The CBZ Newswire

Andrzej Fonfara (R) batters Anthony Russell's body en route to victory

Report by Kerstin Broockmann

Photos by Scott Dray

CHICAGO, IL, May 20, 2011 – 8 Count Productions stormed the UIC Pavilion with an exciting evening of fights highlighted by an explosive bout between Andrzej “The Polish Prince” Fonfara and the durable Canadian Anthony Russell for the WBO and NABO Light Heavyweight titles. Other highlights of the stacked card included a messy Indiana showdown between Middleweights Josh Crouch and Keon Johnson; a rematch between Jaime Herrera (coming off his first loss) and Eric Draper, out to avenge his loss to Herrera in their first outing; and the Windy City Fight Night debut of undefeated Middleweight Ninos Abraham.

Juan Bustamante (L) and Jose Rivera trade punches inside

The first match of the evening marked the professional debut of Chicagoan Juan Bustamante (132 lbs.) in a Lightweight battle that would go the distance.  Facing him was scrappy Puerto Rican Jose “El Gallo” Rivera (130 lbs.), who did not come all the way from Ocala, Florida, to lose. Both boxers fought emotionally at times, with bad intentions evident in the hard exchanges. Rivera launched the first attack of the round, but Bustamante came back moments later, pushing Rivera back. The majority of the round was spent with both boxers fighting inside, launching punishing hooks to the body, most of which bounced off arms and elbows, to try to find a home for uppercuts and hooks to the head. Neither gave the other many opportunities to do so, but Bustamante was the busier of the two. (continue reading…)

CHICAGO, IL, May 20, 2011 — Chicago’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, presents a stellar evening this Friday night, May 20th at the UIC Pavilion.

The seven bout card, Windy City Fight Night 17, brings together a terrific blend of Chicagoland’s finest contenders, proven prospects and exciting newcomers. (continue reading…)

CHICAGO, IL, May 18, 2011 — Popular undefeated middleweight prospect Ninos Abraham makes his UIC Pavilion debut this Friday night, May 20th in one of the featured undercard bouts at Windy City Fight Night 17.

Windy City Fight Night 17 is presented by Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING. (continue reading…)

Boxing–It’s Better Live!

WHO:     

Our Fighting Irish: Andy Lee and Henry Coyle

Chicago’s Very Own Aschour Esho, Russell Fiore and Ninos Abraham

Special Feature “Macho” Miguel Hernandez–Featured on the the television series ‘The Contender’ (continue reading…)

Achour Esho (R) Gets Through the Guard of Robert Jones

By Kerstin Broockmann

Photos by Scott Dray

HAMMOND, IN, May 29, 2010 — Hitz Boxing returned to Hammond, Indiana’s Horseshoe Casino with a packed card headlined by Montell ‘Ice’ Griffin entering the ring for his 58th bout in his quest for 50 wins against Buffalo, NY’s Ross ‘The Boss’ Thompson.  The ‘Quest for 50’ also featured a packed undercard of Chicago fighters, including Henry Coyle returning to the ring after an injury to face Danville, VA’s Marcus Luck, and Achour Esho looking to maintain his unbeaten record against Ann Arbor, MI, veteran Robert Jones in what would be the Fight of the Night. The event featured lots of action in small quantities, as most of the fights ended early. The Main Events were disappointing. There was a respectable crowd (given the fact that another card was taking place just a few miles away at the UIC Pavilion and the Blackhawks were playing in Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals). Hawks fans were mollified by the big screen broadcast of the game between bouts.

Rafael Murphy (L) looks for an opening against Quinton Smith

The first bout of the evening featured the Cruiserweight professional debut of Chicagoan Rafael Murphy (200 lbs.) against Covington, TN’s Quinton Smith (2-6-0, 0 KO’s, 201 lbs.). The slightly paunchy Smith came out strong and landed a few punches. However, Murphy withstood the first onslaught and countered. Smith charged in again, but with his head low, he found himself eating an uppercut, followed by a barrage of punches from Murphy, none of which he could not see to counter. Smith found himself on the canvas at :49 seconds into Round 1, and Referee Celestino Ruiz waved off the fight, giving Murphy his first professional victory by knockout.

Murphy wins by knockout

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