The CBZ Newswire

Mike "Hollywood" Jimenez Hits Antwun Echols with an Uppercut En Route to a Third Round Stoppage

by Kerstin Broockmann

Photos by Scott Dray

HAMMOND, IN, November 21, 2012 — A few years ago, most of the young professionals on tonight’s Hitz Boxing’s Fight Night at the Horseshoe Casino card were making their marks at the Chicago Golden Gloves. In a Thanksgiving Eve show at the Venue, some faced stern tests and others began or continued their succesful professional careers. In the disappointing main event, Hollywood, California’s (via Shuya, Russia) former WBC Youth Heavyweight Champion Andrey Fedosov faced former NABA Light Heavyweight Champion, veteran “Rockin’” Rodney Moore, back in the ring for the first time since 2005. Chicagoans Dimar Ortuz and and Terry Martin put their 0′s on the line to square off against each other in a bout that promised, but did not deliver, fireworks. Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez faced veteran Antwun Echols, whose former power has clearly been eclipsed  by years. Former Golden Gloves Champions Simon Buettner and Adan Ortiz stayed perfect in their respective weight classes in two entertaining bouts. Jimmy Murphy and Jonathan Manos began their professional careers on the same day, as they had their amateur careers, and both stopped their opponents in the second round, though in very different fights. Rounding out the card were pugnacious lightweight Frank Scalise, heavyweights Josh Clark and Brian Houston in an exciting battle, welterweight Genaro Mendez demonstrating explosive power, up and coming Chicago-based middleweight Donatas Bondorovas outgunning hometown fighter David Thomas, and Pacquiao sparring partner Abdulai Amidu against perennially hopeful and overmatched Clifford McPherson.   (continue reading…)

Damon Antoine (R) can't hide from Henry Coyle (L)

by Kerstin Broockmann

photos by Scott Dray

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL, June 21, 2012 — Despite the disappointing absence of the scheduled co-main event between fan favorite Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez and Indianapolis stalwart Mustafah Johnson, Hitz Boxing put on an exciting weeknight event for fight fans at the Belvedere Ballroom this evening. Though there were a few controversial decisions, the boxers definitely came to fight, even if some of them were stopped before they thought they’d had a chance to do so. Henry Coyle shook off some ring rust against the over-matched but durable Damon Antoine in the Main Event. Elijah McCall settled in to use his growing ring smarts to overcome his larger opponent in two. Locals PJ Cajigas and Simon  Buettner entered the professional boxing ring for the first time with mixed results. Mexican ring warriors Sergio Montes de Oca and Salvador Perez once again lit up the ring with a non-stop battle. Henry Coyle hopes to defend his WBF Light Middleweight Title later this summer in Ireland, and it will be interesting to see how the young boxers on the card fare as they continue their careers. Perez and Montes de Oca certainly proved themselves worthy of another look.

Montes de Oca (L) closes on Perez

In what was definitely the fight of the night, up and coming Chicago Super Bantamweight Sergio Montes de Oca (120 lbs., 6-1-1, 1 KO) and Campeche, Mexico’s Salvador Perez (120 lbs., 2-1-2, 1 KO) got the evening off to a rousing start in a return engagement of their explosive February 18, 2012, battle, which Montes de Oca won on all scorecards, but certainly not without being tested by his tough adversary. Once again, the two boxers wasted no time in getting to work, with Perez landing some hard blows to the body while being countered by hooks to the head. Montes de Oca landed the first flurry, but this only seemed to motivate Perez, who redoubled his efforts with a mix of body shots and uppercuts that made their mark on the local fighter. A low blow sent Perez to his knee late in the round, but both fighters never backed down throughout. It was hard to call the non-stop action, with both fighters doing their share of damage, but Montes de Oca seemed to win on ring generalship. (continue reading…)

Mike Jiminez (right) and Mustafa Johnson (Tom Barnes photo)

 Promoter: Hitz Boxing

Venue: The Belvedere Banquet in Elk Grove, Illinois

 Michael Jimenez 169 vs. Mustafah Johnson 161

Henry Coyle 155 vs. Damon Antoine 154

Simon Buettner 175 vs. Jadell Wells 180

Elijah McCall 229 vs. Travis Fulton 241

Sergio Montes De Oca 120 vs. Salvador Perez 120

PJ Cajigas 181 vs. Gerald Taylor 176

Mustafah Johnson (161 lbs.) vs Michael Jimenez (169 lbs.)

Promoter: Hitz Boxing

Venue: The Belvedere Banquet in Elk Grove, Illinois

Date: June 21, 2012. Doors open at 6:30, bouts begin at 7:30

Michael Jimenez 169 vs. Mustafah Johnson 161

Henry Coyle 155 vs. Damon Antoine 154 (continue reading…)

Latoria (left) slugs in close as Gutierrez covers.

HAMMOND, IN, February 18, 2012 – Saturday night’s Hitz Boxing’s “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” at the Horseshoe Casino proved to be a night of high energy, heavy hitting, and daunting speed, which made for a great experience.

(continue reading…)