That’s Damon Reed’s take on his boxing events compared to Zeferino Ramirez, a Colorado-based promoter who hosted a card at Harrah’s Prairie Band Casino last month and has another one scheduled for April 14.

In recent years, Reed and Craig Cummings, co-owners of Danger-Fire Promotions, have had a virtual monopoly on boxing in Topeka.

Suddenly, the area’s premier pugilists/promoters have a little competition. True to their fighting styles, the affable Reed and Cummings have come out swinging.

“To me, it’s just backed us against the wall and brings out the best,” Reed said.

Boxing cards in Topeka don’t get much better than the one Danger-Fire is putting together April 13 at the Expocentre.

The main event features the city’s most popular fighters — Reed and veteran Andy Sample — in a bout boxing fans have wanted to see for years.

Add to the mix a fight between Seaman graduates Derrick Reed and Matt Gockel, and the headline bouts should be the best Topeka has seen.

“This fight is for the fans,” Sample said. “This really isn’t about me and Damon, we’re friends. This is something Topeka deserves.”

Give Reed and Cummings credit for savvy scheduling. Once Ramirez locked up his second card with Harrah’s for April 14, the duo set their event for the day before at the Expocentre.

“All of a sudden, this guy shows up from Colorado. It made us create great matchups because we want to prove we have the best to offer,” Cummings said. “As long as people are talking about boxing, it’s good for our business.”

The Danger-Fire events have improved with each promotion, notably the Rumble at the Ramada series that began in August.

But the April 13 card, which will feature the best the city has to offer, should floor those events.

In addition to the Reeds, Sample and Gockel, local favorites Michie Munoz (17-0), Raul Munoz (19-10) and Derrick Campos (9-3) will fight.

And it doesn’t hurt that Tommy Morrison was cleared to fight in West Virginia tonight. It’s the first in a series of steps that could lead up to a Reed-Morrison fight at the Expocentre, which would rank as the biggest fight in city history.

Ernie W. Webb III is filling in for the vacationing Rick Dean. Webb can be reached at (785) 295-1102 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it