Fonfara Returns on 1/23, S’Kati Katz, WBC Purse Bids

The World Boxing Council declares a day of mourning for the tragic passing away of our female super welterweight world champion, Jisselle Salandy of Siparia, Trinidad and Tobago.

Jisselle will always live in our memory as a sweet young girl who represented boxing at the highest levels of integrity and honor inside and outside the ring. Only 21 years old, she passed away yesterday after being injured in a car accident near the city of Port of Spain.

I extend, on behalf of all the members of the WBC, my deepest wishes for prompt resignation of this sorrow.

*****

The WBC will conduct several purse offer ceremonies at 12:00 noon on Friday, January 9, 2009 at the WBC headquarters in Mexico City.

Heavyweight:    Vitali Klitschko mandatory title defense vs. Juan Carlos Gómez.

Cruiserweight:   a) Mandatory Defense between Giacobbe Fragomeni and Krzysztof Wlodarczyk;

                        b) Final elimination bout between Herbie Hide and Matt Godfrey.

Light heavywt:   Mandatory defense between champion Adrián Diaconu and Silvio Branco.

Lightweight:       Interim championship between Edwin Valero and Antonio Pitalúa.

Featherweight:  Interim championship between Yuriorkis Gamboa and Elio Rojas.

KATZ IS ALL BUSINESS ABOUT BOXING CAREER

San Antonio native S’Kati Katz is ready to take the next steps in her boxing career.  Since taking up the sport in 2007, Katz’s professional career has taken her all over, including California and Germany.  Her professional record currently stands at 4-0.

The 27-year old Katz has just signed to fight again in Austin, Texas on February 5, 2009, on promoter Richard Lord’s card.  Her opponent will be Crystal Davis (3-2 record) from Midland, Texas.

Entering her second year in the boxing business, Katz has now assembled a team behind her that demonstrates just how serious she is taking her boxing career.  Texas native, Ann Wolfe is training Katz for the second consecutive fight.  Wolfe, who is semi-retired, is widely recognized as one of the best women fighters in the world.

“Ann is just amazing.  She pushes me to new levels and is a great teacher for me,” said Katz.

In addition, Katz has hired manger/agent JR Rickert, based out of New York.  Rickert represents over 70 professional athletes and has a great deal of experience in enhancing the respective careers of his clients.

Katz explains, “I hired JR because I needed someone with experience to handle my professional career, and JR has done just about every kind of sports contract out there.”

Katz has not officially signed with a promoter, but she has fought on 2 of Richard Lord’s cards, and most recently on K-2 Promotions, which are the promoters of the Klitschko brothers, Vitaly and Vladimir.

Katz’s future plans include a March fight in New York State, another possible April or May fight in Austin, and perhaps a stop in London in June on K-2’s next card.

S’Kati Katz is positioning herself to become a major force in the world of boxing.

CHICAGO, IL - Chicago based super middleweight prospect Andrzej “THE POLISH PRINCE” Fonfara will return to the ring on Friday, January 23rd at Cicero Stadium, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions.

Fonfara, 10-2-0 (3KO’s), will square off in a six round bout at “NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION” against Fort Smith, Arkansas native Terrence “THE TRUTH” Wilson , 5-4-0 (3KO’s).

Advance tickets for “NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION”, starting at $30, can be obtained in advance 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.

Fonfara returns to the ring after a six month absence following a second round stoppage at the hands of Derrick Findley on July 11th at Chicago ’s Aragon Ballroom which was broadcast on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights.

“Andrzej knows he made some mistakes and he’s anxious to get back in the ring and put on a great performance. He’s only 21 and we feel that he should be able to bounce back strongly from the defeat” said Pesoli. “ Wilson is a tough, strong kid from Arkansas but Andrzej knows how important it is to get back in the win column and has been training diligently for this fight.”

A favorite amongst the huge Chicago Polish population, Fonfara, a native of Warsaw , had won six in a row prior to the bout with Findley.

Headlining “NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION” is a six round junior welterweight bout between Chicago fan favorite Ivan Popoca, 8-0-1 (7KO’s) and the equally heavy handed Daniel Garcia, 9-5-1 (7KO’s) of Houston , TX .

Also seeing action will be 20 year super bantamweight sensation Eric Estrada, 6-0-0 (2KO’S) who will see action in a six round bout.

Rounding out the card in separate four round bouts are junior welterweight newcomer Ryan Smedick, 2-0 (1KO) and featherweight William Hernandez who will be making his professional debut.

“NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION” is presented along with Miller Lite, TCF Bank, Jack Daniels and EL Jimador Tequila.