Two world championship fights on the rez

Casino hopes to become national player

By Leighton GinnThe Show rolled out the red carpet with all the bells and whistles. They put out an aggressive marketing campaign and did everything in their power to make Timothy Bradley's homecoming a big success.

Bradley defeated Nate Campbell with a third-round technical knockout to retain his WBO light welterweight title Saturday before a sold-out crowd.

Also on the card, rising star Devon Alexander defeated Junior Witter to win the WBC title that Bradley vacated.

Phil Cooper, the executive director of marketing for the Agua Caliente, said the fight helped The Show make a statement.

“Two world championship fights, for our first event? I'm so excited about what that says about our property and what the tribe has put into this part of the country,” Cooper said. “We want Southern California, California and this country to know we're a player.

“It drives the brand of the property. In this case, it puts us in the national spotlight, because it's Showtime.”Comment:  For more on the subject, see Native Boxing Network and Casinos Aid Native Boxers.