (light heavyweight, six rounds); and
Aidan Garcia, 129.8 -vs.- Jesse Medina, 127 (junior lightweight, four rounds).
