The CBZ Newswire

Jimenez Continues to Dominate, Ortuz Displays Boxing Skills and Bantamweights Shine in Undercard Bouts

Donatas Bondorovas (R) stays on Michael Walker

By Kerstin Broockmann
Photos by Scott Dray

HAMMOND, IN, February 16, 2013 — Hitz Boxing’s Fight Night at the Horseshoe Casino featured an evening of local prospects slugging it out, including, in the main event, a return bout between Middleweights David Thomas of Evansville, IN and Lithuanian Donatas Bondorovas, now residing in Chicago. In their last outing at the same venue, Bondorovas won by second round TKO, after the referee stepped in to save Thomas, who felt the stoppage was early. The card also featured impressive displays from Bantamweight amateur standouts Johnny Determan and Adan Ortiz showing their strength in separate bouts, tough guy Dimar Ortuz trying to impose his will on Grover Young, and Michael Walker and Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez taking on each other at Super Middleweight. Rounding out the evening were Russell Fiore taking on Anthony Linsenfelser at Lightweight, Felix Abner and David Martin III in a hard-fought Heavyweight fight, and new prospects Jimmy Murphy, Tremaine Pride and Nick Ramirez seeking to improve their early-career records with mixed results.

Michael Walker (L) tries to avoid a jab from Bondorovas

In the main event, Donatas Bondorovas  (17-3-1, 6 KOs) looked to remove any doubts about his earlier victory  over “King” David Thomas (10-4-2, 8 KOs), who in turn wanted to avenge what he knew was an early stoppage, in a scheduled eight-round bout for the UBF Middleweight title. Both boxers exhibited solid skills in the first round, popping sharp jabs and landing powerful rights. Bondorovas’ ability to get inside Thomas’s guard with powerful rights shots gave him the round. (continue reading…)

Official Weigh-In at Sixth Street Sports Bar 5 PM on Thursday, February 14th

HAMMOND, IN – The Media and General Public are invited to the official weigh-in for Hitz Boxing’s “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” event.

The official weigh-in will be held at 5 pm on the casino floor in The Sixth Street Sports Bar, inside the Hammond Horseshoe Casino (777 Casino Center Drive, Hammond, IN). All fighters involved, all promoters and organizers will be available for interviews and photos. (continue reading…)

By Kerstin Broockmann

Photos to be added later

HAMMOND, IN, August 18, 2012 — Hitz Boxing presented another Fight Night at the Horseshoe this evening at The Venue in Hammond. The evening’s bouts showcased the young and old(er) of Chicago’s boxing community, including a fight for the “over 40″ World Senior Boxing Council Championship between Middleweights Mike Kurzeja and Gerald Taylor. Headlining was Fres Oquendo, keeping busy in a bout Philadelphia’s Robert Hawkins. Undefeated Ghanaian Welterweight Abdullai Amidu (19-0) was unfortunately unable to make his Horseshoe Casino debut after his opponent withdrew too late to find a substitute. Local up-and-coming boxers Paul Littleton and Dimar Ortuz successfully stepped up against quality competition in crowd-pleasing wars, while more seasoned fighters David Martin III and Johnny Lewus found themselves in deeper waters than anticipated against opponents whose records belied their skills. Simon Buettner and Frank Scalise made short work of their hapless opponents. It was an evening of entertaining and occasionally explosive scraps.

Light Heavyweight Simon “The Punisher” Buettner (176 lbs) of Carpentersville, IL, entered the ring with a record of 1 win by knockout and no losses against Mukwonago, Wisconsin’s Mike “The Sandman” Reiter (172 lbs.), looking to get his first win after two losses. Buettner easily outclassed his older opponent, who, after a strong start, had no answers for Buettner’s sharper, harder punches. Buettner established himself behind the jab and quickly drove Reiter into the ropes, where a volley of body punches and hooks led to Reiter apparently taking a knee. Moments later, a right hook to the body, led to Reiter once again going down. He beat the count, only to find himself back on the ropes. Buettner continued the onslaught with hooks to the head and body shots, and a left hook buckled Reiter’s knees for the third time. Once again, Buettner attacked, driving his opponent to the ropes where another left hook dropped Reiter for the fourth and final time. Referee Kurt Spivey mercifully called a halt to the action at 2:16 of the first round, giving Buettner the TKO and improving his record to 2-0, 2 KOs. (continue reading…)

Fres Oquendo Stays Sharp in Hard-Fought Victory, Up and Coming Boxers Fight Hard for Their “0’s”

Fres Oquendo (R) closes on Joey Abell in the Main Event

Report by Kerstin Broockmann

Photos by Scott Dray

HAMMOND, IN, May 25, 2012 — Chicago’s Fres Oquendo (219.5 lbs., now 34-7, 22 KO’s) was back in action at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana this evening after more than a year off and suffering a series of heartbreaking and controversial losses in his last attempts to get back into the title race. If Oquendo was hoping to prove he is still a contender, he did so against the game and dangerous Joey Abell (240 lbs., 28-6, 27 KO’s) from Coon Rapids, MI. Oquendo has lost some of his speed, but his smarts took over when he found himself in trouble against the hard-punching but less skilled southpaw Abell. Nevertheless, Abell did not give him a moment’s rest as long as the bout lasted. The two were fighting for the WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight Title, so Oquendo now has some hardware to offer in his quest for a major fight.

The other action of the evening featured a series of pitched battles between up-and-comers and would-be spoilers. Nick Ramirez was unimpressive  in his professional debut. Meegal Harper struggled to keep his undefeated record intact against the crafty veteran Guy Packer. Donatas Bondorovas stayed calm under heavy fire before launching his own brutal counter-attack against Ramon Valenzuela Jr. David Martin III found a surprisingly durable opponent in Tim Washington. Elijah McCall had a tough time with the larger and surprisingly active Stan Allen. Phillip Triantfillo struggled to launch a consistent offense against the light-punching but busier Emerson Chasing Bear. Mike Jimenez took some heavy shots against granite-chinned Adrian Hermann before finally wearing him down enough to finish. If the hometown fighters were looking for easy wins, they did not get their wishes. There were no opponents on this card; everyone lacing on the gloves came to fight. (continue reading…)

Hitz Boxing’s popular “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” series will return on Friday, May 25, 2012, at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, featuring Chicago’s own former heavyweight title challenger and long-time top contender “Fast” Fres Oquendo (33-7, 21 KOs) in the 10-round main event.

As has become the trademark of these successful shows, promoter Bobby Hitz has packed the undercard with local and international talent, including NABA-US Lightweight Champion Yakubu “Black Mamba” Amidu (20-3-1, 18 KOs) of Los Angeles via Ghana, in a six-round bout; undefeated heavyweight crowd pleaser David “Diesel” Latoria (10-0, 5 KOs), also in a six-rounder; popular Chicago super-middleweight dynamo Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez (6-0, 3 KOs) will go six rounds; undefeated heavyweight powerhouse David Martin III (5-0, 4 KOS) of Hobart, Indiana, will fight four or less; fighting light welterweight gym owner Genaro Mendez (4-1-1, 3 KOs) will go six rounds; nearby Chesterton, Indiana, heavyweight Philip Triantafillo (2-0, 1 KO) will fight a four-rounder and professional super flyweight and former National Jr. Olympic Champion Johnny “WiteBoi” Determan (4-0, 3 KOs) from Nebraska will go four rounds. (continue reading…)