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Chicago’s 8 Count Productions, presents a stellar evening this Friday night, May 20th at the UIC Pavilion.
The seven bout card, Windy City Fight Night 17, brings together a terrific blend of Chicagoland’s finest contenders, proven prospects and exciting newcomers.
“Boxing fans come to our Windy City Fight Night series at the UIC Pavilion with a high level of expectation and the huge crowds that have been in attendance at our recent shows validates the quality of our events. We’ve got another terrific card on Friday night featuring many of Chicago ’s best fighters” said 8 Count Productions President Dominic Pesoli.
Headlining Windy City Fight Night 17 is a sensational ten round light heavyweight title bout between Chicagoland fan favorite, “The Polish Prince” Andrzej Fonfara and “The Fighting Pride of Brockton Massachusetts”, Anthony Russell.
Contested for the vacant WBO/NABO Title, this will be Fonfara’s seventh bout at the UIC Pavilion and a vast army of Chicagoland Polish Supporters are expected to attend.
Sporting a record of 17-2-0 (8KO’s), the 23 year old Fonfara is coming off a fourth round knockout of Ray Smith on April 9th in Newark , New Jersey . The knockout was featured on the undercard of the Tomasz Adamek/Kevin McBride bout which was broadcast to millions in Poland and the United States .
Just 26 year old, the upset minded Russell carries a record of 16-2-1 (5KO’s) to the ring against Fonfara in his Chicago debut. He is coming off a brutal second round stoppage of Dominique Azeez on April 1, 2011.
The undercard at Windy City Fight Night 17 is topped by the highly anticipated return of Chicago welterweight prospect Jaime “The Truth” Herrera in a rematch against Indianapolis native Eric Draper.
On April 30, 2010, Herrera and Draper thrilled the UIC Pavilion crowd with a terrific four round war won by Herrera via unanimous decision.
Herrera, 5-1-0 (3KO’s), will look to get back in the win column, having suffered the first loss of his career, a second round stoppage at the hands of Alex DeLeon on January 28th at the UIC Pavilion.
Draper, 4-4-0 (1KO), has won three in a row against excellent competition with a combined record of 17-4-0.
Popular Chicago middleweight prospect Ninos “Da Champ” Abraham makes his Windy City Fight Night debut against South Bend, Indiana’s Cesar Martinez in a scheduled four round tilt.
Undefeated with a record of 6-0-0 (2KO’s), the former amateur standout looks to stay in the win column against Martinez , 1-3-0.
Chicago based Puerto Rican newcomer Luis Santiago , 1-0-0 (1KO) will battle St. Louis ’ Chris Holloman, 0-1-0 in a four round welterweight bout.
Santiago stunned the crowd at the UIC Pavilion in his pro debut on April 1st brutally stopping William Bokhart in the first round.
In a six round middleweight Indiana showdown, Schereville’s Josh Crouch, 6-1-0 (6KO’s), will challenge Keon Johnson, 8-4-0 (2KO’s), of Indianapolis . Crouch is looking to jump start his 2011 campaign, having fought three times in 2010.
Junior welterweights will see action on the undercard at Windy City Fight Night 17 as undefeated Johnny Garcia, 6-0-0 (5KO’s) will face off against the Motor City ’s Christopher Coverson, 3-1-0 (2KO’s).
This will be Garcia’s second appearance at the UIC Pavilion, having looked sensational in a four round action packed unanimous decision over Dean Peters Jr. on June 19, 2010.
Rounding out the card, Chicago lightweight Juan Bustamante will make his pro debut against Jose Rivera, 0-2-0, in a four round bout.
The UIC Pavilion is located at 525 S. Racine, at the corner of Harrison and Racine, one block south of the Eisenhower Expressway in the West Loop area of Chicago.
Tickets, starting at $30, may be purchased on the night of the event at the box office. Doors open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm.
Tickets may also be purchased in advance through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com, the UIC Pavilion Boxing Office (312-413-5740) and the 8 Count Productions’ Office (312-226-5800).
For further information about the UIC Pavilion, please visit their website at www.uicpavilion.com. The UIC Pavilion is now serving alcohol at all boxing events.
