28.05.06 – Undefeated lightweight prospect Mike Gonzalez will be featured in the co-main event on Friday June 16th at Cicero Stadium on the internationally televised DESTINY, an action packed, world class professional boxing card, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions..
“DESTINY” is presented by 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, along with Miller Lite and TCF Bank.
Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie, just minutes from the Eisenhower and Stevenson Expressways. Doors for this event will open at 6pm with the first bell at 7pm. Tickets, starting at $30 are on sale in advance by calling 312-226-5800.
Gonzalez, a native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, now fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, sports a record of 6-0 with six knockouts. He will be matched up against heavy handed Jeff Hinds, 7-5 (5) of Webb City, Missouri in the June 16th eight round co-main event.
Gonzalez’s most recent win was a fifth round knockout of Joseph Pujoe on March 25th of this year at the Grand Victoria Casino in Rising Sun, Indiana. Hinds is riding a three fight winning streak, all by knockout.
Said Pesoli, “Mike’s developed very well as a pro. He’s met each challenge head on and has looked better in each of his fights. Our fans already know how that’s he’s a very good prospect and this is an excellent opportunity for the boxing world to see him. Hinds is a very heavy handed, tough fighter and a good challenge for Mike. Between their combine thirteen wins, eleven have been by knockout. This should be an explosive fight from the opening bell.”
Continued Pesoli, “We signed Mike after his knockout of Tommy Pyle and we set up a game plan for him. This is another step in that game plan as we move to eight rounders. He’s been great to deal with, always on time, always on weight and always ready to fight.”
Speaking after a sparring session on Memorial Day weekend, the all business Gonzalez said, “I’m very excited about this opportunity. I’m ready to put on a great show not only for the 8 Count fans but also for the Solo Boxeo audience. It’s my first eight rounder, but I’m ready for the step up.”
The main event of the evening is an outstanding matchup between Chicagoland’s most popular boxer, 1996 US Olympian David Diaz, 30-1-1 (16), and Efren Hinojosa, 29-2-1 (17) of Lakeside, California in a twelve round bout for the IBA Lightweight World Championship.
The full fight card is as follows;
David Diaz vs. Efren Hinojosa, 12 rounds, lightweight
IBA Lightweight World Championship
Mike Gonzalez vs. Jeff Hinds, 8 rounds, lightweights
Gilbert Venegas vs. TBA, 6 rounds, junior welterweights
Francisco Diaz vs. TBA, 6 rounds, middleweights
Donovan George vs. TBA, 6 rounds, super middleweights
Kenny Kost vs. Alberto Mercedes, 6 rounds, middleweights
Barbaro Zepeda vs. Miguel Figueroa, 6 rounds, super featherweights
Trinidad Garcia vs. Chris Govan, 5 rounds, junior middleweights
The Master of Ceremonies for this event will be the internationally recognized voice
of Latino boxing, Lupe Contreras.
The weigh-in for this event will take place on Thursday, June 15th at Club Aquarius at 7pm.
Club Aquarius is located at 2459 N. Pulaski on the northwest side of Chicago.
8 Count Productions was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1997 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.
To view the seating chart and poster for this event or for more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit www.8countproductions.com and www.jabbboxinggym.com