Welterweights Delvin Rodriguez (23-2-2, 14KO) and Isaac Hlatshwayo (28-1-1, 10KO) battled to a 12 round draw on Monday night in Hlatshwayo’s home country of South Africa. At stake in the bout was an IBF #1 ranking and future date with IBF welterweight champion Joshua Clottey. From the opening bell it was an entertaining fight as Hlatshwayo looked to press the action while the sharp shooting Rodriguez was content on firing off crisp combinations from the outside..
It was obvious that Rodriguez was the much superior boxer as he would throw beautiful three and four punch combinations from the outside and then tie Hlatshwayo up before the South African could fire back.
By the middle rounds the fight had become a classic boxer vs. brawler bout with Hlatshwayo taking four shots just to land one. While Rodriguez was the more accurate of the two, Hlatshwayo’s wide shots brought loud reaction from his hometown crowd.
In the 9th round, just as the fight seemed to somewhat be turning Hlatshwayo’s way, Rodriguez landed a picture perfect right hand right on the button that send Hlatshwayo down. Hlatshwayo showed his toughness though and he was able to get up and survive the round.
Rodriguez came out in the final two rounds looking to put Hlatshwayo away, not wanting the fight to go to the judges scorecards in his opponents backyard. Hlatshwayo hung tough though and was able to hold on and make it to the final bell. With the knockdown it seemed as though Rodriguez had done more then enough to pull out the decision. Unfortunately fighting in Hlatshwayo’s home country seemed to play in his favor as Hlatshwayo was awarded a split decision victory over a very disappointed Rodriguez. Upon further review of the scorecards by Rodriguez’s promoter Joe DeGuardia, it was revealed that there was a mistake made in the calculation in one of the judges scoring. Upon an intense review by both camps and IBF official Mahsan Scott, the fight was changed to its correct decision, a majority draw.
“Delvin came into Hlatshwayo’s backyard and put on a great showing,” said DeGuardia, CEO of Star Boxing. “He was the busier fighter, landed more punches, and dropped Hlatshwayo. I will give Hlatswhayo credit he is a tough fighter, and just kept coming all night long though.” Under the rules of the IBF Rodriguez and Hlatshwayo will fight in a rematch immediately.
TICKET ALERT!!!!!!!!! 8 COUNT PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS “YOUNG GUNS” ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12TH AT CICERO STADIUM
FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ HEADLINES IVAN POPOCA IN CO-MAIN
UNDERCARD FEATURES ANDRZEJ FONFARA AND NEWCOMERS ADRIAN GRANADOS, NOE PEREZ AND SERGIO MONTES DE OCA
CHICAGO, IL (November 17, 2008) Following their highly successful event this past Friday night, Chicago’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, presents “YOUNG GUNS”, an evening of world class professional boxing set for Friday, December 12th at Cicero Stadium.
Advance tickets for “YOUNG GUNS” can be obtained by calling the 8 Count Productions office at 312-226-5800. Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie in Cicero. Doors on the evening of the event will open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm.
Headlining the event is the return of bantamweight Francisco “EL NINO AZTECA” Rodriguez. Known for his world class boxing skills and marching band ring walk, Rodriguez is coming off a very solid ten round decision over Alex Becerra on July 25th. The recently married Rodriguez brings a record of 13-2-0 (8KO’s) into battle.
The co-main event features undefeated junior welterweight prospect Ivan Popoca. The former amateur standout with a record of 8-0-1 (7KO’s) has solidified his presence in the Chicago area boxing as a “must see” fighter with his crushing knockouts, his last two bouts ending in the first round.
Middleweight prospect Andrezej “THE POLISH PRINCE” Fonfara will be featured in a six round bout. The 21 year old Fonfara, 10-2-0 (3KO’s) is looking to rebound after being stopped by Derrick Findley on July 11th at the Aragon Ballroom.
Making his Chicago pro debut, Adrian Granados will be featured in a four round lightweight bout. The former Chicago Golden Gloves champion is a student of legendary Mexican trainer Nacho Beristain. The 19 year old brings a record of 2-0-0 (1KO) into battle.
Pro debuts will take place for featherweights Noe Perez and Sergio Montes De Oca in separate four round bouts. Perez, a 2008 Chicago Golden Gloves Champion is the brother of “blood and guts” warrior Luciano Perez.
More information on this event will be announced shortly.
The Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be noted boxing ring announcer Thomas Treiber.
“YOUNG GUNS” is presented along with Miller Beer, TCF Bank, Jack Daniels and EL Jimador Tequila.
TCF is a Wayzata, Minnesota-based national financial holding company with $16.4 billion in total assets. The company has 453 banking offices in Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Colorado, Wisconsin, Indiana and Arizona, providing retail and commercial banking services, and investments and insurance products. TCF also conducts leasing and equipment finance business in all 50 states.
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
ACTION PACKED CARD THIS THURSDAY NIGHT AT BALLROOM BOXING
TYRELL SAMUEL VS. RON BOYD IN MAIN EVENT FOR STATE TITLE
JOEY GILBERT RETURNS IN CO-MAIN
BASTIE SAMIR, STEVIE WEIMER AND TERRANCE CRAWFORD IN STACKED UNDERCARD
ADVANCE TICKETS NOW ON SALE
BALTIMORE, MD (November 16, 2008) Scott Wagner’s Ballroom Boxing and Chet Koerner’s TKO Boxing Promotions have teamed up to present an outstanding evening of world class professional boxing set for this Thursday night, November 20th at Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD.
Advance tickets for the eight bout BALLROOM BOXING card, starting at $35, can be obtained by calling 410-766-7474. Michael’s Eighth Avenue is located at 7220 Grayburn in Glen Burnie , Maryland . Further information can also be obtained at www.ballroomboxing.com
Headlining the card is a ten round “cross-town show-down” rematch between Baltimore ‘s Tyrell Samuel, 10-2-0 (5KO’s), and Washington D.C. ‘s Ron “TEFLON” Boyd, 5-4-0 (2KO’s) for the Maryland State Featherweight Title. Their first bout, a six rounder on September 25th, also at Michael’s Eighth Avenue , was an outstanding back and forth battle ending in a very close split decision victory for Samuel.
The co-main event this Thursday night, features the quick return to the Baltimore area of super middleweight contender Joey Gilbert,
16-1 (13KO’s) in a six round bout. Gilbert, of Reno , Nevada , knocked out Dan Wallace in the second round on October 30th at The Jonathan Ogden Foundation Charity Boxing Show in Cockeysville , MD.
In a special light heavyweight attraction, Jarell Jackson, 7-5-1 (3KO’s) of Temple Hills , MD will battle Landover’s Carlos Jones, 5-13-0 (3KO’s) in a six round bout.
Making his Baltimore debut is highly regarded junior middleweight prospect Bastie “THE BEAST” Samir, 1-0-0 (1KO) who will face off against fellow Las Vegas resident Joel Gonzalez, 2-1-0 (1KO) in a four round bout. Samir thrilled the York , PA boxing fans two weeks ago with a devestating first round knockout of Marvin Blair in his pro debut. The captain of the 2008 Ghanan Olympic Team is amongst the most talked about prospects in boxing.
Baltimore native Mike “THE PERSECUTOR” Paschall, 17-1-1 (4KO’s) will see battle in a six round light heavyweight bout. This will be Paschall’s first bout following his Showtime televised battle with Andre Dirrell which was stopped on cuts in the fourth round.
Nineteen year old junior welterweight prospect Stevie Weimer, 3-0-0 (2KO’s) of nearby York , PA will face Las Vegas ‘ Manny Cotrich, 1-2 (1KO) in a four round bout. Weimer is coming off a very solid four round decision over Trenton Titsworth on November 8th in York .
Also seeing action in the junior welterweight weight class is undefeated prospect Terrance Crawford, 5-0-0 (3KO’s) of Omaha , NE who battles Minneapolis , MN veteran Hassan Wasswa, 5-9-2 (2KO’s). Crawford thrilled the crowd at the Valencia Ballroom in York , PA on November 8th with a crunching second round knockout of Michael Williams.
Rounding out the card is a four round heavyweight bout between locals DeWayne McRae, 1-0-0 (1KO) of Laurel, MD and Washington D.C’s Kareem Wilson, 0-1-0.
For further information on TKO BOXING Promotions, please visit their website at www.tkoboxingpromotions.com