Boxing News Boxing News
Tickets are now on sale for “Showdown” an evening of world class professional boxing at Cicero Stadium on Friday, November 14, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions.
Headlining “Showdown” is an outstanding Chicago light heavyweight showdown between Mike “The Hammer” Nevitt, 15-1 (6) ,and “Marvelous” Shay Mobley, 17-9-1 (17), in an eight round bout.
Nevitt is coming off sixth round knockout of Luis Lopez on July 25th at the Aragon Ballroom. Prior to that he challenged Otis Griffin for the WBO NABO title last April, a bout fought evenly for the first six rounds, before the Chicago native was stopped in the seventh.
The Chicago fan favorite Nevitt had won his the first fifteen bouts of his professional career prior to the battle with Griffin and will look to restart his winning streak against Mobley.
The 31 year old Mobley, 17-9-1 (7), is coming off a unanimous decision win over Jerome Elder on November 16. His six year career includes battles with Donovan George, David Lopez, “Macho” Miguel Hernandez and Jesus Gonzalez.
Mobley’s battle with Hernandez at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom was one of Chicago’s most talked about fights of 2005. The Solo Boxeo broadcast unanimous decision win for Mobley highlighted a six bout winning streak for the heavy handed southpaw.
The co-main event will feature Chicago ’s hottest prospect, Ivan Popoca, 8-0-1 (7) against Louisville veteran Cesar Vega in a six round junior welterweight bout.
The 26 year old Popoca, 8-0-1 (7), a training partner of former WBC lightweight champion David Diaz, has been the talk of Chicago ’s boxing scene since making his professional debut in February 2007.
The bout against Vega will be the sixth bout this year for Popoca who has kept up a very busy pace in 2008. His last two fights have ended in first round knockouts for the heavy handed native of Guerrero , Mexico .
In a special attraction featherweight bout, undefeated super bantamweight prospect Eric “El Loco” Estrada, 5-0 (2), will battle Puerto Rican native Ivan “The Baby Faced Assassin” Rodriguez, 9-4-1 (3).
The 19 year Estrada has burst on the Chicago scene since turning pro one year ago and has quickly become a crowd favorite. Rodriguez is coming off an outstanding “blood and guts” win over Barbaro Zepeda on July 25 that had his legion of loyal fans on their feet from the opening bell.
Also appearing at “Showdown” is undefeated Chicago featherweight Juan Bailon in a four round bout against Barbaro Zepeda. Bailon, 3-0 (1), is coming off a four round unanimous decision win over Gerardo Alarcon on June 20 at the Aragon Ballroom..
Rounding out the card, Chicago newcomer Ryan Smedick will return in a four round welterweight bout against Chicago area native Gustavo Palacios. Smedick, 1-0 (1), scored a third round knockout of Eric Bradford on August 15 at the Aragon Ballroom in his pro debut.
More information on this event will be announced shortly.
The public pre-fight weigh-in for “Showdown” will take place at Mariscos El Veneno, 6651 S. Pulaski in Chicago , at 7pm on Thursday, October 16.
The Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be noted boxing ring announcer Thomas Treiber.
Advance tickets can be obtained by calling the 8 Count Productions office at 312-226-5800. Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie in Cicero . Doors on the evening of the event will open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm.
