CHICAGO, IL (July 18, 2008) Chicago fan favorite Mike “THE HAMMER” Nevitt returns to action next Friday night, July 25th, as he faces Seattle slugger Luis “EL LOBO” Lopez in the feature attraction light heavyweight bout at CHICAGO’S PRIDE, an outstanding evening of world class professional boxing presented by Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING..
Tickets for CHICAGO’S PRIDE can be purchased in advance through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com , 312-559-1212) or through the 8 Count Productions offices at 312-226-5800. The Aragon Ballroom is located at 1106 W. Lawrence Ave., adjacent to the corner of Broadway and Lawrence. Doors will open at 7pm, with the first bell at 8pm.
Known for his “Lights Out” ring walk, accompanied by AC/DC’s HELL’s BELLS, Nevitt, 14-1 with five KO’s takes to the ring following his disappointing loss to Otis Griffin last spring, a bout stopped in the seventh round. “I thought it was a pretty quick stoppage, granted I was down, but we had fought at a pretty even pace up until then and I certainly thought I could have continued,” said Nevitt.
Nevitt is training in the brutal summer heat and humidity this week in Chicago with longtime trainer Sam Colona and newly retired former junior middleweight contender Freddie Cuevas. Said Nevitt, ‘It’s hot in the gym, but I’ve had great sparring with (former world champion) Montell Griffin as well as Carlos Molina.”
“I’m excited to get back in the ring. Lopez is a real, solid tough guy that fought Miguel Hernandez here a few years back. Hopefully, I’ll come out on top and this will lead to something bigger later in the year. I’d like a rematch with Griffin but I’m not sure that’s going to happen,” concluded Nevitt.
The main event features Chicago’s Francisco “EL NINO AZTECA” Rodriguez squaring off against El Paso native Alex “EL DIABLO” Becerra in a ten round bantamweight bout.
The 24 year old Rodriguez, 12-2 (8KO’s) is looking to add to his win column following his devastating three round destruction of Columbian veteran Angel Priolo on May 9th at Cicero Stadium. Rodriguez dropped Priolo in each of the first three rounds before referee Gerald Scott called a halt to the battle at the 2:23 mark of the third.
Ciudad Juarez, Mexico native Becerra sports a record of 19-6 (9KO’s) over his nine year career including ten round battles with Valentin Leon (W-MD10) and David Martinez (L-MD10). This will be Becerra’s Chicago debut.
In the co-main event, popular Chicago featherweight Jose Hernandez will return to the ring after a one year absence to face Mexico City’s Jose Navarrete over eight rounds.
The heavy handed Hernandez, 22-4 (14KO’s) was last seen losing a very close twelve round decision to three time world title challenger Rocky Juarez in the co-main event on the massive Oscar De La Hoya/Floyd Mayweather PPV card on May 5, 2007 in Las Vegas.
A native of Mexico City now living in Chicago, Navarrete holds a slightly misleading record of 9-15 with three knockouts. Most recently he battled highly regarded unbeaten prospect Argenis Mendez over six rounds before dropping a six round split decision in a bout televised by SOLO BOXEO from Reading, PA on June 6, 2008.
In a six round featherweight bout at CHICAGO’S PRIDE, Puerto Rico native Ivan “THE BABY BOY ASSASSIN” Rodriguez, 8-4-1 (3KO’s) currently residing in Waukegan, IL, returns to the ring in a six round bout against San Luis Potosi, Mexico born, Barbaro Zepeda.
Rounding out the card is unbeaten Puerto Rican sensation Gadiel Andaluz, 3-0 (2KO’s) who will appear in a four round lightweight bout
Much more information on CHICAGO’S PRIDE will be announced shortly.
Along with Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, CHICAGO’S PRIDE is presented by TCF Bank and New York Jewelers.
The Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be nationally known professional sports announcer, Thomas Treiber.
The weigh-in for CHICAGO’S PRIDE will take place at MARISCOS EL VENENO seafood restaurant at 7pm on Thursday, July 24th. MARISCOS EL VENENO is located at 6651 S. Pulaski on the southwest side of Chicago.
8 Count Productions was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.