8 Count Boxing Kicks Off 2008 With “The Month Of Kings”

After a blockbuster year in 2007 featuring seventeen world class professional boxing events, Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions storms into the new year with “The Month Of The Kings”, an outstanding evening for Chicago fight fans set for Friday, January 25th at Cicero Stadium.

Said Pesoli, “As 2007 was a terrific year for the sport of boxing, we’re looking to forward to bigger things in 2008 with the same high quality events that our fans have come to expect from 8 Count over the last ten years. In Chicago, we’ve seen a tremendous increase in the number of fans and quality fighters in recent years and we expect both to continue.”

Headlining is former junior flyweight world champion Hugo “El Incredible” Cazares of Los Mochis, Mexico. Cazares has moved up to flyweight for this scheduled twelve rounder, his first fight in Chicago

Cazares, 25-4-1 (19KO’s) won the title on April 30, 2005 with a technical decision over Nelson Dieppa. He defended the title five times before losing a very close, hard fought split decision to Ivan Calderon on August 25th of this year in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. He is currently ranked # 2 in the world by Ring Magazine and ESPN.

In the co-main event, Chicago favorite Antonio Escalante, 16-2 (10KO’s) will return for his fourth area appearance in a ten round featherweight bout. The 22 year old Escalante, based in El Paso, Texas has won two in a row since his last appearance in Chicago, a surprising eighth round TKO loss to former world champion Mauricio Pastrana, a fight that he was well ahead when he was hurt by an overhand right by the Columbian.

Two years ago, Escalante made his first visit to Chicago with a thrilling ten round decision over Jose Hernandez, a fight that was hailed by many boxing writers as amongst the best of year. Solo Boxeo called it the best fight broadcast in 2006. Escalante also beat Juan Ruiz by decision in Chicago in May 2006 for the WBO NABO title in May 2006. At the close of 2006, ESPN’s Dan Rafael tapped Escalante as a future star in his year end review of prospects.

The undercard of “The Month Of The Kings” features Chicago welterweight Ivan Popoca, undefeated Puerto Rican twin brothers Juan Carlos Velasquez and Carlos Juan Velasquez along with fan favorite Barbaro Zepeda.

Along with Chicago’s 8 Count Productions and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, “The Month Of The Kings”, is presented by TCF Bank, Tecate Beer and AeroMexico, Mexico’s premier airline travel headquarters. The Solo Boxeo Tecate broadcast will be viewed in 42 US markets and 70 foreign countries.

Tickets for “The Month Of The Kings” are available in advance by calling the 8 Count Productions offices at 312-226-5800. Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie, just minutes from the Eisenhower and Stevenson Expressways. Doors for this event will open at 5:30pm with the first bell at 6:30pm.

The Master of Ceremonies for “The Month Of The Kings” will be Lupe Contreras, the internationally recognized voice of Latino boxing.

8 Count Productions was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1997 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.

To view the seating chart and poster for this event or for more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit www.8countproductions.com and www.jabbboxinggym.com