24.08.04 – Junior welterweight Al “Speedy” Gonzales, 14-1-1 (7KO’s) makes his return to the squared circle as Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated along with Miller Lite present Chicagoland’s finest professional boxing card of the summer at Hawthorne Race Course on Friday, September 10th.
Tickets, starting at $25, for this action packed evening are available in advance by calling 312-226-5800. Hawthorne Race Course is located at 35th and Laramie on the Cicero/Chicago border, just minutes from the Stevenson and Eisenhower expressways. Doors for this internationally telecast broadcast open at 6pm with the first bell scheduled for
7pm.
“Speedy” has been in Southern California since late July and spoke about training in the Los Angeles area as well as his upcoming bout, working with world class trainer Jessie Reid, a rematch with Demetrius Hopkins and his nemesis in the press, Paul Malignaggi.
“Its been great out here, very professional, Jessie sets up everything from the start and there’s been great opportunities to work with different types of fighters, not only in his gym but all over Southern California, especially Wild Card (Freddie Roach’s gym). One day as I’m on the speedbag I hear someone tell me its time to move and I turn around and its James Toney. He moves pretty quick in the gym for a big fella.”
“Also out here, there’s much more sparring opportunities, better places to run, when I went back to Chicago for the Hopkins fight, I was in the best shape in my life. The fight didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to, sort of unfinished business for both of us, he said he would fight me again but not in Chicago. Fine by me, we can do it in Philly, his hometown, or Atlantic City, just tell me when.”
Speaking about having had all his fights in the Chicagoland area, Speedy stated “that’s just the way things have worked out, I’ll travel anywhere, either coast and all points in between. Somebody wants to fight me in their hometown, just pick up the phone and I’ll be there.”
Chuckling at the mention of New York City based prospect Paul Malignaggi, said Speedy, “all that nonsense at the end of June on Boxingtalk.net about his hosting my retirement party, that was almost 60 days ago and still his promoter hasn’t set up the fight with Dominic, hasn’t even offered us the fight. How can he talk like that and his promoter won’t even try and make the fight? I said before I would gladly pummel him, anytime, anywhere. In his backyard, his living room, in Times Square, they can set up the boxing ring in DiBella’s office if that makes him feel good, just tell me when and I’ll be there. The kid has no idea what he’s getting himself into. His promoter is being smart by matching him carefully rather that have him up against Demetrius, Bojado, Kendall Holt, Jessie Feliciano, Abdulaev, even Salita. Any of those guys and myself would destroy this little punk. He just uses our names, real fighters, to gain some type of credibility but he’ll NEVER fight any of us.”
Lastly “Speedy” wanted to thank his growing fan base “since I’ve been out here, I get recognized all the time from my fights on TV with Gutierrez, Feliciano and Hopkins. I look forward to putting on a great show on and moving onto bigger and better things in the future.”
Said Dominic Pesoli, President ot 8 Count Productions, “Speedy just a kid who loves to fight and the Chicagoland crowds have really taking a liking to him. Both in February and in June he had them on their feet in packed houses at DePaul from start to finish. Ever since the Gutierrez fight last July when he showed his heart by winning a bloody battle after suffering a broken jaw in the first round, the crowds have contined to grow. And so it continues on Sept. 10th at Hawthorne Race Course.”
Also appearing on the card is Illinois State Middleweight Champion “Macho” Miguel Hernandez, 12-1 (7KO’s), fresh off his unanimous decision over tough veteran Rudy Lovato two weeks ago, middleweight Rudy Cisneros, 1-1 (1KO) and making his pro debut, hot local amateur prospect super middleweight Don “Da Bomb” George as well as junior middleweight Carlos Molina, 2-0, of Appleton, WI.
The Solo Boxeo/Telefutura Friday Night Fights series is the highest rating professional boxing show on television. More information on this huge night of boxing will be available shortly.