CHICAGO, IL (August 7, 2008) Undefeated light heavyweight prospect Tavoris Cloud arrived at O’Hare Airport from Tallahassee, Florida, on Wednesday night following final preparations for his ESPN2 televised showdown with former world champion Julio Gonzalez this Friday night, August 8th, at The Aragon Ballroom. The Cloud/Gonzalez battle is an IBF Title Eliminator bout for the # 1 light heavyweight ranking.

Said Cloud, as he was being sped to his downtown hotel, “I’m ready to fight and I’m sure that he is also. Neither one of us are dancers or prancers. We’re fighters and the fans will see that on Friday night. Fight fans want to see a great fight, that’s what we’re going to give them.

I’m thrilled to be back in Chicago, it’s my second home and I’ve heard the Aragon will be packed for the fight. Fans here have been terrific to me and I’m planning on putting on a great performance on Friday night.”

Cloud will be a special guest on Thursday night on the “Through The Ropes” national radio show hosted by award winning boxing writer Marc Lichtenfeld airing over the Sports Byline USA Network. Fight fans can listen online from 9-10pm EST through the Fightnews.com website.

The Cloud/Gonzalez battle headlines HARD EIGHT, which is presented by Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, along with Chicago-based A-TEAM Management. Advance tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com or 312-559-1212). Doors for this event will open at 6:30pm with the first bell at 7:15pm.

The open to the public weigh in for HARD EIGHT will take place on Thursday, August 7th at 5pm at Beef and Brandy Restaurant, 127 S. State St.. in Downtown Chicago.

The 26 year old Cloud of Tallahassee, Florida, brings an unbeaten record of 18-0 with seventeen knockouts into the battle with Gonzalez. Most recently he destroyed Mike Wood in the first round on March 28, 2008 in front of a packed Aragon Ballroom. In his most explosive outing which took place on August 24, 2007, Cloud, cut badly from a head butt in the fourth

A native of Guerrero Negro, Mexico, now residing in Huntington Beach, California, the 31 year old Gonzalez sports a record of 41-5 with 25 knockouts. He is coming off a very close split decision loss to former world champion Reggie Johnson on February 23, 2008 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Along with battles with Johnson and Michalczewski, he has also fought world champions Roy Jones Jr., Clinton Woods (twice), Montell Griffin, and Zsolt Erdei.

The co-main event pits Chicago’s “KING” Carlos Molina, 11-4-1 (4KO’s) against Denver’s Donald Camarena, 19-4 (9KO’s) in an eight round welterweight bout.

Featured Undercard Bouts.

Zaid Zavaleta vs. Oscar Leon, eight rounds, lightweights

Cedric Agnew vs. Ali Supreme, six rounds, light heavyweights

Nick Casal vs. Frankie Zepeda, six rounds, junior welterweights

Johnny Suarez vs. Guadalupe Diaz, four rounds, junior middleweights

Theron Johnson vs. William Williams, four rounds, heavyweights

8 Count Productions was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 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.jabbboxing.com

Ten Questions with 2007 World Champion and 2008 Welterweight Olympian Demetrius Andrade

(BEIJING, CHINA) – Welterweight Demetrius Andrade (Providence, R.I.) has heard the sound of the United States national anthem playing in honor of his gold medal once before, winning a world title at the 2007 World Championships in October. He hopes to hear that sound once again, this time at the Olympic Games.

Andrade and his eight Olympic teammates completed their final pre-draw training session on Thursday at Beijing Normal University. The team will now wait for the results of the Olympic draw, which will take place on Friday at 11 a.m. Beijing time.

Following his afternoon training session, Andrade took a few minutes to share his feelings about the upcoming Olympic Games and going into the event as the man to beat.

1. How are you feeling now just a few days out from the Opening Ceremonies?

I’m feeling good, I’m feeling great. I’m ready to put the pedal to the metal.

2. How has being on the ground here in China affected your training?

It has made me even hungrier.

3. What is the most challenging part of being here in Beijing?

Just communication with my family back home but other than, everything’s all right.

4. What is your favorite thing about China so far?

I’ve been here before so seeing new things – the Great Wall, the silk market, and seeing other Olympians.

5. What was the one thing you wanted to make sure you brought to China?

Just my heart and soul

6. Are you coming in with a different attitude as the favorite?

I’m coming in with a different attitude, a meaner attitude. I have the gold medal and they’re trying to take it away from me. I can’t let that happen.

7. Are any family and friends coming to China to support you?

My dad and whoever he brings

8. What does being an Olympian mean to you?

Now it means everything. As the day gets closer, you start to understand what the true meaning of being an Olympian. It’s bigger than just you.

9. What is your favorite thing to eat here?

McDonalds

10. What can people expect to see from you when you finally take the ring at the Workers Indoor Arena?

Animal, I’m just going to be an animal in there. I can’t slack on one punch because every fight could be your last.