CHICAGO, IL- World class professional boxing returns to the Chicagoland area on Friday, April 11th as Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, presents THE ODEUM RUMBLE, an action packed evening at the Odeum Sports and Expo Center in Villa Park.
The Odeum Sports and Expo Center is conveniently located 20 minutes from downtown Chicago at 1033 N. Villa Avenue in Villa Park and is easily accessible from the Eisenhower expressway in addition to toll roads 355 and 294. Specific directions and further information can be found on the Odeum Sports and Expo website at www.odeumexpo.com
Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling the 8 Count Productions box office at 312-226-5800. Doors will open on the night of the fight at 7pm, with the first bell at 8pm.
Headlining THE ODEUM RUMBLE is a terrific junior middleweight clash between Chicago based veterans Luciano Perez and Carlos Molina. The crosstown showdown between the Mexican natives is scheduled for eight rounds.
Said Pesoli, “This is a terrific battle between two tough Mexican fighters. Luciano and Carlos have been in great fights in Chicago and out of town and our fans are in for a tremendous matchup between these two warriors. They’ve both recently been involved in very close decision losses and have a lot at stake by facing each other in this crossroads bout."
Heavy handed Luciano “EL GALLO MICHOACANO” Perez, 15-7-1 (13KO’s) has been a Chicago fan favorite since making his pro debut almost five years ago. In his last major fight in Chicago, the 29 year old Perez engaged in a bloody battle with Francisco Rincon at the Aragon Ballroom which had the huge crowd of Chicago fight fans on their feet from start to finish. Although bleeding badly and behind on the scorecards, Perez rallied in the last two rounds to win a memorable split decision.
Most recently Perez battled former world champion Carlos Baldomir over ten rounds on November 23rd in Cabazon, California in a bout broadcast on SOLO BOXEO. Although almost knocking out Baldomir in the third round and continuously rocking him in the middle rounds, Perez came out on the short end of a majority decision.
The 24 year old Molina, a native of Patzcuaro, Mexico now living in Chicago brings a record of 9-4-1 (4KO’s) into the bout with Perez. Molina is perhaps best known for his two evenly fought battles with highly regarded prospect Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.. which ended in a draw on December 16, 2005 and a majority decision loss on February 18, 2006.
In his last major fight, Molina battled with unbeaten prospect Mike Alvarado in a bout broadcast on SOLO BOXEO on February 16, 2007. After the eight round war was over, the packed house at Cicero Stadium was positive that Molina had won only to be overruled by the judges who handed Alvarado a very slim majority decision win.
The co-main event of the evening features unbeaten lightweight prospect David “EL TORRITO” Torres in an eight round bout. The Washington State resident brings a record of 19-0 with twelve knockouts into his first Chicago area bout. More information on this bout will be announced shortly.
In a special six round middleweight attraction, Chicago fan favorite Andrzej “THE POLISH PRINCE” Fonfara will look to continue his five bout winning streak as he squares off against Los Angeles based veteran Manny Castillo. The 20 year old Fonfara, 9-1 (3KO’s) has continued to impress Chicago fight fans since turning professional in June 2006. The 34 year old Castillo will have the experience advantage in the bout having faced Diego Corrales, Mickey Ward, Ahmed Santos and Juan Carlos Rubio over his sixteen year career which compiles a record of 13-15-3 (5KO’s).
Also featured on THE ODEUM RUMBLE undercard is fast rising, unbeaten Chicago based prospect Ivan Popoca. The hard swinging Popoca, 5-0-1 (5KO’s) has won three in a row, avenging the only blemish on his record by knocking out Guadalupe Diaz in his most recent bout on February 15th at Cicero Stadium.. More information on this scheduled five round welterweight bout will be announced soon.
Making his pro debut is mixed martial arts veteran Terri Martin of Chicago. In a scheduled cruiserweight four rounder, Martin will battle fellow newcomer Ricardo Upchurch of Mansfield, Ohio.
The full bout card for THE ODEUM RUMBLE is
Luciano Perez vs. Carlos Molina, eight rounds, junior middleweights
David Torres vs. TBA, eight rounds, lightweights
Andrzej Fonfara vs. Manny Castillo, six rouds, middleweights
Ivan Popoca vs. TBA, five rounds, welterweights
Terri Martin vs. Ricardo Upchurch, four rounds, cruiserweights,
Ikem Orji vs. Juan Gonzalez, four rounds, lightweights
Along with 8 Count Productions, THE ODEUM RUMBLE is presented by Miller Lite, TCF Bank and AeroMexico, the premier travel source in Mexico.
The Master of Ceremonies for this event will be ring announcer Thomas Treiber.
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.jabbboxinggym.com
CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1998
Bernie Bahrmasel, Publicist/8 Count Productions
