DAVID ESTRADA VS. CHRIS GRAY HEADLINES WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 5
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT FEATURED AT CHICAGO ’S UIC PAVILION

CHICAGO, IL (August 5, 2009) “KING DAVID” Estrada will face off against Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s “CLASSY” Chris Gray in an eight round junior middleweight bout on Friday, August 21st at “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 5” at Chicago’s UIC Pavilion.

“WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 5” is presented by Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING since 1998.

Said Pesoli, ‘We’ve had a terrific response in ticket sales in the last week since we announced that David was headlining “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 5”. Fight fans in Chicago are excited that finally he’s coming back to town for the first time in nine years.”

Advance tickets for “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 5”, starting at $31, can be purchased through the 8 Count Productions office at 312-226-5800 and through Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or http://www.ticketmaster.com/.

Continued, “When David and I first spoke and he wanted to fight on my show we both agreed that in keeping with the terrific fights we’ve had on this series at the UIC Pavilion, he would be in a tough fight. That was music to David’s ears because that’s the way he wants it also."

"Chris Gray is a tough kid from the South who’s fought and beaten a lot of top fighters often times in their own backyards. So I know he has no problem coming to Chicago to face Estrada on August 21st.”

Gray, 12-9-0 (1KO), nicknamed “CLASSY” by his friends, is coming off a six round decision over Mike Ruiz on June 5th in Westbury , New York . This will be his fifth fight of 2009, including a six round battle with contender Ishe Smith on May 8th in Las Vegas .
Said Estrada, “It’s going to be a tough fight, a real fight and that’s perfect for me and the Chicago fight fans.”

The 30 year old Estrada, 22-6-0 (13KO’s), has fought numerous world class fighters in his ten year career including world champions Shane Mosley, Andre Berto and Kermit Cintron, along with contenders Chris Smith, Ishe Smith, Jesus Soto-Karass and Nurhan Suleymanoglu.

Most recently, Estrada battled Luis Abregu on December 5, 2008, in a bout broadcast on Showtime. Although seemingly well ahead in the fight, Estrada was deemed by the judges to have lost by split decision which angered the packed house at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez , California .

The undercard at “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 5” features several outstanding undefeated prospects including; middleweight Foster Nkodo, heavyweight David Latoria, welterweight Tony Maldonado, junior welterweight Ramiro Carrillo and pro debuting Antonio Avila. .

Foster Nkodo, 3-0-0 (1KO), a native of Cameroon, now living in Chicago, is coming off a six round unanimous decision win over undefeated Lamar Harris on March 27th at the inaugural “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT”.

Newcomer David Latoria, 1-0-0 (1KO), thrilled the UIC Pavilion crowd on Friday night, July 24th, with a brutal first round knockout of Christopher Boykins.

Also making his second professional start, welterweight Tony Maldonado, 1-0-0 (1KO), returns to the UIC Pavilion following his third round stoppage of Justin Muse on May 29th.

Chicago Golden Gloves Champion Ramiro Carrillo, 1-0-0 (1KO), will follow up his April 24th first round knockout of Steve Hall in a four round junior welterweight bout.

Rounding out the undercard, Chicago junior welterweight Antonio Avila will make his pro debut in a four round bout.

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/

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/

Man charged with killing boxer held without bond

By DORIE TURNER, Associated Press Writer

ATLANTA (AP)—As his grandmother sat nearby weeping, a 20-year-old man charged with killing ex-boxing champion Vernon Forrest had his first appearance in court Wednesday morning.

Demario Ware, who turned himself in to authorities Tuesday night, is charged with murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

He appeared at a jailhouse hearing in front of Fulton County Magistrate Sylvia McCoy, who read him the charges. Wearing a navy blue jail jumpsuit and handcuffs, Ware said nothing other than “yes, ma’am” and kept his eyes on the floor. He is being held without bond.

Ware’s grandmother, Rose Thomas, sat in the courtroom crying.

“He wasn’t raised up to do the thing he done,” she said after the hearing. “I’m sorry to the gentleman that got killed and his family. I know if I’m hurting like I am, then I know they’re hurting.”

Police say Forrest, 38, was shot to death July 25 after he chased a man who robbed him of his championship ring and Rolex watch. No other arrests have been made in the case, but police do not believe Ware is the person who shot Forrest.

The investigation continues into the shooting.

Ware’s attorney, Curtis Hubbard, said his client is “not guilty until proven guilty.” He declined further comment after the hearing.

Ware is scheduled for another court appearance Aug. 19.

Authorities say Ware has been in and out of jail on various charges. He was out on bond from a March arrest for obstructing an officer, criminal trespass and other charges when Forrest was shot.

Forrest, a native of Augusta, Ga., who lived in Atlanta, was a member of the 1992 Olympic team along with Oscar De La Hoya. The fighter later won welterweight and junior middleweight titles and compiled a professional record of 41-3 with 29 knockouts.

Some 1,500 friends, family and fellow athletes attended his funeral Monday. Many remembered him as a soft-spoken, modest competitor known more by his work helping others than his victories in the ring.

Police: Mayweather uncle arrested in Vegas scuffle

By KEN RITTER, Associated Press Writer

LAS VEGAS (AP)—Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, was arrested at a Las Vegas apartment in an attack on a female boxer he once trained, authorities said Tuesday.

An aide to Clark County District Attorney David Roger said criminal charges were pending following the Sunday morning arrest of Roger Mayweather.

Mayweather, 48, was arrested on felony coercion and battery-strangulation charges and later freed from the Clark County jail on $13,000 bail, said Detective Ramon Denby, a police department spokesman. A date for an initial court appearance was not immediately available, and it was unclear if Mayweather had a lawyer, police and court officials said.

According to a police report, an officer responding to a disconnected 911 call found Mayweather fighting with a 25-year-old woman at the apartment in northwest Las Vegas.

The woman told police she had been punched in the ribs and hit Mayweather with a lamp during a struggle. She was treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to a Las Vegas hospital for treatment of injuries that included redness around her throat, police said.

Mayweather had injuries on the head and the side of his face. It was not clear if he required medical treatment before he was taken to jail.

The report says Mayweather formerly trained the woman, and had been following her since she severed their business relationship and went to another gym.

It said Mayweather owns the apartment and was upset that his tenant was letting the woman live at the apartment. The tenant was not home at the time of the alleged attack, police said.

A spokesman for Floyd Mayweather Jr. and officials at Golden Boy Promotions, his promoter, declined immediate comment.

Roger Mayweather boxed under the nickname “Black Mamba,” winning 59 of 72 fights, including 35 knockouts and two boxing titles in different weight classes, before becoming his nephew’s trainer.

He made headlines in 2006 when he burst into the ring during a Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight against Zab Judah in Las Vegas, sparking a melee that led to fines and the temporary revocation of licenses for Roger Mayweather and others.

Floyd Mayweather Jr., 32, is considered a pound-for-pound boxing king, having won six world boxing championships in five weight classes. He is undefeated in 39 fights, and is scheduled to fight a welterweight bout Sept. 19 against Juan Manuel Marquez

TICKET ALERT!!!!!!!
DAVID DIAZ VS. JESUS CHAVEZ,
SEPTEMBER 26TH AT CHICAGO’S UIC PAVILION
8 COUNT PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS HISTORICAL CHICAGO MATCHUP

CHICAGO, IL (August 4, 2009) Former WBC lightweight champion David Diaz will face off against two time world champion Jesus Chavez in the ten round main event at “WARRIORS COLLIDE/WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 6” at Chicago’s UIC Pavilion on Saturday, September 26th, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING.

Tickets, priced at $151, $101, $76, $51 and $31, will go on sale Monday, August 10th at 10am through Ticketmaster (http://www.ticketmaster.com/), the UIC Pavilion Box Office (312-413-5740) and the 8 Count Productions Office (312-226-5800).

Said Pesoli, “We’re thrilled to be present this terrific bout between these two Chicago champions. David is incredibly popular here in Chicago, his win over Morales was fought in front of 10,000 local fight fans.”

“Jesus has fought all over the world but never in Chicago where he was raised. He’s always wanted to come back and fight here and has expressed to me how much this means to him.”

“This event truly encompasses the terrific support the Chicagoland fight fans have shown towards 8 Count Productions for the last twelve years. Diaz vs. Chavez is a throwback to fights in Chicago featuring great local fighters that would pack the Chicago Stadium in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s.”

Said the Chicago born and raised Diaz, “This fight means a great deal to me, the opportunity to come home and fight in front of the terrific Chicago fight fans. They’ve always been very supportive of me. Jesus has been a world class fighter for many years and the fans are going to see an outstanding Chicago style fight on September 26th.”

Currently promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, Diaz, 34-2-1 (17KO’s), was undefeated for over three years before facing boxing’s finest, Manny Pacquiao, on June 28th in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although badly cut early in the bout, Diaz fought courageously throughout the fight before being stopped in the ninth round.

Diaz, a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team, won the WBC Interim Lightweight Title with a crushing tenth round stoppage of Jose Armando Santa Cruz on August 12, 2006 in Las Vegas . Shortly afterwards, the current titlist Joel Casamayor refused to face Diaz, resulting in Diaz being named the WBC Lightweight Champion.

The 33 year old Diaz, a graduate of Northwest Side’s Schurz High School, defended his belt against boxing legend Erik Morales on August 4, 2007 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont in front of a huge crowd of Chicagoland fight fans, winning a twelve round unanimous decision.

Prior to facing Pacquiao, Diaz won a ten round non-title decision over Ramon Montano in Las Vegas on March 15, 2008.

Chavez, born in Chihuahua, Mexico, raised in Chicago and currently based in Austin, Texas, brings a record of 44-5-0 (30KO’s) into the battle with Diaz. He first became world champion with a twelve round decision over Sirimongkol Singwancha on August 15, 2003 for the WBC Super Featherweight Title.

He won the IBF Lightweight Title with an eleventh round TKO of Leavander Johnson on September 17, 2005. Johnson passed away shortly after the bout.

Chavez lost the IBF Lightweight Title when his bout against Julio Diaz on February 3, 2007 was stopped due to a leg injury he suffered in the third round.

He returned to action in 2008, beating Daniel Jimenez on April 4th via ten round decision and knocking out Andres Ledesma in the ninth round on September 6th.

Most recently Chavez battled Australian brawler Michael Katsidis over seven rounds before being stopped on April 4, 2009.

The co-main event at “WARRIORS COLLIDE/WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 6” will feature Chicago fan favorites Jose Andres Hernandez and Juan Carlos “EL PEZ” Martinez in a ten round junior lightweight bout.

Hernandez, 22-4-0 (14KO’s), last fought on May 5, 2007, taking on world title contender Rocky Juarez in Las Vegas . Although dropped in round one, Hernandez aggressively battled Juarez throughout the course of the fight, losing a hard fought twelve round decision.

The bout was the co-main event at “A WORLD AWAITS”, the record setting Pay Per View event which was headlined by Oscar De La Hoya taking on Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand.

Prior to his bout against Juarez, Hernandez scored a devastating eighth round stoppage of Jason Litzau on December 16, 2006 in Miami, Florida, a bout broadcast on HBO.

A native of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, now living in Chicago, 16-11-1 (7KO’s), Martinez won the WBF All Americas Title with a ten round unanimous decision over Jaime Sandoval on May 29th at WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2 at the UIC Pavilion. The bout was a rematch of an earlier win over Sandoval two years earlier.

Martinez followed up his title win with a six round bout at Madison Square Garden on June 13th against Rafael Guzman on the undercard of Miguel Cotto/Joshua Clottey Welterweight World Title bout.

Although controlling the action throughout the fight, Martinez lost the six round bout by split decision, an announcement that had the large crowd booing and left most ringside observers shaking their heads.

Also on the undercard at “WARRIORS COLLIDE/WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 6”, Chicago based undefeated junior welterweight prospect Ivan Popoca, 11-0-1 (7KO’s) will face heavy handed Puerto Rican veteran Mike Gonzalez, 10-6-1 (9KO’s).

The all action Popoca, 11-0-1 (7KO’s), took the best win of two and half year career on June 26th, taking an eight round decision over Hector Alatorre at WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 4, his ninth win in a row.

A native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, now residing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Gonzalez has fought numerous highly regarded prospects including Jorge Luis Teron, Joel Torres, Edgar Santana and Sharif Bogere.

Also announced for “WARRIORS COLLIDE/WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 6” is newcomer Diamond Baier, 1-0-1, who will appear in a four round junior lightweight bout.

Baier won an exciting four round decision over previously unbeaten Noe Perez on July 24th at WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 4.

More information on “WARRIORS COLLIDE/WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 6” will be announced shortly.

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/

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/