Andy Dominguez feels right at home where he will get his first title shot

SAN FRANCISCO – Andy Dominguez aims to make a dream come true while fighting in a city that reminds him of home. 

Dominguez will face WBO flyweight titleholder Anthony Olascuaga on July 11 in San Francisco. The outdoor event will be staged near the Civic Center Plaza, with hopes of drawing over 100,000 live fans.

Dominguez, 13-1 (6 KOs), is a native New Yorker, but since 2021, he has held his training camps away from home. The 28-year-old Dominguez now trains in Las Vegas with Ismael Salas. He briefly tried living in Los Angeles before returning to Salas at the start of the year.

In town for Thursday’s introductory press conference, Dominguez was struck by how similar San Francisco seemed to his hometown and couldn’t help but be comforted by the feelings of familiarity. 

“I went to run yesterday, and San Francisco reminded me so much of New York,” Dominguez said. “Everyone is in a rush.”

Fighting for his first world title, Dominguez enters on a three-fight win streak – each of which were decided by split or majority decision. Most recently, he won a split decision against Byron Rojas in July.

“This is every boxer’s dream, to fight for a world title,” Dominguez said. “Now it is my turn.”

Olascuaga, 12-1 (9 KOs), will be seeking his sixth title defense and will headline his second card in the United States. It will also be the first time Olascuaga, a 27-year-old Los Angeles native, headlines a card in California. He was part of a main event in Las Vegas last September, knocking out Juan Carlos Camacho. He has fought twice since, winning both fights by knockout.

Olascuaga and Dominguez have shared a ring before as sparring partners, but Dominguez doesn’t see that experience being as useful as it might have been early in their pro careers. He’s less interested in the past than he is in the possibilities of the near future.

“I am so motivated,” Dominguez said. “This is a huge opportunity for me. Just like Ed Pereira is trying to make history with this event, I am here to make history.”

Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.