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08/31/2004 Archived Entry: "Update: "Speedy" Gonzales vs Derrick Wilmore in SOLO BOXEO Co-Main at"
UPDATE: "Speedy" Gonzales vs Derrick Wilmore in SOLO BOXEO Co-Main at Chicago's Hawthorne Race Course on Friday, September 10th
Dominic Pesoli's 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum's Top Rank Incorporated along with Miller Lite is proud to announce further details of Mexican Independence Brawl at the Hawthorne Race Course on Friday, September 10th.
The Hawthorne Race Course is located at 35th and Laramie on the Chicago/Cicero border, just minutes from the Eisenhower and Stevenson expressways. Tickets, starting at $25, are available in advance by calling 312-226-5800. Doors open at 6pm, first bell is at 7pm.
After a very long search over the past three weeks amongst top junior welterweights prospects all over the country, Floridian Derrick Wilmore, 6-3 (1KO) will head to Chicago to face Al "Speedy" Gonzales, 14-1-1 (7KO's) in the co-main event of Telefutura's SOLO BOXEO Friday night internationally broadcast boxing series.
Speaking about the difficulty finding a dance partner for this bout, "Speedy" said, "its been crazy, Jerry (Alfano, matchmaker for 8 Count Productions) has been on the phone for the last three weeks. All these guys talk about fighting anybody, its all bull. This is a great opportunity to fight on live TV, for good money, and a chance to show what you've got against another top prospect and yet nobody wanted the fight."
'I'm out here in LA with Jessie Reid getting in terrific shape and these guys are on the internet running their mouths but then when it comes down to fighting they back off, cause they're not in the gym or they're not ready."
Speaking specifically about Wilmore, "Speedy" said, "I hear he's a tough guy from Florida and I'm sure he sees this as his opportunity to show the world what he's got. Guys like this that are sort of unseen you gotta be very careful of. The guy that just beat Luciano a couple of weeks back had just a couple of pro fights and I heard he really came to fight. I gotta be smart here and prepare myself as if he's world ranked so I don't get surprised."
Headlining the action packed card is a terrific junior welterweight showdown between Argentinean Omar Weis, 30-4-3 (16KO's) against Arturo Morua, 18-6-1 (13KO's).
Also appearing on the card is Illinois State Middleweight Champion, "Macho" Miguel Hernandez, 12-1 (7KO's), super middleweight Don "Da Bomb" George making his pro debut and middleweight Carlos Molina, 2-0 and middleweight Rudy Cisneros, 1-1 (1KO) in separate bouts.
EARLIER POST ON "SPEEDY":
"Speedy" Returns on Telefutura/Solo Boxeo Show at Chicago's Hawthorne Race Course on Sept. 10th"
Junior welterweight Al "Speedy" Gonzales, 14-1-1 (7KO's) makes his return to the squared circle as Dominic Pesoli's 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum's Top Rank Incorporated along with Miller Lite present one of Chicagoland's finest professional boxing cards of the summer at Hawthorne Race Course on Friday, September 10th.
Tickets, starting at $25, for this action packed evening are available in advance by calling 312-226-5800. Hawthorne Race Course is located at 35th and Laramie on the Cicero/Chicago border, just minutes from the Stevenson and Eisenhower expressways. Doors for this internationally telecast broadcast open at 6pm with the first bell scheduled for 7pm.
"Speedy" has been in Southern California since late July and spoke about training in the Los Angeles area as well as his upcoming bout, working with world class trainer Jessie Reid, a rematch with Demetrius Hopkins and his nemesis in the press, Paul Malignaggi.
"Its been great out here, very professional, Jessie sets up everything from the start and there's been great opportunities to work with different types of fighters, not only in his gym but all over Southern California, especially Wild Card (Freddie Roach's gym). One day as I'm on the speedbag I hear someone tell me its time to move and I turn around and it's James Toney. He moves pretty quick in the gym for a big fella."
"Also out here, there's much more sparring opportunities, better places to run, when I went back to Chicago for the Hopkins fight, I was in the best shape in my life. The fight didn't turn out the way I wanted it to, sort of unfinished business for both of us, he said he would fight me again but not in Chicago. Fine by me, we can do it in Philly, his hometown, or Atlantic City, just tell me when."
Speaking about having had all his fights in the Chicagoland area, Speedy stated "that's just the way things have worked out, I'll travel anywhere, either coast and all points in between. Somebody wants to fight me in their hometown, just pick up the phone and I'll be there."
Chuckling at the mention of New York City based prospect Paul Malignaggi, said Speedy, "all that nonsense at the end of June on Boxingtalk.net about his hosting my retirement party, that was almost 60 days ago and still his promoter hasn't set up the fight with Dominic, hasn't even offered us the fight. How can he talk like that and his promoter won't even try and make the fight? I said before I would gladly pummel him, anytime, anywhere. In his backyard, his living room, in Times Square, they can set up the boxing ring in DiBella's office if that makes him feel good, just tell me when and I'll be there. The kid has no idea what he's getting himself into. His promoter is being smart by matching him carefully rather that have him up against Demetrius, Bojado, Kendall Holt, Jessie Feliciano, Abdulaev, even Salita. Any of those guys and myself would destroy this little punk. He just uses our names, real fighters, to gain some type of credibility but he'll NEVER fight any of us."
Lastly "Speedy" wanted to thank his growing fan base "since I've been out here, I get recognized all the time from my fights on TV with Gutierrez, Feliciano and Hopkins. I look forward to putting on a great show on and moving onto bigger and better things in the future."
Said Dominic Pesoli, President ot 8 Count Productions, "Speedy just a kid who loves to fight and the Chicagoland crowds have really taking a liking to him. Both in February and in June he had them on their feet in packed houses at DePaul from start to finish. Ever since the Gutierrez fight last July when he showed his heart by winning a bloody battle after suffering a broken jaw in the first round, the crowds have contined to grow. And so it continues on Sept. 10th at Hawthorne Race Course."
Also appearing on the card is Illinois State Middleweight Champion "Macho" Miguel Hernandez, 12-1 (7KO's), fresh off his unanimous decision over tough veteran Rudy Lovato two weeks ago, middleweight Rudy Cisneros, 1-1 (1KO) and making his pro debut, hot local amateur prospect super middleweight Don "Da Bomb" George as well as junior middleweight Carlos Molina, 2-0, of Appleton, WI.
The Solo Boxeo/Telefutura Friday Night Fights series is the highest rating professional boxing show on television. More information on this huge night of boxing will be available shortly.
Photo by Edward Zajac
