As always, I'm grateful for the opportunity and confidence from Matchroom and their U.S. lead photographer, Ed Mulholland, to cover an entire fight week on my own. It's quite the hustle to photograph each event (one to two a day) and edit for a quick turnaround (with the exception of fight night where a remote editor assists.) I love the challenge though. Even if it means climbing multiple flights of stairs during the middle of the main event to capture a photo of the audience, main event, and the twinkling lights of homes on the hillsides in Oaxaca. See last image in gallery for photo. Now I normally would have placed a remote, but in all honesty I wasn't confident it would still be there after the event. So I photographed a couple of rounds of the main event. I ran up, made my photograph, then ran back down in less than two rounds. I was fortunate the stoppage didn't occur until after I came back. I was able to capture more action, the stoppage and victory. Quite rewarding when you're able to capture it all, even if it means working out in the middle of it all. :)
All photos taken between February 13-16, 2024 in Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Curiel-Nontshinga Media Day
Sivenathi Nontshinga
Adrian Curiel vs Sivenathi Nontshinga 2 PortraitsFebruary 13, 2024; Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca, MEX; Portrait session with Sivenathi Nontshinga in Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Curiel-Nontshinga First Face-Off
Adrian Curiel vs Sivenathi Nontshinga 2 First Face-OffFebruary 13, 2024; Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca, MEX; Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga face-off for the first time during fight week at Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzman in Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Curiel-Nontshinga Public Workout
Adrian Curiel vs Sivenathi Nontshinga 2 Public WorkoutFebruary 14, 2024; Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca, MEX; Sivenathi Nontshinga works out in front of the public ahead of the Matchroom Boxing card on February 16, 2024 at Auditorio Guelaguetza in Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Mauricio Lara throws a shirt to fans.
Adrian Curiel vs Sivenathi Nontshinga 2 Public WorkoutFebruary 14, 2024; Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca, MEX; Mauricio Lara tosses fans a shirt after working out in front of the public ahead of the Matchroom Boxing card on February 16, 2024 at Auditorio Guelaguetza in Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Adrian Curiel signs autographs for fans.
Adrian Curiel vs Sivenathi Nontshinga 2 Public WorkoutFebruary 14, 2024; Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca, MEX; Adrian Curiel signs autographs after a public workout ahead of the Matchroom Boxing card on February 16, 2024 at Auditorio Guelaguetza in Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Curiel-Nontshinga Final Press Conference
Adrian Curiel vs Sivenathi Nontshinga 2 Final Press ConferenceFebruary 14, 2024; Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca, MEX; Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga face-off after the final press conference ahead of the Matchroom Boxing card on February 16, 2024 at Auditorio Guelaguetza in Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Curiel-Nontshinga Fight Night
Federico Pacheco
Adrian Curiel vs Sivenathi Nontshinga 2 Fight NightFebruary 16, 2024; Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca, MEX; Federico Pacheco Jr. has his hands wrapped prior to his bout on February 16, 2024 at Auditorio Guelaguetza in Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Criztec Bazaldua versus Alejandro Castillo
Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga Fight NightFebruary 16, 2024; Oaxaca, Mexico; Criztec Bazaldua and Aleiandro Castillo during their fight at the Guelaguetza Auditorium in Oaxaca, Mexico. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Arturo Cardenas versus Ernesto Garcia Flores
Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga Fight NightFebruary 16, 2024; Oaxaca, Mexico; Arturo Cardenas and Ernesto Garcia during their WBC Continental Americas Super Bantamweight Title fight at the Guelaguetza Auditorium in Oaxaca, Mexico. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Mauricia Lara versus Daniel Lugo
Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga Fight NightFebruary 16, 2024; Oaxaca, Mexico; Mauricio Lara and Daniel Lugo after their fight at the Guelaguetza Auditorium in Oaxaca, Mexico. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga Fight NightFebruary 16, 2024; Oaxaca, Mexico; Adrian Curiel gets his hands wrapped before his IBF World Light Flyweight Title fight against Sivenathi Nontshinga at the Guelaguetza Auditorium in Oaxaca, Mexico. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Adrian Curiel versus Sivenathi Nontshinga
Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga Fight NightFebruary 16, 2024; Oaxaca, Mexico; Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga during their IBF World Light Flyweight Title fight at the Guelaguetza Auditorium in Oaxaca, Mexico. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga Fight NightFebruary 16, 2024; Oaxaca, Mexico; Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga during their IBF World Light Flyweight Title fight at the Guelaguetza Auditorium in Oaxaca, Mexico. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga Fight NightFebruary 16, 2024; Oaxaca, Mexico; Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga during their IBF World Light Flyweight Title fight at the Guelaguetza Auditorium in Oaxaca, Mexico. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga Fight NightFebruary 16, 2024; Oaxaca, Mexico; Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga during their IBF World Light Flyweight Title fight at the Guelaguetza Auditorium in Oaxaca, Mexico. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga Fight NightFebruary 16, 2024; Oaxaca, Mexico; Sivenathi Nontshinga celebrates his win over Adrian Curiel after their IBF World Light Flyweight Title fight at the Guelaguetza Auditorium in Oaxaca, Mexico. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga Fight NightFebruary 16, 2024; Oaxaca, Mexico; Sivenathi Nontshinga celebrates his win over Adrian Curiel after their IBF World Light Flyweight Title fight at the Guelaguetza Auditorium in Oaxaca, Mexico. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga Fight NightFebruary 16, 2024; Oaxaca, Mexico; Sivenathi Nontshinga celebrates his win over Adrian Curiel after their IBF World Light Flyweight Title fight at the Guelaguetza Auditorium in Oaxaca, Mexico. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
A general view of Auditorio Guelaguetza in the early evening.
Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga Fight NightFebruary 16, 2024; Oaxaca, Mexico; A general view during the Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga fight night at the Guelaguetza Auditorium in Oaxaca, Mexico. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
A general view of Auditorio Guelaguetza in the evening during Adrian Curiel versus Sivenathi Nontshinga.
Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga Fight NightFebruary 16, 2024; Oaxaca, Mexico; General view during Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga during their IBF World Light Flyweight Title fight at the Guelaguetza Auditorium in Oaxaca, Mexico. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.