MINNEAPOLIS (April 2, 2007) – Two bouts on the undercard of Friday night’s (April 6) “Heavyweight Invasion” card could be a preview of a Minnesota boxing showdown revival in the not too distant future. “Heavyweight Invasion” is co-promoted by Minnesota-based Tony Grygelko’s Seconds Out Promotions and Goossen Tutor Promotions at the Target Center in Minneapolis. “Heavyweight Invasion” is headlined by a 12-round championship match for the vacant IBA Americas heavweight championship between Travis “Freight Train” Walker (22-0-1, 17 KOs), 2003 National Golden Gloves champion, and George “El Torito” Garcia (13-0, 4 KOs)..
The eight-round co-feature pits Minnesota heavyweight Raphael Butler (25-3, 20 KOs), 2004 National Golden Gloves boxing winner, versus 2000 Canadian Olympian Art “The Polish” Binkowski (14-1-2, 9 KOs), who played a part in the “Cinderella Man” movie.
Local fans, though, are dreaming about a potential “Twin River War” fight in the near future between two local fighters in separate six-round bouts, St. Paul featherweight Allen “The American Boy” Litzau (12-2, 6 KOs) and unbeaten featherweight knockout senasation Wilton “Pretty Warrior” Hilario (7-0, 7 KOs), of St. Louis Park.
Litzau takes on dangerous Robert “Don’t Lose” Deluz (9-5-2, 8 KOs), while Hilario faces two-time world title boxing challenger Luis “El Monstruito” Bolano (41-7, 31 KOs), who made his pro debut in 1989 when Wilton was only six years old.
“My coaches deal with that,” Hilario spoke about stepping up in class to fight Bolano, who has 41 more fights on his resume than Wilton. “I just do what they tell me to do,. I believe in them.”
Litzau-Deluz and Hilario-Bolano are merely appetizers for a much-anticipated Hilario-Litzau showdown that, if everything goes according to plan, could eventually rival the popularity of the recent Anthony Bonstante-Matt Vanda fight . The problem is that Hilario is now targeting Litzau’s brother, 20-1 Jason Litzau, rather than Allen. Wilton, however, may have to get past one brother to get the other.
“I never thought Allen would trash talk like he’s done and call me out,” Hilario explained. “We offered him $10,000 to fight me on this card and he turned it down saying he had nothing to gain by fighting me. When’s he going to male $10,00 for a fight? We’re ready for him right now but he better keep winning. He already has two losses. I’m undefeated and rated higher than him (according to BoxRec: 122 to 169). I’ve already passed him. He has nothing to lose fighting me; I could lose my undefeated record and better rating. I’m looking more to Jason. He’s a step up for me, not Allen. Jason’s rated higher than me. Down the road, if we both keep winning, that’s the fight I want.”
“The Predator,” St. Paul middleweight Matt Vanda (35-3, 21 KOs), returns to action in an eight-round crossroads fight against former Dominican welterweight boxing champion Alexis Division (16-5, 12 KOs).
Other Minnesota fighters showcased on “Heavyweight Invasion” in four round boxing bouts include Drew Peterson (1-1) and Van Goodman (0-1) in a battle of Minneapolis heavyweights, Blaine super middleweight Jon Schmidt (1-0, 1 KO) faces St. Paul’s Shirome Baltcher (0-1) and Osseo super middleweight Caleb Truax, a recent graduate of the Unversity of Minnesota, making his pro debut against St. Paul’s Ray Walker (1-2). All bouts and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets, reasonably priced at $25.00, $50.00, $100.00 and $250.00 (ringside), are available at the Target Center box office, all TicketMaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 651.989.5151.
Doors open at 6 PM/CT, first bout at 6:30 PM/CT. For more information call 612.673.1600 or go to www.targetcenter.com.