TICKET ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!
JAIME SANDOVAL VS. JUAN CARLOS MARTINEZ
“WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2”
FRIDAY, MAY 29TH AT THE UIC PAVILION

CHICAGO, IL (April 27, 2009) World class professional boxing returns to the UIC Pavilion on Friday, May 29th, as Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, presents “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2”..

Tickets for “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2”, starting at $31, are on sale now through the 8 Count Productions office at 312-226-5800 and through Ticketmaster at 312-559-1212 or http://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 http://www.uicpavilion.com/

“WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2” is headlined by an outstanding ten round main event between Chicago based lightweight Jaime “SUPERFLY” Sandoval and Juan Carlos “EL PEZ” Martinez of San Luis Potosi, Mexico for the World Boxing Foundation Americas Lightweight Championship.

The Sandoval/Martinez bout is a rematch of their terrific battle on October 19, 2007 at Cicero Stadium, won by Martinez in an epic eight round bout that saw both warriors bruised and battered as they fought to a very close finish in front of their legions of loyal fans. Martinez was declared the victor by scores of 78-74, 78-74 and 77-75.

Said Pesoli, “I’ve wanted to make this rematch for over a year and I’m thrilled that Jaime and Juan Carlos have agreed to fight again on May 29th. The fans in Cicero saw an outstanding bout between these two warriors and we’re confident the rematch will be even better. They’ve both fought on our shows a number of times and have huge fan bases.”

“This is our third event at the UIC Pavilion and we’re very happy to see the large crowds turn out at our new home. The Sandoval/Martinez rematch extends our commitment to our fans, now in our 12th year, to putting on great events with terrific fights” continued Pesoli.

Since beating Sandoval, the 27 year old Martinez has fought five times, most recently battling former world champion Guty Espadas Jr. in an excellent ten round war, losing a close split decision by scores of 94-97, 94-96 and 98-92 on April 4th in Tamaulipas , Mexico .

In his six year career, he has compiled a record of 15-10-1 with seven knockouts.

The 27 year old Sandoval, younger brother of former world champion Jesus Chavez, has built a record of 15-3-1 with 12 knockouts since turning professional five years ago.

Long a staple of the Chicago boxing scene, Sandoval is coming off a hard fought ten round draw with undefeated Rashad Ganaway in Harlingen , Texas on March 28th.

Prior to that, Sandoval won a career best eight round decision over highly regarded and undefeated Dominican prospect Argenis Mendez on October 3rd in Denver , Colorado .

The co-main event will feature sensational super bantamweight prospect Eric “EL LOCO” Estrada in a six round bout. The 21 year Chicago native, 7-0-0 (3KO’s) has impressed local fight fans with his outstanding boxing skills and aggressive all-action style since turning professional in September 2007.

Estrada is coming off an impressive fifth round stoppage of Steve Cannell on January 23rd at Cicero Stadium.

Rounding out eight bout “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2” event will be newcomers; welterweight Tony Maldonado, junior welterweight Ramiro Carrillo, featherweight Sergio Montes De Oca, lightweights Russell Fiore and Jose Hernandez and super bantamweights Sergio Cristobal and Juan Carlos Fernandez.

Additional information on this card will be announced shortly.

8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 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.

For more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit http://www.8countproductions.com/ and http://www.jabbboxing.com/

Former boxing champ Greg Page dies

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)—Greg Page, a former heavyweight boxing champion who suffered a severe brain injury in a 2001 fight, has died at his Louisville home. He was 50.

His wife, Patricia Page, said she found the one-time World Boxing Association champion in his bed Monday morning. Patricia Page said he died of complications related to injuries he suffered in the fight.

Page told The Associated Press her husband “is in a better place now.”

The March 9, 2001, fight left Page in a coma for nearly a week. He then had a stroke during post-fight surgery. He was paralyzed on his left side and received intensive physical therapy.

Page won a $1.2 million settlement in 2007 with Kentucky boxing officials over the lack of medical personnel at the fight. Boxing officials also agreed to establish a medical review panel for the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority to check the health conditions of people involved in the sport who may be at risk for injury.

Page started fighting while growing up in Louisville and was sparring with Muhammad Ali by the time he was 15. He became the National Golden Gloves heavyweight champion in 1978 at age 20.

He turned to professional boxing and lost his first shot at the WBA heavyweight championship in 1984 to Tim Witherspoon. In December of that year, Page knocked out Gerrie Coetzee in the eighth round of their bout in South Africa to claim the title, but lost on points to Tony Tubbs five months later.

Page continued boxing through 1993, then took two years off after being knocked out by Bruce Seldon. He started again in 1996.

Page was 42 and had a 58-16-1 career record going into the $1,500 fight against Dale Crowe at Peels Palace in Erlanger, Ky., near Cincinnati. Crowe was 24 and an up-and-coming boxer. Page went down after 10 rounds and didn’t get up.

Patricia Page said Monday that funeral arrangements were pending.

Weekend Fights

BAYAMON, Puerto Rico (AP)—Juan Manuel Lopez, Puerto Rico, stopped Gerry Penalosa, Philippines, 9, to retain the WBO super bantamweight title; Lamont Peterson, Memphis, Tenn., stopped Willy Blain, Germany, 7, to win the interim WBO light welterweight title.

MASHANTUCKET, Conn. (AP)—Carl Froch, Britain, stopped Jermain Taylor, Little Rock, Ark., 12, to retain the WBC super middleweight title; Allan Green, Tulsa, Okla., stopped Carlos De Leon Jr., Puerto Rico, 2, super middleweights; Dominick Guinn, Houston, stopped Johnnie White, St. Martinsville, La., 1, heavyweights.

KREFELD, Germany (AP)—Felix Sturm, Germany, stopped Koji Sato, Japan, 12, to retain the WBA Ordinary middleweight title; Karoly Balzsay, Hungary, stopped Maselino Masoe, New Zealand, 11, to retain the WBO super middleweight title.

CEBU CITY, Philippines (AP)—Rolando Magbanua, Philippines, stopped Wanpadejseuk Sithsaithong, Thailand, 3, to win the interim WBO Oriental bantamweight title; Edren Dapudong, Philippines, stopped Bert Batawang, Philippines, 7, to win the WBO Oriental light flyweight title.

ESCALANTE KO'S STARK ON ESPN2 IN CHICAGO!

ESPN2 FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS
GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS and
8COUNT PROMOTIONS
UIC PAVILION, CHICAGO, IL
FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2009


Anyone who enjoys the fights in Chicagoland knows that 8Count Promotions puts on the best shows around. Well, throw ESPN2's Teddy Atlas and Joe Tessitore into the mix with some hungry, spirited boxing talent, and you've got the recipe for success that other promotions have strived for, but few can actually produce.

The night's opening bout showcased the professional debut of "The Nigerian Gentleman" (not to be confused with The Nigerian Nightmare, Sam Peter), Enobong Umohette, who clearly possesses power throughout his heavily-muscled body. His opponent, Theron Johnson (Chicago, IL) likes to throw "punches in bunches" and his combinations bothered Umohette a couple of times throughout the four-round fight, but Umohette kept lumbering away, throwing huge telegraphed left hooks, prompting me to hope that defense becomes a priority for this young man soon in his boxing training. In the end, the judges saw it 39-37 (all three) for Umohette, moving him to 1-0, and Johnson down to 2-2.

Up second was one of the most exciting fights of the night, pitting Ivan Popoca (Chicago, IL) against Sebastian Hamel (Montreal, Canada) in a six-rounder. Popoca has thrilled Chicagoland boxing fans for the last few years with his forward-only style, and tonight was no different. While bleeding consistently from an accidental headbutt sustained in the opening seconds of the first round, Popoca owned the majority of the exchanges, utilizing his jab and "stay low" approach to dominate the visitor from the North. Plenty of back-and-forth action got the audience on their feet, but it was Popoca who was running the show, and the judges awarded him a unanimous decision with scores of 59-55, 58-56, and 60-54. Popoca's record improves to 10-0-1, and Hamel moves down to 10-18-1.

Now the ESPN2 Friday Night Fights cameras started rolling, just in time to see 2008 USA Olympic bronze medalist Deontay Wilder (Tuscaloosa, AL) continue his undefeated pro career with a quick stoppage of Joseph Rabotte (Myrtle Beach, SC). The much taller Wilder scored THREE knockdowns in the first round, prompting the referee to wave the fight off at 2:33 of round one, moving Wilder's profesional record to 4-0, with all 4 wins coming by way of knockout. In the interest of full disclosure, Deontay Wilder is trained by none other than 1984 Olympic gold medalist Mark Breland, who shared the podium with the likes of Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker, Meldrick Taylor,and Tyrell Biggs on that legendary USA boxing team. So far, it looks like Breland's got a real winner in Wilder, and we'll all be tuned in to see what type of pro heavyweight he becomes.

Next up was Daniel Jacobs, known as "The Golden Child", who jabbed his way to success against Jose del Carmen Varela (Los Angeles, CA) until he lowered the boom and landed a picture-perfect straight right hand right between Varela's defense, knocking Varela down for a stunning knockout. Jacobs (Brooklyn, NY) moves to 15-0, and is currently rumored to be facing Michael "Midnight Stalker" Walker on the Pacquiao-Hatton undercard this coming Saturday night. Walker was originally slated to be fighting James Kirkland, who had to pull out of the fight for undisclosed legal issues. One thing is for sure: if Jacobs is going to be Walker's opponent, the fight will end in a knockout, since both men are capable of ending the fight with one punch.

In an absolute mess of a swing fight, Noe Perez (Chicago, IL) knocked out overmatched Ronnie "Da Future" Howell (Cincinnati, OH). Howell was hit with a beautiful overhand right in the first round, and after a full five-second delay chose to go down to the canvas to avoid any more punishment. The crowd voiced it's contempt for Howell's lack of "warrior spirit", prompting one ringside fan, Mr. Javier Esquivel, to say, "Da Future looks bleak!", referring to the Cincinnati native's nickname.


The main televised event was the most octane-enriched fight of the night, complete with toe-to-toe action, a bit of smack talk, and lots of hard-hitting exchanges from both fighters. Antonio Escalante (El Paso, TX by way of Mexico) was paired up with Gary Stark, Jr. (Staten Island, NY) in a scheduled 10-rounder. From the opening bell, it was hard to imagine this fight getting into the later rounds, simply due to the output numbers these two warriors were putting out. Escalante's speed and power were matched up well with Stark's in-punching to the body and excellent chin. Escalante was successful in the first round with his jab and body work, but Stark let his fans know that none of it bothered him. The second round saw a bit more Stark success, but he eventually got trapped against the ropes, and developed a bloody left cheek from repeated overhand right hands from Escalante. Suddenly, Stark ate a vicious uppercut to the chin and was sent to the canvas for a six-count. Stark made it to his feet, retreated away from Escalante, but was hit with another overhand right, and put down for the final count, ending the fight in grand fashion. The Chicago fight fans expressed their ear-pounding satisfaction, and Escalante got a spectacular win on national television, moving his pro record to 19-2. Stark moves down to 22-3.


It is to be noted that the stars were really out for this momentous event at the UIC Pavilion. Former Olympian and former WBC lightweight champion David Diaz, Chicago heavyweights Mike Mollo, Michael Bennet, and Fres Oquendo, veteran UFC champion Andre Arlovski were all present, not to mention the star power of ESPN2's own veteran commentators Teddy Atlas and Joe Tessitore.

All in all, it was an outstanding night of fights that simply was not to be missed.

***Special thanks to Mr. Dominic Pesoli and Mr. Bernie Bahrmasel of 8Count Promotions for issuing Bolo Punch the credentials to cover this event. This ringside report was written entirely by Chris Guzman, who has hosted The Bolo Punch Boxing Hour since 2002. All ringside photography was taken by Emil Kegebein, and all of his handiwork can be viewed at www.legupphotos.com, available for download and purchasing of prints.