CHICAGO, IL - Advance 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 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.
Grant hopes to light up Reid at his old stomping ground
Hayemaker Boxing’s new signing Michael Grant doesn’t anticipate any nerves or stage fright when he makes his bow for the team on November 15 at The O2 in North Greenwich, London. Despite the size of the venue and the magnitude of the event, light-welterweight Grant is honoured to call The O2 his home away from home.
“I can’t wait for it,” beams Tottenham’s Grant, a light-welterweight standout with impressive 10-0-1 (1 KO) credentials as a pro.
“My dad’s an electrician and I used to do a lot of work with him down at The O2 when they were getting it ready. We were at The O2 for about six months putting in the main power supply when it was getting re-made. I spent day after day in that arena and would always say to my dad, ‘I’d love to box here one day’. Now that dream’s come true and I’m itching to get in there.”
While headline attraction David ‘The Hayemaker’ Haye hopes to one day create heavyweight history at The O2, Grant can already claim some bragging rights of his own when it comes to making a mark at Europe’s leading indoor venue. The 24-year-old slickster is already part of the arena’s rich history.
“They’ve got a board at the side of The O2 which basically thanks all the people that have helped put the arena together from the beginning,” adds Michael. “There’s about a thousand names on it and my name’s there.”
Though proud of his part in the development of the arena, Grant would happily swap the recognition for a world championship fight in front of a capacity O2 crowd. Having recently signed with David Haye and Adam Booth’s Hayemaker Boxing, the go-getting Grant is confident he now has the support to realise his dreams.
“I’d fight anyone in Britain right now,” admits the confident Grant, a former 2005 Senior ABA champion and veteran of over 100 amateur bouts.
“I’d love to fight all the top boys in my weight division. What I want to do and what I’m going to do are two completely different things, though. I trust Johnny (Eames, trainer), Adam and David to give me the right fights at the right time. I feel ready, talent-wise, to beat all these guys in Britain. I just want the chance.”
Grant’s ideal career plan closely mimics the one constructed by former world cruiserweight champion Haye. Grant wants to stay busy, he wants to take risks and he wants to do things as quickly as possible. Haye acts as his template.
“Me and David go way back,” explains Grant. “We were on England squads together and we’ve been friends since I was a teenager. I always thought David was class and always knew he’d make it where he is today. Everyone knew he would.
“He played a big part in me deciding to sign with Hayemaker.”
Grant takes the next step towards British and world title glory on November 15 at The O2 when he locks horns with Stoke’s rugged and hard-hitting veteran Gary ‘The Bodysnatcher’ Reid. It’s the sternest test of Grant’s unblemished career.
“Gary’s something like number 16 in Britain and has boxed for the Commonwealth light-welterweight title,” adds Grant. “It’s a really good fight for me and one I’m looking forward to. I’d much rather be put in with someone like Reid than just fight some journeyman who doesn’t have a ‘go’. I’m at a stage now where I’m not expecting any walkover jobs.
“After this fight we’ll start looking at domestic titles. I’d love to be British champion next year. Whenever it happens, it happens. I’ll be ready.”
*** Michael Grant’s fight with Gary Reid makes up part of the undercard to David ‘The Hayemaker’ Haye’s intriguing heavyweight showdown with Monte ‘Two Gunz’ Barrett at The O2 on November 15. HAYEMAKER2: ‘One Hayemaker vs. Two Gunz’ will be screened live and exclusively on Setanta Sports.
*** To purchase tickets for HAYEMAKER2: ‘One Hayemaker vs. Two Gunz’ contact the Box Office on 08448 560 202. For further information on Haye’s heavyweight curtain raiser or any other forthcoming Hayemaker shows, log on to the official website, http://www.hayemaker.com/ .
