Box Fan Expo aims higher in second year

Alonzo Benezra wasn't sure how the inaugural Box Fan Expo would go last year. But with Mike Tyson, Amir Khan and other notables showing up at Las Vegas Convention Center to meet with fans in town for Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s rematch with Marcos Maidana, it worked out well for the Montreal-based promoter.

Benezra and his event are back, again coinciding with a Mayweather fight. This year's Box Fan Expo is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Convention Center, and for those in town for the Mayweather-Andre Berto fight, it's an opportunity to rub elbows with boxing legends.

Approximately 3,500 people attended last year, and Benezra expects a bigger crowd this year.

"We want to build on what we did and make it better," he said. "The feedback I got from the fans was they enjoyed meeting the fighters and that's what we want to emphasize. If you come to the Expo, you'll get to meet the fighters, shake their hand, get a photo or an autograph.

"We're also going to have a lot of giveaways through our exhibitors. So there'll be opportunities for fans to get a shirt or a glove or a hat."

Eighteen fighters are committed to appear, including several current and former champions. Among the notables: Timothy Bradley, Roberto Duran, Sergio Martinez, Ruslan Provodnikov, Aaron Pryor, Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, Shawn Porter, Jessie Vargas, Austin Trout and Zab Judah.

"Last year we had about 30 fighters appear," Benezra said. "We've got invitations out to a lot of fighters who we're still waiting to get a commitment from to attend. I would tell the fans to check our website daily to see who we've added to the list."

Tickets are $30 in advance through www.BoxFanExpo.com and will also be available at the door for $40. Children 6 and under are admitted free.

FIGHTER ARRIVALS — The arrival of Mayweather and the other fighters on his Saturday card will be Tuesday in the MGM Grand lobby. Mayweather is expected at 3 p.m. while Berto's arrival is scheduled for 2:45. Admission is free.

For Friday's 3 p.m. weigh-in at the Grand Garden, tickets will not be needed, unlike Mayweather's May 2 fight against Manny Pacquiao. Admisssion is free and doors will open at noon. The weigh-in will be streamed live on Showtime.com.

JUNIOR WORLDS — Rey Diaz of North Las Vegas is part of the 12-member team from USA Boxing that will compete this week in the AIBA Junior Men's World Championships in St. Petersburg, Russia. Diaz is competing at flyweight (110 pounds) and faces Junior Acero of New Zealand in his opening match today.

The team is coached by Augie Sanchez of Las Vegas. More than 400 15- and 16-year-old male amateurs from 46 countries are competing. The tournament runs through Saturday.

-- Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him: @stevecarprj