Boxing News Boxing News
Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions will enter it’s thirteenth year this Friday night, January 29th with “Windy City Fight Night 8” an outstanding evening of ten world class bouts of professional boxing.
Said Pesoli, “I’m truly honored that each year brings continued success to 8 Count Productions. The Chicago sports fans have continued to show their loyalty to us and we’re thrilled to present a huge night of boxing this Friday night at the UIC Pavilion as we enter our thirteenth year of promoting.”
Headlining the bill is the return of Chicago fan favorite, Donovan George, taking on Minnesota native, Phil Wiliams in an eight round super middleweight showdown.
Known for his crunching knockouts and celebratory back flips, the undefeated George boasts a record of 18-0-1 with sixteen knockouts. The 25 year old George is coming off a fourth round stoppage of Jason Naugler on November 6th, in his finest performance of his career.
The 32 year old Williams, 11-2-0 (10KO’s), had won three in a row prior to battling veteran contender Matt Vanda on November 13th, losing a hard fought ten round split decision.
The co-main event features power punching Chicago based prospect Ivan Popoca in an eight round welterweight battle against impressive Michigan newcomer Federico Flores Jr.
Popoca, 12-0-1 (8KO’s), is coming off a sixth round stoppage of Mike Gonzales on September 26th, his fourth win in 2009
The 21 year old Flores, 6-3-0 (2KO’s), fought three times in Chicago in 2008 and was victorious each time, including wins over Guadalupe Diaz, Gustavo Palacios and Joshua Rodriguez.
In a special attraction heavyweight bout, Poland ’s Andrzej Wawrzyk, 16-0-0 (10KO’s) will face off against Michigan ’s Harvey Jolly, 10-12-1 (5KO’s) in an eight round bout.
A native of Krakow, Poland, the 22 year old Wawrzyk will be fighting for the first time in the United States. He is coming off a ten round unanimous decision over Alexey Mazikin on December 18th in Lodz, Poland. The win over Mazikin was the fourth defense of the WBC Youth World Heavyweight Title by Wawrzyk, which he won by eighth round knockout over Harry Duiven Jr. on October 18, 2008 in Zabrze, Poland.
In September 2009, the 33 year old Jolly brutally stopped unbeaten hometown favorite Nicholas Iannuzzi in the first round in Tampa, Florida. Iannuzzi was dropped three times in the first stanza as Jolly upset the unbeaten prospect.
Junior welterweights will also see action at “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 8” as Puerto Rico ’s Kenny Galarza will battle Dominican native Ilido Julio. in a scheduled eight rounder.
The undefeated Galarza, 11-0-0 (11KO’s), is coming off a tenth round stoppage of Joshua Allotey on September 18th, which earned him the interim WBO NABO Junior Welterweight Title. The heavy hitting 24 year old will be making his Chicago debut.
Now based in Miami, Florida, 39-16-1 (35KO’s), Julio traveled to Ontario, California, on September 11th and upset highly regarded, hometown prospect Dominic Salcido with a fifth round knockout.
Returning to the UIC Pavilion is light heavyweight Fonfara, 12-2-0 (3KO’s) who will face off against Mexican Adan Leal, 6-1-0 (5KO’s) in a six round bout.
Born and raised in Warsaw, Poland, the 22 year old Fonfara has fought almost entirely in the Chicagoland area since turning professional four years ago. Fonfara won all three of his bouts in 2009, most recently stopping Skyler Thompson in the second round on June 26th to earn the WBF United States Super Middleweight Title.
Based in Nogales, Arizona, the heavy handed Leal won his first six professional bouts, the first five by knockout as he became a staple of the Arizona fight scene since turning professional in 2007.
In a battle of undefeated heavyweight prospects, Chicago ’s David Latoria, 4-0-0 (2KO’s), will face Highland, Indiana native Michael Parker, 7-0-0 (6KO’s).
Latoria is coming off a four round decision over Cleophris Glover on December 4th. Parker’s last bout resulted in a first round knockout of Ronald Garr on October 3rd.
In a four round welterweight showdown Chicago native Achour Esho will battle Milwaukee’s Alexander Tousignant.
The undefeated Esho, 5-0-0 (4KO’s), has fought twice before at the UIC Pavilion, both resulted in crowd pleasing knockouts. Tousignant, 1-1-0 (1KO), won his pro debut with a first round stoppage of Harold McLeod on October 3rd.
Also on the undercard, super bantamweights Sergio Montes De Oca and Sergio Cristobal will attempt to settle their cross town score. The 23 year old Montes De Oca has impressively moved to 3-0 since turning professional twelve month ago.
In his last bout, Montes De Oca won a hard fought four round decision over LaShaun Blair at the UIC Pavilion on May 29th. On the same card, Cristobal, 0-1-0, lost a very close majority decision in his pro debut to Juan Carlos Fernandez.
In a battle of lightweight newcomers, Chicago’s Antonio Avila, 2-0-0 (1KO), will battle Kansas native Herbert Acevedo, 1-0-0, in a four round bout.
Rounding out the undercard, Chicago’s Bobby Jaskierny, 4-2-0 (2KO’s), will face Minnesota’s David Laque in a scheduled four rounder.
The action packed ten bout fight card is presented by Chicago ’s 8 Count Productions in association with Warriors Boxing and Bullit KnockOut Promotions.
Advance tickets, starting at $31, are available through Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.com, the UIC Pavilion Box Office (312-413-5740) and the 8 Count Productions’ Office (312-226-5800).
