By Larry Goldberg
Andy Dominguez was on the fitness center when his telephone rang. He had simply completed coaching. His supervisor, Vishare Mooney, was on the opposite finish of the road, and the query she requested him modified the path of his profession.
“She known as me and she or he stated, would you prefer to struggle Anthony Olascuaga?” Dominguez stated. “I knew who Anthony Olascuaga is. I do know who he’s. And I didn’t hesitate. I stated sure immediately. Like, I didn’t even ask. I didn’t even ask when, as a result of I used to be already able to struggle. I didn’t ask how a lot until afterward. All you heard was sure from me. I didn’t ask when, the place, and the way a lot. All you heard was sure from me.”
On Saturday, July 11, 2026, at San Francisco’s Civic Middle Plaza, Dominguez (13-1, 6 KOs) will struggle WBO flyweight champion Anthony “Princesa” Olascuaga (12-1, 9 KOs) for a world title. The free out of doors card, promoted by iVisit Boxing, Sampson Boxing, and Paco Presents, is being marketed by iVisit Boxing CEO Ed Pereira as a bid to interrupt the all-time boxing attendance report of 135,132 set at Tony Zale vs. Billy Pryor at Juneau Park in Milwaukee in 1941. For Dominguez, a Mexico-born fighter raised within the Bronx and now primarily based in Las Vegas, it’s the largest alternative of his profession. He’ll inform you he’s prepared for it. He’ll inform you he has been prepared for it for a very long time.
The Champion He’s Chasing
Olascuaga has held the WBO flyweight title since July 2024 and enters July 11 on a three-fight knockout streak, most just lately stopping Jukiya Iimura within the ninth spherical at Yokohama Buntai on March 15, 2026. The 27-year-old Los Angeles native, educated by Rudy Hernandez, has made 5 profitable defenses, the majority of them in Japan. His solely skilled loss got here at 108 kilos towards Kenshiro Teraji in April 2023, taken on brief discover. He’s the favourite on July 11.
“A Little Child From Nothing”
The fact of what Dominguez was strolling into didn’t land on him immediately. It took the press convention for it to sink in.
“It didn’t hit me until the day of the press convention,” Dominguez stated. “I’m so dangerous at interviews or cameras. I don’t know learn how to categorical myself. However in my head, I put myself outdoors the field and I see somewhat child that comes from nothing, and now turning into the largest struggle that they’re attempting to make. One of many largest boxing occasions in San Francisco. I can’t imagine it. However on the identical time, yeah, it’s me. I’m making it occur. As a result of I didn’t inform myself I used to be going to be nice. I advised myself I used to be going to be somebody that may by no means quit, regardless of the onerous occasions I’ve been by.”
Dominguez was born within the Mexico Metropolis space however doesn’t contemplate himself a metropolis child. He describes himself as a farm child. He moved to the Bronx at age 10, the place he says he was picked on by classmates to the purpose that it landed him in common schoolyard fights. He grew up within the streets, with a single mom and two brothers, and a path in entrance of him that he says may simply have gone a special path. Buddies who took the flawed flip. Gangs on the nook. He was 15 when he made the choice he says modified his life.
“It’s by no means too late to appreciate you possibly can grow to be somebody,” Dominguez stated. “And that particular person was me. I grew up within the streets, and afterward, round 15 years previous, I seen I may grow to be a world champion. I may obtain a variety of issues. And that’s what I put in my head. I put it inside my head that I might be a lot particular and alter my complete life. Not simply me, however for my household. Boxing actually gave me a variety of alternatives. I simply really feel prefer it may change my complete life. Not only for me, however for my mother and for my brothers.”
Years in the past, in a 2022 interview, Dominguez provided his personal purpose for wanting a world title. He stated he wished “a platform to assist and encourage different folks.” 4 years on, that reply has not modified.
Lupin
The person who received him there was Jose “Lupin” Guzman. Dominguez’s mom took him to the Willis Avenue Boxing Gymnasium within the Bronx at age 13, hoping to redirect his vitality out of the schoolyard. Guzman grew to become greater than a coach.
“Lupin Guzman was the one which launched me to boxing,” Dominguez stated. “Because of him, I’m the particular person I’m right now. He mainly raised me like his child. There have been occasions my mother would wrestle paying month-to-month funds, and he was that kind of coach that didn’t care. He didn’t care how a lot. He didn’t care about cash. He knew I had one thing particular in me, and he handled me like a son. He would make me go run on Sundays near his home. He’d give me breakfast and deal with me like his personal son. I nonetheless deal with him like a father. I by no means had a dad. I grew up with no dad. And he mainly grew to become my dad. He was the one which was instructing me learn how to grow to be a person. I’m grateful for him.”
Underneath Guzman, Dominguez constructed an beginner résumé that included 59 fights, three New York Golden Gloves titles, and a number of Ring Masters championships. He turned skilled in August 2020, in the course of the pandemic, when the New York struggle scene was barely functioning. He took the fights that had been accessible. He labored the New York membership circuit when the New York membership circuit was barely respiration. He was a daily headliner at Sony Corridor in Manhattan, and was promoted six occasions by Boxing Insider Promotions on his means up. In December 2025, Ring 8, the New York State boxing veterans’ group, named him New York State Fighter of the 12 months. The award was introduced to Dominguez by Boxing Insider founder Larry Goldberg on the Ring 8 annual gala in Queens.
Finally, Dominguez and his group made the transfer from the Willis Avenue Boxing Gymnasium to Mendez Boxing in Manhattan, the storied fitness center that has produced and hosted fighters at each degree of the game. Mendez grew to become his New York residence base and the bridge to what got here subsequent.
The Bridge to Vegas
The subsequent chapter of his profession got here by one other connection within the boxing enterprise. Marcelino Castillo, a longtime determine within the sport, introduced Dominguez to Las Vegas for a coaching camp and put him in entrance of a coach who would change his trajectory once more.
“That was due to Marcelino Castillo,” Dominguez stated. “He was the one which took me to Vegas for coaching camp, for sparring. And he was the one which launched me to Ismael Salas. From there, I began coaching with Salas.”
Salas, the Cuban grasp coach who has labored with greater than a dozen world champions throughout his profession, grew to become Dominguez’s lead coach.
“Salas, man, he’s a legend,” Dominguez stated. “He has a variety of world champions. He is aware of his issues. He’s been by boxing for therefore a few years. I can’t even inform you what number of world champions he’s received. He simply has lots. Each time you ask him what number of world champions he has, I don’t even assume he may inform you. He simply has so many.”
Becoming a member of Salas in Dominguez’s nook for the Olascuaga struggle will probably be Henry Deleon, a New York coach Dominguez has identified for years, who has been in camp with him since January.
“Henry’s been in camp with me since January,” Dominguez stated. “He’s been truly serving to me lots. He’s been specializing in me. I’m grateful. He’s considered one of my pals in New York. I’ve identified him for therefore a few years. I really feel comfy with him. And he’s following the identical dream. He desires to grow to be a terrific coach, and I’m attempting to grow to be a world champion. Me and him profitable a world title collectively, I feel it will be wonderful.”
The Rojas Battle of the 12 months
Dominguez’s final struggle got here on July 25, 2025, when he received a 10-round cut up determination over Byron “Gallito” Rojas on the Tropicana Atlantic Metropolis to seize the WBC US Silver gentle flyweight title. Rojas, a 35-year-old Nicaraguan and a former WBA and IBO minimumweight world champion, got here in 29-5-3 with 12 knockouts. The struggle was scored 97-93 and 96-94 for Dominguez, with one choose scoring it 97-93 the opposite means. It was a 10-round battle that had the gang on its toes from the opening bell to the ultimate seconds. Boxing Insider’s protection tabbed it a Battle of the 12 months candidate.
“Rojas was truly considered one of my largest fights,” Dominguez stated. “He’s a former world champion. I beat him. He’s a troublesome dude. He’s one of many hardest opponents I ever confronted.”
Mendez Boxing commissioned a bus to deliver members right down to Atlantic Metropolis to fill out the gang. Dominguez gave them their cash’s price. He boxed sharply within the early rounds, weathered Rojas’ counter-uppercut work within the center rounds when swelling closed in round each eyes, and pulled away on two scorecards within the championship rounds to take the choice. The win moved him into the WBO’s top-15 at gentle flyweight and put him on the radar for the sort of title shot he’s about to take. Full outcomes from that night time can be found individually.
The highway to the Rojas struggle had not been easy. Two months earlier, on Could 9, 2025, Dominguez was scheduled to problem Nelvis Rodriguez for a similar WBC US Silver title at Sony Corridor on a Boxing Insider Promotions card streamed by DAZN. Rodriguez got here in considerably over the 108-pound restrict on the weigh-in. With the co-main occasion and a number of other undercard bouts additionally falling off the cardboard, the remaining scheduled rounds dropped beneath regulatory necessities for a sanctioned present, and your complete occasion was scrapped struggle week. Dominguez saved coaching. Two months later, towards a extra harmful opponent, he received the title shot he had been promised.
He’s at the moment ranked No. 14 at gentle flyweight by the WBO and No. 15 at gentle flyweight by the WBC. The July 11 bout towards Olascuaga will probably be his first try at a serious world title, and his transfer up from 108 kilos to flyweight to problem for the 112-pound belt.
His solely skilled loss got here towards Puerto Rican Olympian Yankiel Rivera by vast unanimous determination in 2024. Dominguez had Rivera badly damage within the ninth spherical earlier than Rivera survived to win on all three playing cards. He has received three straight because the Rivera loss.
Stylistic Matchup
Olascuaga is an orthodox boxer-puncher with a 75 % knockout fee at flyweight. He has constructed his title reign on quantity and precision counter work, with the best uppercut and left hook serving as his most dependable ending instruments. Hernandez has beforehand cited Olascuaga’s beginner background and his high-level sparring with Junto Nakatani, Kenshiro Teraji, and Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez as the muse of his quick skilled improvement.
Dominguez, additionally orthodox, has campaigned primarily as a stress fighter at flyweight and 108 kilos, with a deeper beginner basis than the champion and a willingness to struggle off the again foot when pressured. The dimensions and attain hole is minimal: each males measure 5-foot-4.
The bout is scheduled for 12 rounds.
To the Doubters
Olascuaga is the favourite. The champion has held the WBO flyweight title since July 2024, has made 5 profitable defenses, and enters the struggle on a three-fight knockout streak. He’s the larger puncher on paper and the extra established identify. Dominguez has heard the doubters. He has a solution for them.
“I’m a Mexican fighter, man,” Dominguez stated. “I’ve been by battle. I may go to battle. I may field. Simply don’t sleep on me. I really feel like folks don’t admire my boxing. They don’t admire me as a result of I at all times give thrilling fights. And that’s what’s going to occur. I’m going to be greater than able to struggle and be a world champion, women and gents.”
The Stage
Dominguez will struggle outside, underneath the open San Francisco sky, on the plaza in entrance of Metropolis Corridor. The promoters usually are not staging this card in an enviornment. They aren’t staging it in a on line casino ballroom. They’re placing a 20-foot ring on the middle of Civic Middle Plaza and welcoming your complete metropolis to stroll up without cost. Pereira and his group have publicly said they’re chasing the all-time boxing attendance report of 135,132, set 85 years in the past in Milwaukee, a mark that has stood untouched by generations of stadium fights, megafights, and pay-per-view spectacles. In the event that they hit the quantity, July 11 would be the largest crowd ever assembled to observe an expert boxing match. And in the principle occasion of that crowd, preventing for a world title, will probably be Andy Dominguez.
That could be a good distance from the farm child who moved to the Bronx at 10 and used to run on Sundays close to Lupin’s home, consuming breakfast at his coach’s desk as a result of his mother couldn’t at all times make the fitness center payment.
