More than 30 degrees and a fair sun have given the Metropolitan Civitas one of the most picturesque images that could be seen in the surroundings of a stadium. And that is a lot to say. Hundreds of young people, mostly teenagers, crossing the road from San Blas to Coslada to get where the traffic jam would not allow it. To The Evening of the Year, the bizarre artifice of the streamer Ibai Llanos who in 2021 jumped from Twitch to physical space. “The organization sucks,” repeated Javi, from Valencia. “We’ve been here since noon and we’re going to miss the start.” Seeing the queues that formed in front of the access doors, there was no choice but to surrender to the evidence. Irene and her friends, all of them in their twenties, used their fans and icy water to hold on. “We come from Parla and we really want to, last year we ran out of room for Barcelona.”
Boxers, artists and streamers have gathered in Madrid to celebrate an event that promises to go around the world. The Real Madrid player Fede Valverde, the actors Mario and Óscar Casas, the princess of the town, Belén Esteban, or the king of the Kings League, Gerard Piqué, did not want to miss the show that Ibai Llanos has prepared either. More than six hours of show whose main objective is to break (again) with the rules of entertainment and the audiovisual world. The previous edition of La Velada held the absolute audience record on Twitch, with an average of 2.4 million live devices and a peak of 3.3 million. This year, up to now, it has accumulated 3.2 million connected users, despite the continuous technical problems in broadcasting and live sound.
The 60,000 tickets to La Velada sold out in less than an hour. Most ranged between 30 and 60 euros, although the most privileged in the VIP box came to pay close to 300 for a seat in front of the ring, an assortment of tapas and an open bar to liven up the waiting time between fights. Whether it’s a lot or a little, judge for yourself. “If we had been able to do it at the Camp Nou or at the Bernabéu, if it hadn’t been for the reforms, we would have filled them too. It’s a real outrage,” Llanos said in a live broadcast. This is a historic capacity for a boxing event in Spain: the national precedent was in 1930, with the fight between Paulino Uzcudun and Primo Carnera at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium before 70,000 people.
The first fight was between Ampeter, a member of the ‘Sausage Squad’ and lover of motor sports, and the popular singer Abraham Mateo. The latter, who has been the winner, only had 20 days to prepare after the loss of youtuber Papi Gavi, although he confessed to having boxed in his adolescence. “With desire, attitude and determination you can achieve everything in this life. If there is no pain, you do not win,” said an emotional Mateo, after proclaiming himself the winner. And then, in the midst of disbelief, she began to sing the chorus of Señorita, her 2013 hit. Moments later, La Nena de Argentina, María Becerra, came on stage to tour her repertoire and premiere a new song, Empty heart. And, of course, to sing the Discoteka with Lola Índigo, who would appear by surprise.
The second match opened the women’s ban and, although it sounds like a tongue twister, it faced two fighters with the nickname of Rivers. The Mexican Samy Rivera, President of PIO FC in the Kings League InfoJobs and one of the streamers that has grown the most in popularity in Spain and Latin America, lost against the Galician Marina Rivers, also a creator of lifestyle content and favorite from the beginning. She would then break into the Rubius on Skype, flowered shirt and cocktail in hand, to complain that she had missed the end due to live broadcast failures. She also to broadcast, incidentally, a preview of an autobiographical documentary that will premiere on Prime Video at the end of July.
A confrontation that is YouTube history. Fernanfloo, the Salvadoran with the most followers in the world, has triumphed over a colleague by profession, Luzu. Old acquaintances have put aside their friendship to put on their gloves and engage in a surprising fight. “I will continue with boxing as a hobby, although I don’t see myself dedicating myself to this professionally,” Fernanfloo commented with a laugh. Although Luzu came wanting to win the belt after retiring last Evening, his hook was not up to the task. On the other hand, Rosario’s was, who encouraged the audience with I tell you everything and I don’t tell you anything. The Metropolitan turned on the lights of the mobiles to accompany the parachururuchuru of No doubt, while Rosario ran across the vertical stage and untied her curly hair before Ibai.
An injury has made this the shortest fight (less than a minute) of the three editions of La Velada, despite the fact that expectations were high for dealing with two heavyweights, literally and figuratively. The Chilean Shelao, Mister Real Universe in 2015, has had little time to demonstrate his boxing level, although he is one of the most experienced participants in the world of boxing. Misho, all muscles and two meters tall, had the handicap of being a rookie and having only had a month to prepare for the fight after the departure of the youtuber Viruzz. For the Bulgarian, the clash of the titans ended without the coveted belt and with a dislocated left shoulder.
At the end of Feid’s performance, which in less than 10 minutes gave a brilliant demonstration of why he is at the pinnacle of urban music, came the fight of controversy. Mayichi had run out of opponent four days after the event: the North American streamer Amouranth announced on her social networks that, due to an ovarian condition and by medical prescription, she would not be able to fight in La Velada. The public Twitter forum lynched Amouranth, although Ibai was very understanding and found a quick solution in Samy Rivera. After his defeat in the second duel, he has returned from the grave to take revenge under the mask of The Chosen One. It is the first time that a participant of La Velada fights twice in the same night, and you could tell that the Mexican wanted Mayichi because her fists did not stop flying over his face. Thus she has achieved, unanimously by the jury, the white belt. “Two fights in one night and there was no way to beat him. She is the fucking mistress, seriously,” Mayichi acknowledged.
In another order of things, Quevedo has confirmed the rumors by standing at La Velada singing Columbia for the first time, days before its global premiere. He did it surrounded by a band of cheerleaders and soldiers dressed in blue and yellow and waving flags. The Canarian artist has also performed other songs from his debut album, such as Playa del Inglés, and of course, the success that made him world famous thanks to Bizarrap Session 52. The stands have continued chanting Quéeeeedate! minutes after he left the stage.
Ozuna’s music, which has played for more than 20 minutes (few for the attendees, who asked for more and more) has given way to the last of the combats. And often ending. Argentina vs Chile on the ring: Coscu, one of the most important Argentine content creators at the moment, has put on his gloves to leave his country’s flag high after Momo fell against Viruzz last evening. He was facing HolaSoyGermán, considered one of the fathers of YouTube with millions of followers on his channel. In only two rounds, Coscu has been proclaimed the winner, after knocking out his rival. The Argentine celebrated it between tears.
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