03.07.06 – 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, has huge plans in the coming weeks featuring Chicagoland’s most popular fighters in action across the country. Said Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions, “It’s a very busy time for us with not only our monthly show at the Aragon but also David’s world title fight, Jorge’s fight in Atlantic City on the HBO undercard and Miguel and Gilbert on the baseball park show in Michigan.”
On August 12th, David Diaz will head to Las Vegas, NV to battle Jose Armando Santa Cruz for the WBC Lightweight World Championship at the Thomas and Mack Center on the HBO-PPV televised Top Rank promoted event. The headline bout features the WBC Heavyweight World Championship between Hasim Rahman and Oleg Maskaev.
Diaz, 31-1-1 (16KO’s), Chicago’s most popular fighter, is coming off big wins this year over Silverio Ortiz on March 17th at the Aragon Ballroom and Cristian Favela on June 16th at Cicero Stadium and is the current IBA World Champion.
Santa Cruz has won twice in Chicago in the last fifteen months, beating Justin Juuko on April 22, 2005 at Cicero Stadium and Ernesto Zavala on June 10, 2005 at the Aragon Ballroom. He won the WBC title with a sixth round knockout over Chikashi Inada on
May 20, 2006 at the Staples Center.
Said Pesoli, “David is truly synonymous with Chicago boxing. Many of our fans have watched him since he was a successful kid in the amateurs and then making the 1996 US Olympic Team. We’ve had huge crowds over the last four years when he’s fought on our shows and this is a great opportunity he’s earned to fight for a world title on biggest stage in boxing.”
The ARAGON SHOWDOWN, 8 Count Productions’ monthly installment of the finest in Chicago boxing will take place on July 21st. The outstanding card features the return of bantamweight warrior Francisco Rodriguez, 7-1 (5KO’s), undefeated light heavyweight Tavoris Cloud, 10-0 (9KO’s), heavyweight KO artist Carl Davis, 8-2 (7KO’s) exciting junior welterweight prospect Jeff Curran, 1-0-1 (1KO) and a special attraction bout featuring Chicagoland fan favorite Donovan George, 8-0 (6KO’s).
Two newcomers making their pro debuts are lightweight Marcos Esquivel and welterweight Evans Eshoo in four round bouts. Tickets for this event are on sale in advance by calling 312-226-5800.
Said Pesoli, “We’re very excited to bring Tavoris Cloud and Carl Davis back to our show. They’re both exciting, heavy handed prospects. Francisco is a true warrior and our fans have really taken to him over the last year. Donovan came back last month after fighting in Las Vegas a couple of times and the fans were thrilled to see him. This card is a great opportunity for our fans to see some great prospects as they continue to take steps to becoming contenders just like David Diaz has.”
On Saturday July 15th, “MACHO” Miguel Hernandez, 19-4 (9KO’s) will battle former world champion Yory Boy Campas, 87-8 (71KO’s) in a ten round middleweight bout at the Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park, Michigan, just outside Grand Rapids. Also on the card Chicagoan Gilbert Venegas, 9-2-2 (6KO’s) will battle Lanardo Tyner, 12-0 (9KO’s) in a ten round welterweight bout.
“Miguel’s last bout was a terrific battle with former world champion Raul Marquez and he’s very excited about this bout with Campas. Venegas is facing an undefeated kid but he’s more than ready for this fight. Both Miguel and Gilbert have been training very hard since these bouts were finalized a few weeks back” said Pesoli.
On Saturday July 22nd, undefeated prospect Jorge Gonzalez, 4-0 will battle Henry Crawford, 10-0-1 (4KO’s) in a six round bout on the undercard of the HBO televised welterweight championship bout between Arturo “Thunder” Gatti and Carlos Baldomir at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
‘This is a great opportunity for Jorge to fight in front of a huge crowd and impress people who haven’t seen him fight. Crawford and Gilbert Venegas fought a terrific six round bout last year here in Chicago on the undercard of the Vargas/Castillejo event” said Pesoli.