The WBC received the marvelous confirmation regarding the fact that the recently crowned Heavyweight world champion, Vitali Klitschko, will be present at our 46th Annual Convention, which will be held in Chengdu, China, from the 2nd to the 8th of November 2008.
Klitschko, as it is known, came out of retirement to conquer the world title of the maximum division on October 11th, less than two weeks ago, by defeating Nigerian fighter, Samuel Peter, by technical knockout in 8 rounds.
Vitali, in addition to having become the first man who comes back after several years of inactivity to win the world champion belt, has shaped a current record of 36 wins and only 2 losses; it is worth mentioning that out of those 36 wins, 35 of them were by knockout, resulting in an impressive 97.2 percent in the specialty.
Besides the king of the Heavyweights, other great figures of the fistic show who have confirmed their presence in Chengdu are: Timothy Bradley, from the U.S.A., undefeated Super lightweight world champion; Oscar Larios, from Mexico, after having successfully defended his Featherweight world title in Tokyo last weekend, against Japanese challenger Takahiro Aoh; Veerapol Sahaprom, from Thailand, holder of the record of title defenses in the Bantamweight division (WBC), with 16.
And there is the possibility that apart from the previously mentioned fighters, other great boxing stars, arrive in the gathering in Chengdu, such as Erik Morales, Cristian Mijares, Hozumi Hazegawa, and others, whose names will be announced in a few days.
Figueroa signs with Square Ring, fights Nov. 8 @ MSG
LAS VEGAS (October 20, 2008) – NABF light welterweight champion Frankie “El Gato” Figueroa has signed a promotional contract with Roy Jones, Jr.’s Square Ring Promotions and the Bronx fighter has been added to the November 8 Jones-Calzaghe HBO PPV card at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Figueroa (19-2, 13 KOs) has been in Las Vegas training for his Nov. 8th 10-round fight against former WBA light welterweight Gavin “The Rock” Rees (27-1, 13 KOs). “Fighting Rees is a phenomenal first step for me by my new promoter,” Figueroa said. “Square Ring is doing its job and I’m doing mine by focusing to fight my best. To be fighting on the Jones-Calzaghe card will catapult me to a different level….the big-time! I want to thank Team Rees for allow me to fight Gavin. It’s a great opportunity for me as well as Gavin. Beating a former world champion would show my great heart and chin and for him a win would be good coming off of his first loss. Millions of fans will be watching me take a step toward a world title.”
Figueroa, a Puerto-Rican-American born in Spanish Harlem, not too long ago was counseling rebellious teens in New York City. He was a 2-time New York City high school wrestler, 14-0 as a senior, who didn’t start boxing until eight years ago after taking advice from a friend.
Now 30 and in his sixth year fighting as a pro, “El Gato” is one of the top rated light welterweights in the world: WBC #4, IBF #5 and WBA #15. His last fight on May 5 was a win by 12-round decision against Luis Rodriquez (22-1), extending Frankie’s win streak to 11, dating back to March of 2005.
Welch-born Rees, who has never fought outside of the United Kingdom as a pro, captured the WBA title in 2007, winning a 12-round decision from Souleymane M’baye (35-1-1). This past March, though, Rees suffered his first loss when Andriy Kotelnik (28-2-1) stopped him in the 12th round for the WBA crown.
“A good win against Rees should position me for a title shot against Kotelnik, or a fight against any of the other top 140-pounders win the world, in 2009,” the U.S. Army veteran Figueroa commented. “I see a lot of myself in Rees, but I’m a little quicker, a lot stronger, and a better thinker. I haven’t fought too often at home in New York City lately and this fight is going to be colossal. It’s going to be crazy like the last time I fight in Madison Square Garden (November 11, 2006), when I beat Joey Rios (14-0) on the Klitschko-Brock card for the New York State title (WDEC10). Rios was ‘King Kong’ in the Bronx at that time but people in New York City knew what I could do.
“I’m training in Las Vegas because my trainer, Buddy McGirt, is there working with Paulie Malignaggi (for his Nov. 22 fight against Ricky Hatton). I go where my trainer is. I love it. I’m training at Bones Adams’ gym and there’s a lot of good sparring there.”
Figueroa is nicknamed “El Gato” – The Cat – because he was the only one quick enough to catch a cat that was a mascot at his original gym in the Bronx. This cat is now a fan-friendly, southpaw slugger who is coming out of the bag on Nov. 8 at home in the Big Apple.
“At this stage of my career,” Frankie concluded, “Rees is my biggest fight and I’m getting a great opportunity to knock down the doors for a world title fight. I’ve had good fights in the past but nothing came out of it. Things are going to be different after this fight.”
For more information about Frankie Figueroa visit his web site at www.teamgato.com, where you can enter a sweepstakes to win what he’s wearing in the ring Nov. 8 as well as a cash prize by simply filling out the mailing list form on the home page.
TICKET ALERT/CHICAGO’S 8 COUNT PRODUCTIONS RETURNS ON NOVEMBER 14TH
CHICAGO, IL (October 20, 2008) Tickets are now on sale for “SHOWDOWN”, an evening of world class professional boxing at Cicero Stadium on Friday, November 14th, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING.
Advance tickets can be obtained by calling the 8 Count Productions office at 312-226-5800. Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie in Cicero . Doors on the evening of the event will open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm.
Headlining “SHOWDOWN” is an outstanding Chicago light heavyweight showdown between Mike “THE HAMMER” Nevitt, 15-1 (6KO’s) and MARVELOUS Shay Mobley, 17-9-1 (17KO’s) in an eight round bout.
Nevitt, 15-1 (6KO’s) is coming off sixth round knockout of Luis Lopez on July 25th at the Aragon Ballroom. Prior to that he challenged Otis Griffin for the WBO NABO title last April, a bout fought evenly for the first six rounds, before the Chicago native was stopped in the 7th.
The Chicago fan favorite Nevitt had won his the first fifteen bouts of his professional career prior to the battle with Griffin and will look to restart his winning streak against Mobley.
The 31 year old Mobley, 17-9-1 (7KO’s) is coming off a unanimous decision win over Jerome Elder on November 16th. His six year career includes battles with Donovan George, David Lopez, “MACHO” Miguel Hernandez and Jesus Gonzalez.
Mobley’s battle with Hernandez at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom was one of Chicago’s most talked about fights of 2005. The SOLO BOXEO broadcast unanimous decision win for Mobley highlighted a six bout winning streak for the heavy handed southpaw.
The co-main event will feature Chicago ’s hottest prospect, Ivan Popoca, 8-0-1 (7KO’s) against Louisville veteran Cesar Vega in a six round junior welterweight bout.
The 26 year old Popoca, 8-0-1 (7KO’s), a training partner of former WBC lightweight champion David Diaz, has been the talk of Chicago ’s boxing scene since making his professional debut in February 2007.
The bout against Vega will be the sixth bout this year for Popoca who has kept up a very busy pace in 2008. His last two fights have ended in first round knockouts for the heavy handed native of Guerrero , Mexico .
In a special attraction featherweight bout, undefeated super bantamweight prospect Eric “EL LOCO” Estrada, 5-0 (2KO’s) will battle Puerto Rican native Ivan “THE BABY FACED ASSASSIN” Rodriguez, 9-4-1 (3KO’s).
The 19 year Estrada has burst on the Chicago scene since turning pro one year ago and has quickly become a crowd favorite. Rodriguez is coming off an outstanding “blood and guts” win over Barbaro Zepeda on July 25th that had his legion of loyal fans on their feet from the opening bell.
Also appearing at “SHOWDOWN” is undefeated Chicago featherweight Juan Bailon in a four round bout against Barbaro Zepeda. Bailon, 3-0 (1KO), is coming off a four round unanimous decision win over Gerardo Alarcon on June 20th at the Aragon Ballroom..
Rounding out the card, Chicago newcomer Ryan Smedick will return in a four round welterweight bout against Chicago area native Gustavo Palacios. Smedick, 1-0 (1KO), scored a third round knockout of Eric Bradford on August 15th at the Aragon Ballroom in his pro debut.
More information on this event will be announced shortly.
The public pre-fight weigh-in for “SHOWDOWN” will take place at MARISCOS EL VENENO, 6651 S. Pulaski in Chicago , at 7pm on Thursday, October 16th.
The Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be noted boxing ring announcer Thomas Treiber.
“SHOWDOWN” is presented along with Budweiser, TCF Bank, Jack Daniels and EL Jimador Tequila.
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.
To view the seating chart and poster for this event or for more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit www.8countproductions.com and www.jabbboxing.com
CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1998