CHICAGO, IL, (March 28, 2011) World ranked super middleweight Donovan “Da Bomb” George returns to action in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois this Friday night, April 1st, against Baltimore’s Maxell “The General” Taylor at the UIC Pavilion. The George/Taylor twelve round clash for the vacant USBA Title, headlines WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 16, a sensational seven bout card presented by Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING. World ranked #13 by the International Boxing Federation, George, 21-1-1 (18KO’s) is coming off a crushing first round knockout of previously unbeaten Cornelius White on February 11th which was broadcast on Showtime..
Taylor, 15-2-1, (6KO’s), is on a four bout unbeaten streak, most recently drilling veteran Ariel Espinal to a second round stoppage on October 21st.
The Donovan George/Maxell Taylor bout is presented in association with Warriors Boxing and Cestus Management (www.cestusboxing.com)
In the co-main event at WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 16, undefeated Russian knockout artist, Sergey Kovalev will make his return to the UIC Pavilion against North Carolina veteran Julius Fogle in an eight round light heavyweight bout.
The 27 year old Kovalev, 13-0-0 (11KO’s), made his Chicago debut last November 19th with a destructive second round stoppage of Dallas Vargas, stunning the crowd at the UIC Pavilion.
With a record 15-6-0 (10KO’s), Fogle returns to action following a very close split decision loss to undefeated prospect Max Limonov on July 14th in Philadelphia.
In a special attraction six round super middleweight bout, Rockford’s “Bazooka” Joe Linenfelser will take on former amateur rival Jeremy Marts of Ottumwa, Iowa.
Linenfelser, 8-1-1 (6KO’s) is looking to get back in the win column after suffering the first loss of his career on January 15th, a hard fought eight round decision to veteran Mustafah Johnson in Warren, Michigan.
Martz brings a record of 6-10-0 (4KO’s) into battle.
Undefeated junior welterweight prospects will hit the ring at WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 16 in a four round tilt between Chicago’s Genaro Mendez, 3-0-1 (2KO’s) and Phoenix, Arizona’s Javier Loya, 3-0-0 (2KO’s).
The former Chicago Golden Gloves winner Mendez, 3-0-1 (2KO’s), showed the heart of a lion as he battled St. Louis’ Keandre Gibson to an action packed, crowd pleasing four round draw on January 28th.
The heavy handed Loya, fighting for the first time away from home, is coming off a second round stoppage of Gabriel Garcia on November 20th in Phoenix.
Also at WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 16, 19 year old Anthony “The American Assassin” Linenfelser, 2-2-0 (2KO’s), younger brother of Joe, will face off against Hammond, Indiana’s Jeremias Correa, 1-0-0 (1KO) in a four round junior lightweight bout.
Linenfelser is coming off a first round stoppage of Mike Arnold on October 29th in Warren, Michigan, while the 22 year old Correa won his pro debut on October 2nd in his hometown with a third round knockout of Harvey Phillips.
Chicago based middleweight newcomers will also be in action as Chicago’s Ramon Valenzuela Jr., 3-0-0 (1KO) will battle William Choulate, 1-2-0 (1KO) in a four rounder.
Rounding out the card, is a four round welterweight battle between Chicago pro debuter Luis Santiago and Milwaukee’s Matt Ellis, 1-3-0 (1KO).
Tickets for WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 16, priced at $100, $75, $50 and $30 are now on sale through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com, the UIC Pavilion Boxing Office (312-413-5740) and the 8 Count Productions’ Office (312-226-5800).
Doors on the evening of the event will open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm. The UIC Pavilion is located at 525 S. Racine, just one block south of the Eisenhower Expressway. For further information, please visit their website at www.uicpavilion.com. The UIC Pavilion is now serving alcohol at all boxing events.
8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland.
Fighters currently under the 8 Count Productions banner include; super middleweight contender Donovan George, light heavyweight Andrzej Fonfara, junior welterweight prospects Ivan Popoca, Adrian Granados and Ramiro Carrillo along with welterweights Achour Esho and Jaime Herrera.
For more information on 8 Count Productions please visit www.8countproductions.com
ADRIAN GRANADOS DOMINATES LANARDO TYNER ON FRIDAY NIGHT, SETTLES FOR DRAW
CHICAGO, IL (March 28, 2011) This past Friday night, in River Grove, Illinois, highly regarded prospect Adrian “EL Tigre” Granados put on an outstanding performance that will be talked about for years to come in an eight round welterweight battle against Detroit’s Lanardo Tyner.
Although scored a draw, the 21 year old Granados displayed terrific boxing skills, fast hands and a strong beard, as he dominated and frustrated the much more experienced Tyner throughout the fight.
Recently signed to Chicago ’s 8 Count Productions, Granados, a former amateur standout, took the bout on one day’s notice and showed local fight fans why he truly is a must-see attraction.
“I was getting ready for a fight the following week at the UIC Pavilion, but they called and offered me this and I jumped at it” said Granados, now 5-0-1 (3KO’s) of the draw which was soundly booed by those in attendance.
“I felt in control the whole fight, he was tough and tagged me a few times, but I was too fast and moved very well around the ring. The judges scored it the way they saw it, I’m very happy with my performance, I proved a lot to myself and I look forward to getting back in the ring very soon” said the classy Granados of the draw scored 77-75, 76-76, 75-77.
“As a professional, I want to test myself always, this was a good test, I thought I passed and now I’ll prepare myself for the next one.”
The draw moved Tyner’s record to 24-4-2 (15KO’s).
Cicero native Granados had fought his previous four bouts at the UIC Pavilion, where he has drawn huge crowds to his fights as part of the acclaimed Windy City Fight Night series.
“I’m very proud of Adrian ; he proved without a doubt that he’s one of the best prospects in boxing. This was only his sixth professional bout and he took it right to Tyner” said Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions. “When we signed him we thought he was special and he proved that on Friday night.”
“There are many great young fighters at 140, Adrian ’s ready to face any of them. He’s ready for Shobox, ESPN or Solo Boxeo right now.”
Details of Adrian ’s return to action will be announced in the coming weeks.
The next 8 Count Productions card, Windy City Fight Night 16 takes places this Friday night, April 1st at the UIC Pavilion featuring the return of Chicago fan favorite and world ranked super middleweight Donovan “Da Bomb” George in a twelve round clash against Maxell “The General Taylor” for the USBA Title.
8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland.
Fighters currently under the 8 Count Productions banner include; super middleweight contender Donovan George, light heavyweight Andrzej Fonfara, junior welterweight prospects Ivan Popoca, Adrian Granados and Ramiro Carrillo along with welterweights Achour Esho and Jaime Herrera.
Robb Decisions Morales in Four-Round Thrill Ride
Former amateur standout Guy Robb (3-0, 1 KO) of Sacramento, California battled debuting Manuel Morales (0-1) of Orosi, California to win a four-round majority decision in a slugfest that elicited a standing ovation at the Fairfield Sports Center in Fairfield, California on Friday night.
In just his third pro fight, Robb’s team wanted to give him a sturdy test so that he could really show off his wares for the event’s promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, and the fans in Fairfield. “I heard that they were going to bring somebody in there that was going to bring it, and he came well advertised,” said Robb of his opponent Morales. “That is exactly what he came to do. I was happy with what he came to the fight with, because it pushed me somewhere I haven’t been yet as far as my professional career.”
Robb, 131, certainly was pushed for four rounds, as Morales, 136, did not take a backwards step and kept the fight right at the Sacramento native’s chest. Robb may have possessed the superior boxing skills, but he opted to stand and trade with the aggressive Morales for much of the fight. “My team was telling me to use my jab, but I love to fight,” says Robb unabashedly. “I heard the crowd yelling and cheering, and it got me pumped up. I love fighting in front of people and I guess I can get caught up in the moment. If I felt I really needed to box I would have, but I felt comfortable on the inside and boxing on the outside, so I tried to do both.”
Though Robb nearly scored a knockdown at the bell to end the first round, and caught Morales with heavy shots throughout the bout, the Orosi native kept coming and coming. “I felt like I buzzed him maybe three times, but he would just snap right back and keep fighting,” says Robb. “But around the second round, I realized he wasn’t going anywhere and we were in for a fight, so I was going to keep on working.”
After four-rounds of non-stop action, Robb claimed the decision with scores of 40-36 and an even 38-38. “That was a good fight for me and I learn from all of them,” said Robb Sunday. “It was a good fight, and I’m glad everyone enjoyed it. From what I have been hearing, everybody had a great time over there.”
Further illustrating the type of test Robb faced Friday, his own manager Repo Ric signed Manuel Morales after the fight. “Golden Boy wanted to get a look at Guy Robb, so I gave them something to look at and it ended up being the fight of the night,” says Repo. “It could have been the four-round fight of the year had it been televised. Now I am going to take his opponent Morales and make him a champion. He may be 0-1 now, but he will be 10-1 before you know it.”
Robb, who claimed a 125-pound title at the 2008 Ringside World Championships, plans to keep busy and already has two fights in the works. Robb is slated to appear on the undercard of the Eloy Perez-Daniel Jimenez main event at the Longshoremen’s Hall in San Francisco, California on April 15th. Should everything go as planned, Robb will get a quick turnaround fight the following week at the Red Lion Hotel in Sacramento on April 22nd.
“We are going to give Golden Boy another look at Robb on the 15th,” says Repo. “Then eventually I want to give Gary Shaw [who promoted Robb’s pro debut] another look at my exciting fighter.”
Tickets for the April 15th event in San Francisco, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Don Chargin Productions, are available online at http://theboxingtruth.vbotickets.com Tickets for the April 22nd event in Sacramento, promoted by Uppercut Promotions, are available by calling the Red Lion Hotel at 916-922-8041.