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Is Nokia Theatre the next Olympic Auditorium?

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The downtown L.A. Nokia Theatre, across from Staples Center, has attracted its first boxing show, the March 27 Samuel Peter-Eddie Chambers heavyweight fight to be televised by ESPN. The undercard features promising locals John Molina and two 2008 Olympians, Shawn Estrada and Javier Molina.

I was speaking about the fight card to AEG official Michael Roth over the weekend at Staples Center, and he was intrigued by how the fight would sell (with tickets ranging from $25 to $100 through Ticketmaster and Staples Center’s box office), and about what fight fans would think of the venue.

Promoter Dan Goossen is excited by Nokia’s potential as a frequent boxing destination, ‘because boxing has such a rich history here [being] less than a mile away from the Olympic Auditorium,’ and across town from the Forum, where boxing once thrived, showcasing fighters such as Oscar De La Hoya, Marco Antonio Barrera, Genaro Hernandez and Juan Manuel Marquez.

‘These AEG properties [Staples included] are perfect for boxing,’ Goossen said in a text message.

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-- Lance Pugmire

Photo: The Nokia Theatre at night. Credit: Richard Hartog/Los Angeles Times

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