08.12.03 – World class boxing returns to Chicagoland when Promoter Bobby Hitz of Hitz Boxing hosts ESPN2’s last Friday Night Fights broadcast of the year on December 19th from the Ramada Hotel O’Hare. Headlining the action is WBC #1 rated and mandatory Cruiserweight challenger O’Neil Bell vs. Derrick Harmon. The co-main event features the return to the ring of Chicago’s own Angel Hernandez (26-5, 16 KOs). ESPN Boxing commentator Teddy Atlas will call the action from ringside.
Known to fight fans as “Toro” for his straight-on brawling style, Hernandez lost a competitive 12 round decision last month to IBF Junior Middleweight Champion Winky Wright on the Roy Jones Jr. vs. Antonio Tarver HBO Pay-Per-View event from Las Vegas. Hernandez won over the crowd in a bout that many ringside observers thought he won. “I know I belong with the top Junior Middleweights in the world and I won’t be denied my quest for a world championship,” said Hernandez.
NABF Cruiserweight Champion O’Neil “Give ‘em Hell” Bell (21-1-1, 20 KOs) is the #1 WBC mandatory contender who expects to fight for that title in early 2004. The hard-hitting Atlantan has knocked out “King” Arthur Williams, Kelvin Davis and Ernest Mateen. Bell meets Derrick Harmon of Las Vegas (23-4, 11 KOs) who has faced the likes of Roy Jones Jr., Dariusz Michalczewski and Montell Griffin.
Illinois State Heavyweight Champion Art Binkowski (10-0-1, 8 KOs) returns after his 7th round KO of Mario Cawley on November 26. Binkowski, a 2000 Canadian Olympian has a tremendous following in Chicago’s Polish community.
Chicagoan Elizabeth Kerin returns at heavyweight after her second round KO of Ebony King in round two of her pro debut last month. Kerin is the 2003 US Amateur Heavyweight Champion and 2-time National Golden Gloves Champion. Kerin donated half of her purse from that bout to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Organization. Her mother is a 2-year survivor and her grandmother died from the disease.
Other Chicagoans on the 8 bout card include:
– ‘96 Ukrainian Olympian and Soviet Champ Vitaliy Kopitko (22-5, 9 KOs) Super Middleweight
– “Macho” Miguel Hernandez (5-0, 4 KOs)- Middleweight
– Ed “Iron Man” Guttierez (10-1-1, 6 KOs)- Cruiserweight
The Ramada Plaza Hotel is located at 6600 N. Mannheim Road in Rosemont.
Doors open at 7:30 pm. First bout at 8 pm.
New! Purchase tickets on-line at www.HitzBoxing.com or phone 630/295-9800
$35, $50 and $100 VIP.
All bouts subject to change without notice.