The CBZ Newswire

Television: ESPN Friday Night Fights

Promoters: Round 3 Productions, 8 Count Productions,

Warriors Boxing, Blue Wave Boxing

Venue: UIC Pavilion in Chicago, IL

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Sergio Montes de Oca at left vs. Salvador Perez last June (photo by Scott Dray)

On March 22nd at the UIC Pavilion, Chicago’s Sergio Montes de Oca (7-1-1, 2 KOs) makes his television debut against Miami’s Hairon “El Maja” Socarras (6-0-1, 5 KOs) in a bantamweight clash that should add to the growing Mexicano vs. Cubano rivalry.

Although Montes de Oca is the one making his television debut in front of his hometown and has not lost a fight since 2010, most boxing experts view Socarras as the one more likely to win. (continue reading…)

Castillo Can’t Keep Up with Smith, Heavyweights Bring the Fire

By Kerstin Broockmann

Photos by Scott Dray

CHICAGO, IL, February 2, 2013–On ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, presented by 8 Count, Warriors, and Round 3 Promotions, last night at Chicago’s UIC Pavilion, Carlos Molina demonstrated again why he should be in contention for a title, showing great poise and effective offensive and defensive skills in dismantling former title-holder Cory Spinks. Antwone Smith stymied a game but faded Jose Luis Castillo. Local heavyweight Mike Mollo, returning to ring for the first time since 2010, showed lots of heart and decent power against Polish upstart Artur Szpilka, who bloodied and ultimately knocked him out after an entertaining brawl.

Carlos Molina (L) defends against Cory Spinks

The Main Event featured Carlos Molina (21 [16 KOs]-5-2, 153.5 lbs.), who had put one fight between himself and his latest loss, a controversial disqualification against James Kirkland in a fight he was winning, against another southpaw, former title-holder Cory Spinks (39 [11 KOs]-8, 153.25 lbs.) in an IBF Light Middleweight eliminator bout. Spinks holds victories against some respectable opponents, including Ricardo Mayorga and Zab Judah, but has struggled lately, and last night’s bout proved to be no exception. Though the bout began quickly, with both fighters looking to make their mark, Molina found his rhythm in the first round, while Spinks could not get close to Molina. When he tried, charging in with his head low, Molina pushed him down and countered with a flurry of hooks. By round’s end, Spinks was being driven back into the ropes and trying to stop Molina’s onslaught by grabbing Molina arond the waist. Spinks came out behind his jab in the second, a good strategy that initially kept Molina from finding a home for the left hook that proved his best weapon in this fight. By the end of the round, Spinks was again clinching, and sometimes grappling, to avoid punishment from Molina, who was effectively outboxing and outhustling him. The third round was the most competetive of the fight. After a slow start, both boxers engaged and landed some solid blows. Molina started effectively going to the body and continued to counter Spinks with his left hook. (continue reading…)

Carlos Molina (left) and Cory Spinks at last night’s weigh-in

 ”This show is indicative of the ever-increasing quality of Friday Night Fights broadcasts. It’s every bit as good as or better than the average Showtime or HBO boxing show. This is just a terrific event from top to bottom.” — Teddy Singleton of Don King Productions

 Carlos Molina 153.4 vs. Cory Spinks 153.2

Antwone Smith 155.6 vs. Jose Luis Castillo 151.8

 Artur Szpilka 230.8 vs. Mike Mollo 231.6

 Don George 164.4 vs. James Cook 161.8

 Mike Jimenez 167.8 vs. Jordan Brown 167.8

 Jaime Herrera 146.8 vs. Marlon Smith 146.2

 Jimmy Murphy 145.4 vs. Aloric Carson 150.2

 Sergio Montes de Oca 126.2 vs. Antoine Knight 127

 Junior Anthony Wright 197.6 vs. Tim Johnson 203.8 (continue reading…)

CHICAGO, January 27, 2013 — Advance tickets for the FEBRUARY 1 ESPN Friday Night Fights professional boxing event at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago are selling at a record pace according to promoter Dominic Pesoli of 8 Count Productions.

“This show will mark the 15 Year Anniversary of 8 Count Productions promoting events in Chicago and I’ve never seen tickets move so fast for one of our shows,” said Pesoli. “Our last two events at the UIC Pavilion in July and November saw massive crowds and we’re on track for higher tickets sales for this event.” (continue reading…)