Boxing News Boxing News
“King” David Estrada will face off against Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s Chris Gray in an eight round junior middleweight bout on Friday, August 21st at Chicago’s UIC Pavilion, presented by Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions.
Said Pesoli, ‘We’ve had a terrific response in ticket sales in the last week since we announced that David was headlining. Fight fans in Chicago are excited that finally he’s coming back to town for the first time in nine years.”
Continued, “When David and I first spoke and he wanted to fight on my show we both agreed that in keeping with the terrific fights we’ve had on this series at the UIC Pavilion, he would be in a tough fight. That was music to David’s ears because that’s the way he wants it also.”
“Chris Gray is a tough kid from the South who’s fought and beaten a lot of top fighters often times in their own backyards. So I know he has no problem coming to Chicago to face Estrada on August 21st.”
Gray, 12-9-0 (1KO), is coming off a six round decision over Mike Ruiz on June 5th in Westbury, New York. This will be his fifth fight of 2009, including a six round battle with contender Ishe Smith on May 8th in Las Vegas.
Said Estrada, “It’s going to be a tough fight, a real fight and that’s perfect for me and the Chicago fight fans.”
The 30 year old Estrada, 22-6-0 (13KO’s), has fought numerous world class fighters in his ten year career including world champions Shane Mosley, Andre Berto and Kermit Cintron, along with contenders Chris Smith, Ishe Smith, Jesus Soto-Karass and Nurhan Suleymanoglu.
Most recently, Estrada battled Luis Abregu on December 5, 2008, in a bout broadcast on Showtime. Although seemingly well ahead in the fight, Estrada was deemed by the judges to have lost by split decision which angered the packed house at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California.
The undercard features several outstanding undefeated prospects including; middleweight Foster Nkodo, heavyweight David Latoria, welterweight Tony Maldonado, junior welterweight Ramiro Carrillo and pro debuting Antonio Avila. .
Foster Nkodo, 3-0-0 (1KO), a native of Cameroon, now living in Chicago, is coming off a six round unanimous decision win over undefeated Lamar Harris on March 27th.
Newcomer David Latoria, 1-0-0 (1KO), thrilled the UIC Pavilion crowd on Friday night, July 24th, with a brutal first round knockout of Christopher Boykins.
Also making his second professional start, welterweight Tony Maldonado, 1-0-0 (1KO), returns to the UIC Pavilion following his third round stoppage of Justin Muse on May 29th.
Chicago Golden Gloves Champion Ramiro Carrillo, 1-0-0 (1KO), will follow up his April 24th first round knockout of Steve Hall in a four round junior welterweight bout.
Rounding out the undercard, Chicago junior welterweight Antonio Avila will make his pro debut in a four round bout.
Advance tickets starting at $31, can be purchased through the 8 Count Productions office at 312-226-5800 and through Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.
Doors on the evening of the event will open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm. The UIC Pavilion is located at 525 S. Racine , just one block south of the Eisenhower Expressway. For further information, please visit their website at www.uicpavilion.com.
