Esparza vs Palacios - Photos by Melina Pizano - 09/16/17

It may have been the coffee or that I was about to assist on potentially the biggest fight of the year that I was anxious all morning. I had brunch with two fellow photographers, Al Powers and Ed Mulholland. I bounced my leg probably the entire time. After brunch I had one of my family members take me to the arena so that I didn't have to worry about car and foot traffic in the area. I arrived an hour before the first undercard, which was well before the first televised bout. Nerve check. Still there. I met with Ed and we went through the workflow as we normally do. Finally, the first undercard was up so I set myself up at the ring. A judge was on my right and Al Bello (of Getty Images, who I had met a couple days prior) was to my left. I asked Al if he still gets nervous before shooting big events. To which he replied, yes. He added that it's always helpful to warm up by shooting before the event. Noted. The boxers walked into the ring. Nerve check. Still there. The bell rang. A jab was thrown. Quickly with each exchange my nerves began calm until they went completely away.

Flyweight and Olympian Marlen Esparza versus Aracely Palacios at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017.