(DEC 26) After a blockbuster year in 2007 featuring seventeen world class
professional boxing events, Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF
THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, storms into the new year with THE MONTH OF THE
KINGS, an outstanding evening for Chicago fight fans set for Friday, January
25th at Cicero Stadium.
Said Pesoli, “As 2007 was a terrific year for the sport of boxing, we’re
looking to forward to bigger things in 2008 with the same high quality
events that our fans have come to expect from 8 Count over the last ten
years. In Chicago, we’ve seen a tremendous increase in the number of fans
and quality fighters in recent years and we expect both to continue.”
Along with Chicago’s 8 Count Productions and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy
Promotions, THE MONTH OF THE KINGS is presented by TCF Bank, Tecate Beer and
AeroMexico, Mexico’s premier airline travel headquarters. The SOLO BOXEO
TECATE broadcast will be viewed in 42 US markets and 70 foreign countries.
Tickets for THE MONTH OF THE KINGS are available in advance by calling the 8
Count Productions offices at 312-226-5800. Cicero Stadium is located at 1909
S. Laramie, just minutes from the Eisenhower and Stevenson Expressways.
Doors for this event will open at 5:30pm with the first bell at 6:30pm.
Headlining is former junior flyweight world champion Hugo “EL INCREDIBLE”
Cazares of Los Mochis, Mexico. Cazares has moved up to flyweight for this
scheduled twelve rounder, his first fight in Chicago.
Cazares, 25-4-1 (19KO’s) won the title on April 30, 2005 with a technical
decision over Nelson Dieppa. He defended the title five times before losing
a very close, hard fought split decision to Ivan Calderon on August 25th of
this year in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. He is currently ranked # 2 in the world
by Ring Magazine and ESPN.
In the co-main event, Chicago favorite Antonio Escalante, 16-2 (10KO’s) will
return for his fourth area appearance in a ten round featherweight bout. The
22 year old Escalante, based in El Paso, Texas has won two in a row since
his last appearance in Chicago, a surprising eighth round TKO loss to former
world champion Mauricio Pastrana, a fight that he was well ahead when he was
hurt by an overhand right by the Columbian.
Two years ago, Escalante made his first visit to Chicago with a thrilling
ten round decision over Jose Hernandez, a fight that was hailed by many
boxing writers as amongst the best of year. SOLO BOXEO called it the best
fight broadcast in 2006. Escalante also beat Juan Ruiz by decision in
Chicago in May 2006 for the WBO NABO title in May 2006. At the close of
2006, ESPN’s Dan Rafael tapped Escalante as a future star in his year end
review of prospects.
The undercard of THE MONTH OF THE KINGS features Chicago welterweight Ivan
Popoca, undefeated Puerto Rican twin brothers Juan Carlos Velasquez and
Carlos Juan Velasquez along with fan favorite Barbaro Zepeda.
