23.09.05 – Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, Home of the Best in Chicago Boxing, and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated along with Miller Lite and TCF Bank present Latin Fire on Friday, October 14th at the Cicero Stadium, 1901 S. Laramie in Cicero, IL. Tickets starting at $30 are on sale by calling 312-226-5800..
Headlining the huge event is the first Chicagoland appearance of two time world champion Jose Luis Lopez, 47-4-2 (37KO’s) of Durango, Mexico. “Maestrito” won the welterweight world champion shipover Mexican legend Yory Boy Campas on October 6, 1996 by brutally knocking out Campas in the 5th round.
One year later on October 17, 1997, Lopez fought former world champion Ike “The Bazooka” Quartey even for twelve rounds earning a 12 round draw. The 32 year old Lopez returned to the ring last fall after a four year absence and is riding a three fight winning streak, most recently stopping Alberto Mercedes in the seventh round in Las Vegas, Nevada on the Diego Corrales/Jose Luis Castillo undercard on May 7th of this year. More information on this ten round junior middleweight bout will be released shortly.
Co-headlining Latin Fire is the return to the 8 Count Productions’ ring of Gilberto Venegas, 8-1-1(5KO’s) in the eight round co-main event. After a four year layoff, the heavy handed Venegas slugged out a draw with previously undefeated hot prospect Henry Crawford on the undercard of the Fernando Vargas/Javier Castillejo “Return to Battle” event on August 20th at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL. The early arriving crowd that evening was treated to a terrific battle between the two warriors and applauded enthusiastically as the bout came to a close.
The action packed undercard features the return of the two most popular Chicago fighters, welterweight KO artist Luciano “El Mohicano” Perez, 12-2-1 (11KO’s) and middleweight “MACHO” Miguel Hernandez, 16-3 (9KO’s) in separate bouts.
Also appearing in a six round bout is Chicagoland’s hottest prospect, featherweight Frankie Tafoya, 5-0 (3KO’s) More information on this great evening of professional boxing will be announced shortly.