Behind the Scenes: Haney vs Moran - Photos by Melina Pizano/Matchroom Boxing - 05/25/19

May 26, 2019

Back at it again with a mix of dressing rooms/behind the scenes and a couple of fight photos from an undercard. The lighting was dim in certain rooms so I resorted to my flash for a few photos. I took some of Simpson with the flash, but I love how his photo came out with natural light. I posted both to show the difference.

I'm a photojournalist at heart so when I saw WBC super middleweight champion Franchón Crews-Dezurn in the crowd I couldn't help not only get a photo, but also a quote from her regarding the McCaskill versus Sanchez bout. See the last two photos for my notes on going from photographer to photojournalist to interpreter (for just a moment) all in one night.

Photos taken on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

Luis Gerardo Perez before his bout against Mack Allison.

Perez went on to win his about by unanimous decision.

Lorenzo Simpson gets his hand wrapped before his bout against Rafael Garcia.

Simpson went on to win by KO in round 1.

WBA super lightweight champion Jessica McCaskill warms up before her bout.

McCaskill went on to win by unanimous decision.

WBC super middleweight champion Franchón Crews-Dezurn poses for a photo. Crews-Dezurn said regarding McCaskill's win over Sanchez, “Sanchez is really skillful, but Jessica is a dog. She wasn’t losing that belt tonight.”

Daniyar Yeleussinov and team before his bout versus Luis Normabuena.

Yeleussinov went on to win by unanimous decision.

Filip Hrgovic versus Gregory Corbin

Filip Hrgovic versus Gregory Corbin. Hrgovic won by KO in round 1.

Michael Hunter warms up before his bout. Hunter went on to win by KO in round 2.

Devin Haney gets his hand wrapped before his bout against Antonio Moran.

Haney in his dressing room after his KO win over Moran.

On Saturday DAZN (the network that broadcasts our matches) didn’t have a Spanish interpreter on the lower level where the main event opponents entered. Antonio Moran’s camp didn’t have one either. DAZN asked me to interpret. I told them my Spanish is fluent but it isn't perfect and offered to help find them an interpreter, but they needed one immediately before Moran headed to the third floor to get ready. So I dabbed my face with a tissue (because I had been running around taking photos) and ran through a couple test questions then went on tv for the first time since I was about 8. I didn’t pass out or stutter so grateful for that. And now having done it, yes, I would totally do it again (after some learning some boxing terminology in Spanish.)

Tami's the best! She worked for HBO before moving over to DAZN. She's the one who convinced me to be the Spanish interpreter for Moran.

(Photo by Ed Mulholland)