source: eastsideboxing
Anthony Mundine's decision to forego a quest for the International Boxing Organization’s junior middleweight title next week in Australia is his own – and not based on undue influence or conflict from the IBO – according to its president, Ed Levine. Mundine had been scheduled to meet Robert Medley for the IBO’s vacant 154-pound championship on Jan. 11 in Sydney, but the fight – if held at all – will no longer be for the IBO belt and is more likely to be fought at middleweight, Levine said. A Jan. 6 report in the Sydney Morning Herald cited Mundine's displeasure with the IBO stemming from review of his May defeat of Daniel Geale for the organization’s 160-pound title – which Mundine relinquished upon requesting sanction for the 154-pound bout with Medley. Fight will be on Jan. 29, 2010.
Levine, however, said it’s more likely Mundine's decision is based on other factors.
“Our opinion is that Mundine's current failure to honor his contractual obligations to the IBO and Medley are purely based on his inability to make the weight and/or his reluctance to accept two international officials and the costs attendant to putting on a world title fight,” Levine said.
Mundine defeated Geale by split decision to win the IBO middleweight belt. According to Levine, an appeal to the IBO from Geale's management resulted in a review of the bout by three “senior IBO judges,” which then resulted in a narrow split decision opinion in Geale's favor.
Some reports, including the Sydney Morning Herald’s, erroneously indicated that a unanimous decision in Geale's direction after the review would have mandated the original decision be overturned.
“That is total nonsense and completely incorrect. The IBO would never overturn an official result,” Levine said. “What was said by the IBO is that if the three appeals judges ‘unanimously and clearly by a wide margin’ scored the bout for Geale, title recognition could be withdrawn or an immediate rematch ordered.
“A mere close unanimous re-scoring of the contest would have led to Geale being made a mandatory fight for Mundine. Effectively, the close re-scoring getting a narrow split decision to Geale resulted in the same decision, a mandatory position for Geale but not in an immediate and direct rematch. Mundine was given the opportunity for an intervening optional defense.”
Levine said fights will be scheduled soon to fill the vacancies at 154 and 160 pounds.
Donovan George vs Phil Williams on Jan 29
Super middleweight prospect Donovan “DA BOMB” George will face off against Minnesota’s Phil “THE DRILL” Williams on Friday, January 29th in the main event at “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 8” at Chicago’s UIC Pavilion, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions and Leon Margules, Executive Director of Seminole Warriors Boxing.
“With 26 knockouts amongst their 29 victories these two should provide an all action fight from the start. They’re both very hard hitting super middleweights, it will just be a matter of who can take the other guy’s shot better, “DA BOMB or the THE DRILL” said Pesoli. “This truly is a crossroads fight for both guys, for each one it’s the toughest test of their careers.”
Amongst the most popular fighters in Chicago the 25 year old George, 18-0-1 (16KO’s), is coming off his finest performance to date, a brutal fourth round stoppage of Jason Naugler on November 6th at the UIC Pavilion.
With all three of his fights in 2009 ending by knockout, George has become one of the hottest prospects in boxing and a must-see attraction in Chicago .
The 32 year old Williams, 11-2-0 (10KO’s), has been a pro for four years, with his heavy handed knockouts being his calling card for boxing fans in the Twin Cities area. Following a three bout winning streak, he battled veteran contender Matt Vanda on November 13th, losing a hard fought ten round split decision.
The co-main event at “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 8” brings the return of power punching Chicago based prospect Ivan Popoca in an eight round welterweight battle against impressive Michigan newcomer Federico Flores Jr.
Popoca, 12-0-1 (8KO’s), is coming off a sixth round stoppage of Mike Gonzales on September 26th, his fourth win in 2009. With his devastating power in both hands and willingness to trade inside, the 27 year old Popoca has been amongst Chicago ’s most popular fighters since turning professional three years ago.
The 21 year old Flores, 6-3-0 (2KO’s), fought three times in Chicago in 2008 and was victorious each time, including wins over Guadalupe Diaz, Gustavo Palacios and Joshua Rodriguez.
Said Pesoli, “ Flores jumped at the opportunity to fight Ivan. Federico loves fighting in Chicago and truly earned the respect of the Chicago fight fans with his three victories here against hometown kids. Ivan will have to be at his best or Flores will play the role of spoiler once again.”
Also just added, undefeated Chicago welterweights Ryan Smedick and Achour Esho will square off in a scheduled six rounder, the first for each prospect.
The 27 year old Smedick, 4-0-1 (1KO), has won over local fight fans with his terrific boxing skills since turning professional in the summer of 2008. In his last start on November 6th, Smedick once again impressed the UIC Pavilion crowd with a four round decision over veteran Jeremy Marts winning by scores of 40-35 on all three scorecards.
The heavy handed Esho, 5-0-0 (4KO’s), has fought twice at the UIC Pavilion with knockout victories over Dontre King and Ricky Thompson coming in 2009.
Continued Pesoli, “The Smedick/Esho bout is a real test for both guys. They have contrasting styles with Smedick being more of a boxer while Esho is a real heavy handed kid who loves to come right at his opponent. They both have huge fan bases so it should make for a great environment for the fight.”
Also on the undercard, super bantamweights Sergio Montes De Oca and Sergio Cristobal, will attempt to settle their cross town score. The 23 year old Montes De Oca has impressively moved to 3-0-0 since turning professional twelve month ago.
In his last bout, Montes De Oca won a hard fought four round decision over LaShaun Blair at the UIC Pavilion on May 29th. On the same card, Cristobal lost a very close majority decision in his pro debut to Juan Carlos Fernandez.
Also featured on the undercard of “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 8” is undefeated Puerto Rican junior welterweight prospect Kenny Galarza, 11-0-0 (11KO’s), Chicago heavyweight David Latoria, 4-0-0 (2KO’s), lightweight Bobby Jaskierny, 4-2-0 (2KO’s), of Chicago along with lightweight Antonio Avila, 2-0-0 (1KO), also of Chicago .
Advance tickets for “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 8”, presented in association with Seminole Warriors Boxing, starting at $31 are available through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com), the UIC Pavilion Box Office (312-413-5740) and the 8 Count Productions’ Office (312-226-5800).
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. 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.
Anthony Mundine's decision to forego a quest for the International Boxing Organization’s junior middleweight title next week in Australia is his own – and not based on undue influence or conflict from the IBO – according to its president, Ed Levine. Mundine had been scheduled to meet Robert Medley for the IBO’s vacant 154-pound championship on Jan. 11 in Sydney, but the fight – if held at all – will no longer be for the IBO belt and is more likely to be fought at middleweight, Levine said. A Jan. 6 report in the Sydney Morning Herald cited Mundine's displeasure with the IBO stemming from review of his May defeat of Daniel Geale for the organization’s 160-pound title – which Mundine relinquished upon requesting sanction for the 154-pound bout with Medley. Fight will be on Jan. 29, 2010.
Levine, however, said it’s more likely Mundine's decision is based on other factors.
“Our opinion is that Mundine's current failure to honor his contractual obligations to the IBO and Medley are purely based on his inability to make the weight and/or his reluctance to accept two international officials and the costs attendant to putting on a world title fight,” Levine said.
Mundine defeated Geale by split decision to win the IBO middleweight belt. According to Levine, an appeal to the IBO from Geale's management resulted in a review of the bout by three “senior IBO judges,” which then resulted in a narrow split decision opinion in Geale's favor.
Some reports, including the Sydney Morning Herald’s, erroneously indicated that a unanimous decision in Geale's direction after the review would have mandated the original decision be overturned.
“That is total nonsense and completely incorrect. The IBO would never overturn an official result,” Levine said. “What was said by the IBO is that if the three appeals judges ‘unanimously and clearly by a wide margin’ scored the bout for Geale, title recognition could be withdrawn or an immediate rematch ordered.
“A mere close unanimous re-scoring of the contest would have led to Geale being made a mandatory fight for Mundine. Effectively, the close re-scoring getting a narrow split decision to Geale resulted in the same decision, a mandatory position for Geale but not in an immediate and direct rematch. Mundine was given the opportunity for an intervening optional defense.”
Levine said fights will be scheduled soon to fill the vacancies at 154 and 160 pounds.
Donovan George vs Phil Williams on Jan 29
Super middleweight prospect Donovan “DA BOMB” George will face off against Minnesota’s Phil “THE DRILL” Williams on Friday, January 29th in the main event at “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 8” at Chicago’s UIC Pavilion, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions and Leon Margules, Executive Director of Seminole Warriors Boxing.
“With 26 knockouts amongst their 29 victories these two should provide an all action fight from the start. They’re both very hard hitting super middleweights, it will just be a matter of who can take the other guy’s shot better, “DA BOMB or the THE DRILL” said Pesoli. “This truly is a crossroads fight for both guys, for each one it’s the toughest test of their careers.”
Amongst the most popular fighters in Chicago the 25 year old George, 18-0-1 (16KO’s), is coming off his finest performance to date, a brutal fourth round stoppage of Jason Naugler on November 6th at the UIC Pavilion.
With all three of his fights in 2009 ending by knockout, George has become one of the hottest prospects in boxing and a must-see attraction in Chicago .
The 32 year old Williams, 11-2-0 (10KO’s), has been a pro for four years, with his heavy handed knockouts being his calling card for boxing fans in the Twin Cities area. Following a three bout winning streak, he battled veteran contender Matt Vanda on November 13th, losing a hard fought ten round split decision.
The co-main event at “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 8” brings the return of power punching Chicago based prospect Ivan Popoca in an eight round welterweight battle against impressive Michigan newcomer Federico Flores Jr.
Popoca, 12-0-1 (8KO’s), is coming off a sixth round stoppage of Mike Gonzales on September 26th, his fourth win in 2009. With his devastating power in both hands and willingness to trade inside, the 27 year old Popoca has been amongst Chicago ’s most popular fighters since turning professional three years ago.
The 21 year old Flores, 6-3-0 (2KO’s), fought three times in Chicago in 2008 and was victorious each time, including wins over Guadalupe Diaz, Gustavo Palacios and Joshua Rodriguez.
Said Pesoli, “ Flores jumped at the opportunity to fight Ivan. Federico loves fighting in Chicago and truly earned the respect of the Chicago fight fans with his three victories here against hometown kids. Ivan will have to be at his best or Flores will play the role of spoiler once again.”
Also just added, undefeated Chicago welterweights Ryan Smedick and Achour Esho will square off in a scheduled six rounder, the first for each prospect.
The 27 year old Smedick, 4-0-1 (1KO), has won over local fight fans with his terrific boxing skills since turning professional in the summer of 2008. In his last start on November 6th, Smedick once again impressed the UIC Pavilion crowd with a four round decision over veteran Jeremy Marts winning by scores of 40-35 on all three scorecards.
The heavy handed Esho, 5-0-0 (4KO’s), has fought twice at the UIC Pavilion with knockout victories over Dontre King and Ricky Thompson coming in 2009.
Continued Pesoli, “The Smedick/Esho bout is a real test for both guys. They have contrasting styles with Smedick being more of a boxer while Esho is a real heavy handed kid who loves to come right at his opponent. They both have huge fan bases so it should make for a great environment for the fight.”
Also on the undercard, super bantamweights Sergio Montes De Oca and Sergio Cristobal, will attempt to settle their cross town score. The 23 year old Montes De Oca has impressively moved to 3-0-0 since turning professional twelve month ago.
In his last bout, Montes De Oca won a hard fought four round decision over LaShaun Blair at the UIC Pavilion on May 29th. On the same card, Cristobal lost a very close majority decision in his pro debut to Juan Carlos Fernandez.
Also featured on the undercard of “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 8” is undefeated Puerto Rican junior welterweight prospect Kenny Galarza, 11-0-0 (11KO’s), Chicago heavyweight David Latoria, 4-0-0 (2KO’s), lightweight Bobby Jaskierny, 4-2-0 (2KO’s), of Chicago along with lightweight Antonio Avila, 2-0-0 (1KO), also of Chicago .
Advance tickets for “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 8”, presented in association with Seminole Warriors Boxing, starting at $31 are available through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com), the UIC Pavilion Box Office (312-413-5740) and the 8 Count Productions’ Office (312-226-5800).
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. 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.
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