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Celebrity came sprinting at Nito Bravo.

It was a 20-something woman who raced down the hall of Park Place Mall as the boxer prepared to walk to the parking lot. She wanted a picture with one of the star's of ESPN's "The Contender" reality show.

"I guess her husband wouldn't believe her without a picture," Bravo joked.

Tonight, the Tucsonan will fight for the first time since losing in the third-place fight on the show in late September.

Signed to a one-year contract by Tournament of Contenders, the promotional arm of the show, Bravo's career has changed dramatically in the past six months.

Even at Thursday night's weigh-in, Bravo — who will fight 10-10-1 Michael Lucero tonight at Desert Diamond Casino — was deluged with interview requests and autograph-seekers.

"I've been boxing a long time and never got this type of reception," said Bravo, who is 22-12-3 with 13 knockouts. "People come up with napkins, picture phones, everything.

"Around town, it's remarkable how many people know me from the show."

Bravo, 36, said he has signed more autographs in the past few months than during his entire career as a pro.

"I was even thinking about getting a stamp," he laughed.

Bravo will not be the headliner tonight — that goes to the 12-round NABO championship junior lightweight fight between Puerto Rican Daniel Jimenez and Dominican Angel Recio.

Recio replaced the star of the show, 51-13-2 Mexican fighter Javier Jauregui, on Wednesday.

Jauregui suffered an injury this week while training in Tucson. He has since returned to Mexico.

"I'm the one who packs the house. I know that," Bravo said. "They can put anyone on the poster. It doesn't matter. When I come out, people are screaming my name."

Even his opponent is a Bravo fan.

Lucero, a 5-foot-3-inch, 138-pound Oregonian, said he remembers watching the show with his wife.

"He's a good fighter," he said. "When I was watching it, I actually wanted him to win it.

"My record's real deceiving," he added. "I'm a better fighter than a 10-10-1 record shows."