CHICAGO, IL (May 17, 2011) Puerto Rican welterweight Luis “SITO” Santiago burst onto the Chicago boxing scene on April 1st with a thunderous pro debut, dropping William Bokhart three times in the first round on his way to a stoppage stunning the huge crowd at the UIC Pavilion.
The all-action 26 year old Santiago will return to the ring on Friday, May 20th in his second pro bout taking on St. Louis native Chris Holloman in a featured four round undercard bout 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.
A native of Chicago’s rough and tumble Humboldt Park neighborhood, Santiago was an amateur standout posting a record of 66 and 12.
Speaking about his pro debut, Santiago stated, ‘I was a little nervous, it was my first time fighting with no head gear and smaller gloves. But once I got hit that all went away. He was awkward and a southpaw, but once I hit him with a body shot I felt a lot better.”
“I’m excited to return this Friday night. I’ve got a lot of support and should have a pretty big crowd there to see me.”
Santiago, a boxing historian who counts Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Robinson and Bernard Hopkins as his favorites, is guided by longtime Chicago based trainer George Hernandez.
Among those impressed by Santiago’s pro debut was promoter Dominic Pesoli.
“Luis was excitement personified. The crowd at the UIC Pavilion really took to him in his pro debut. It was a terrific performance and we’re very happy to bring him back on May 20th” said Pesoli.
“Boxing fans are always looking for future stars and Luis is certainly in that mold. He’s a young kid who brings a real attitude to the ring and has terrific punching power to boot. Dressed in black with very sharp tattoos he makes quite the statement even before the bell rings.”
Windy City Fight Night 17 is headlined by a ten round light heavyweight WBO/NABO Title Bout between Chicago’s Polish Prince Andrzej Fonfara and Anthony Russell of Brockton, Massachusetts.
Tickets for Windy City Fight Night 17, priced at $100, $75, $50 and $30 are now on sale through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com, the UIC Pavilion Boxing Office (312-413-5740) and the 8 Count Productions’ Office (312-226-5800).
Doors on the evening of the event will open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm. The UIC Pavilion is located at 525 S. Racine, just one block south of the Eisenhower Expressway. For further information, please visit their website at www.uicpavilion.com. The UIC Pavilion is now serving alcohol at all boxing events.
8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland.
Fighters currently under the 8 Count Productions banner include; super middleweight contender Donovan George, light heavyweight Andrzej Fonfara, junior welterweight prospects Ivan Popoca, Adrian Granados and Ramiro Carrillo along with welterweights Achour Esho and Jaime Herrera.
For more information on 8 Count Productions please visit www.8countproductions.com. Also follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
WBO ANNOUNCES REFEREE AND JUDGES FOR THE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT, BRAEHMER VS CLEVERLY
World Boxing Organization (WBO) announced today the officials who will work this Saturday, May 21, in the Light Heavyweight Title bout between champion Juergen Braehmer and interim titlist Nathan Cleverly, to be held at O2 Arena in London, England, in a Frank Warren presentation.
WBO president, Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel reported that for this match the referee will be Mark Nelson, from Minnesota, while the judges are Minnesota’s Denny Nelson, Carlos Ortiz, from New York and Cesar Ramos, from Puerto Rico. This will be the second title defense for Braehmer (36-2, 29 KOs). Cleverly’s record is unbeaten 21-0, 10 KOs. WBO Supervisor for this fight will be John Duggan.
In this card, Frank Gavin (9-0, 8 KOs) and Young Mutley (29-5, 14 KOs) will fight for the WBO Inter-Continental vacant title.
O’Brien joins a charity
(EAST HANOVER, NJ)—Welterweight prospect Vinny “The Lion” O’Brien has recently announced his involvement with the charity JustADollarPlease.org and that he will be donating 10 percent of his purse from his May 20 fight to the organization.
JustADollarPlease.org is the fundraising project of SCINetUSA, the clinical trial network that was launched to test promising treatments for chronic spinal cord injury in the US. SCINetUSA will organize, administer, train clinicians and get approvals for the clinical trials.
O’Brien is also joining Team Fight to Walk, which is in association with the JustADollarPlease.org. It is a team of fighters that are helping raise awareness and funds for the pending clinical trial.
“This organization was brought to me and I read up on it and did my research and truly believe it’s a great organization,” said O’Brien. “And I just wish my purse was $20 million. Not only me, but most of us wake up in the morning and get out of bed and take advantage that we have use of every limb and full control of our bodies. I can’t even imagine how difficult it must be for the patients and anything I can do to bring even just one person a little closer to motor movement and a dream to walk again I will.”
Since making his professional debut March 5, O’Brien has been garnering international attention due to his intense fight style and ability to put on a show for the fans. But outside of the ring the up-and-coming welterweight stays just as busy as when he is training for a fight.
In addition to working with JustADollarPlease.org, O’Brien also does his part to help impact other charitable organizations, including United Way, Boys and Girls Club and Find A Dream.
“It means a lot to me to be able to give back and be a part of these organizations,” said O’Brien. “Athletes are held in a higher standard, and it is important that we donate our time to charities. I feel like I have a great responsibility to reach out to those in need and be a positive role model or someone they can turn to for inspiration or motivation. Athletes have to lead by example.”
O’Brien stated in an interview prior to his first fight that besides making a huge impact in the boxing world with his skills and performance in the ring, outside of the ring he was adamant about bringing class back to the sport.
Actions speak louder than words, and rather than simply telling the fans and media what they want to hear to boost his popularity, the young fighter has and continues to live up to his words by diligently doing all he can.
“Boxing has been a big part of my life and more recently over the past four years,” said O’Brien. “Not to be a cliché but I was born for this, and everything about me is made for the path I’m on now. I will always be a part of boxing and find any and all ways I can help this sport. Boxing has been around since the gladiators and is an American tradition, and it deserves the respect of anyone involved with the sport to help bring class back to this beautiful science.”
Vinny “The Lion” O’Brien returns to action next Friday, May 20 as he will be making his debut on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights. To purchase tickets contact Lou Esa at 973-885-7962. For more information on Vinny visit www.thelionobrien.com or www.facebook.com/home.php#!/VinnyLionOBrien.
To donate now visit JustADollarPlease.org.
Mosley retiring?? Tune in tonight to watch Mosley’s first tv interview since his loss to Pacquiao tonight on “Lopez Tonight” at midnight on TBS
Shane Mosley retiring??
Tune in tonight to watch Shane Mosley’s first tv interview since his loss to Manny Pacquiao, tonight, May 17th on “Lopez Tonight” at midnight on TBS
SNEAK PEEK
Is Shane Mosley retiring??
George – “At 39, you’re still gonna continue to fight. You still want to fight? Do you feel 39?”
Shane – “That night I did. As I get closer, I look at the exit. Before it was kind of blurry. Now the exit door is looking clearer then ever. Maybe I might be looking towards that exit door.”
George – “But that wasn’t your last fight?”
Shane – “If there’s somebody that wants to. Maybe there’s a Margarito or Cotto that wants to get in there and fight, maybe ill take that fight but other than that I’ll probably leave it alone.”
George – “Wow, I’ve never heard you say that before. I’m shocked and I’m proud of you too man. That’s always a tough decision to come to.”
Tune in this evening for more with Mosley on his fight with Pacquiao, his thoughts on Mayweather and his future in boxing on “Lopez Tonight” at midnight on TBS