Manny Pacquiao Promotions (MPP) is making its U.S. debut on Saturday, November 29, with a headlining fight between two featherweight contenders (Elijah Pierce & Lorenzo Parra) and the pro debut of Jimuel Pacquiao. The fight card also features 35-year-old middleweight Luis Arias (22-5-1, 11 KOs) from Milwaukee, WI, who isn’t ready to be a gatekeeper and will need to prove himself against the undefeated Lazaro Lorenzana (18-0, 13 KOs) in a scheduled ten-round bout. The event streams live on ESPN Deportes and ESPN Knockouts from the Pechanga Casino and Resort in Temecula, CA.
Arias is a 13-year veteran, and if you check his Boxrec, you’ll see names like Danny Jacobs, Gabe Rosado, Jarret Hurd, Erickson Lubin, and others he’s shared the ring with. These kinds of fights, whether he won or not, involve world-class fighters and are valuable experience to carry into the next fight.
Arias knows that this could very well be the fight that either puts him on a path to another big fight or signals the end of his career. Regardless of what’s at stake, you wouldn’t be able to tell how it affects him, as Arias always maintains this upbeat vibe, as if nothing ever bothers him. When opening up the conversation with Arias, he told FightsATW, “Looking forward to stepping into the ring another time.” Arias wasted no time in acknowledging what Saturday night’s fight means to him at this point in his career. “A win can flip the whole script, and it puts me in the mix for a big fight,” said Arias. “I’m always down for a big fight baby.”
“There are only so many chances that I’m going to get. Another loss looks bad, as that would be six losses total. I have to start beating some guys. I do want to be a champion. If I can’t get past this guy at 35, then what happens at 36? Then some other questions start being asked, so this is a very meaningful fight for my career.”
Although Arias is confident that he will come out victorious, he isn’t putting all his eggs in one basket. Not long ago, he decided to explore other careers, and one that came to the forefront was becoming a realtor. Boxing has a funny way of bringing people together, even if it’s not in the ring. Arias’ moment came when a friend, who shared trainers with him, extended an open invitation, which Arias later accepted.
“Everyone has always told me that when you get a bunch of money, go into real estate, but they never really teach us how, said Arias. “I reached out to my friend Sean E. O’Hara, and he works for Geneva Financials. He was training with one of my trainers and was one of the top realtors in the country. He always told me that whenever I wanted to learn about real estate, I should let him know. After my last fight, I knew that I needed to start working on the next phase, so I reached out to him. He told me which classes I needed to take, and I did. I completed the 40 hours of schooling and took the exam, which was very tough, but I passed. I’ve been working under him and just learning the ropes…I can’t fight at 45, but I can help someone buy a house at 45.”
Although being a realtor is becoming more full-time than part-time, Arias is locked in for his fight against Lorenzana. Arias believes this will be a fight that the fans will truly enjoy and expects his opponent to be right there for him. “He’s (Lorenzana) a good, solid guy, a puncher, and coming to scrap. One thing I’m looking forward to in this fight is that I won’t have to go look for him. He’s coming to me. We are going to bump heads like two rams.
“I’ve always come to fight. It’s going to be a great fight, and we will see what he has. I know he’s the favorite in this fight, so everything is on him. He’s the one that gotta show up. It’s a 50/50 fight, and I’m looking forward to putting on a show for the fans and Manny Pacquiao.”
On Saturday night, Arias will either continue his boxing career going or pursue real estate as his new full-time career. Regardless of which path he chooses, Arias won’t give up easily, so the expectation is that when he meets Lorenzana in the ring, it’ll be pure violence. This could be a fight that steals the show, so make sure to get to the Pechanga Casino and Resort in Temecula, CA, early enough so you don’t miss it.
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