News
A Great Friend to Boxing Passes
Danny Valdivia, the voice of women’s boxing for all IFBA telecasted shows in the late 90’s through 2001 has passed away. With his trademark grace and charm, Danny introduced our all female cards on ESPN2, Pay-Per-View, USA Tuesday Night Fights and Fox Sports International Boxing. A native Californian, Danny was born in Santa Monica, California on August 6, 1934 and passed peacefully on December 9, 2009. Danny married his high school sweetheart Helen in 1956 and was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1957. For 37 years Danny worked at Sears, and before he retired was promoted to Area Personnel Manager in Southern California. Danny spent over 30 years in the center of the ring. Danny worked many televised cards for Univision, Telemundo and Galavision and was featured in many TV and films, as well as, hosting the World Boxing Hall of Fame Banquet of Champions. In 1984 Danny lent his talents in the center of the ring as the announcer for the 1984 Olympics held in Los Angeles at the LA Sports Arena. In 1998 Danny took the ring to announce the USA Women’s Amateur Championships from the Arrowhead Pond, in Anaheim.
As a man of faith, Danny was an active parishioner of St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Santa Monica, where he worshiped for over 40 years. Through his faith Danny learned the virtues of giving and helping others and there was never a time when Danny wasn’t there with a kind word or warm smile to make your day a little better, no matter how bad you felt.
Danny’s love of giving spilled over into his incredible talent to make jewelry, and his gift of custom made gold boxing glove cuff-links in 1998 are still worn to this day at every sanctioned IFBA event.
Danny is survived by his wife of 53 years Helen, his son Daniel, daughters Valerie Saunders, Stephanie Grand, Leslie Valdivia,Satcy Rude and Kristie Bowers; 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren and his brother Tony and sister Lu Luera.
Danny will be missed and remembered fondly as a man of integrity and good will to all who had the good fortune to cross his path in life.
