State takes a swing at boxing series

State authorities have called foul on a Spanish-language reality show featuring Latino boxers, alleging that two of the fights broadcast last month on the Azteca America network were not sanctioned.

The California State Athletic Commission served a cease-and-desist order on the producers of “Retador Azteca” (Aztec Challenger) on Feb. 8, trying to halt production of allegedly unsanctioned bouts in East Los Angeles. Investigators are now looking into charges that the show went ahead with two fights in defiance of the order, according to Armando Garcia, the commission’s executive officer. “We shut them down and the very next day they had two unsanctioned fights,” he said.

A spokesperson for the show denied the allegations and called the investigation “a witch hunt.” Mapi Montero, the program’s New Jersey-based producer, said she would prove that the two fights in question actually took place in Mexico. “I feel very betrayed by everything that’s happened,” said Montero.

Monica Taher, communications director for the Glendale-based Azteca America, said the network was unaware of allegations surrounding the show, which it acquired from Montero’s independent production company, MapiTV. The program pits two teams of eight boxers, one from the U.S. and the other from Mexico, in a competition meant to underscore the ties created by immigration. The U.S. team, which includes two fighters from the Los Angeles area, is based in Las Vegas and the Mexican team in Puebla.

Producers have also been on the ropes with Nevada authorities. The show applied for permits in Las Vegas through a local licensed boxing promoter, but did not submit complete physical exams on time for matches earlier this month, according to Sandy Johnson, an official with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Producers are to appear before the Nevada commission March 24 to request new fight dates.

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agustin.gurza@latimes.com