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Hitz Boxing’s ‘Fight Night at the Horseshoe’ The next installment of Hitz Boxing’s wildly popular “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” series will be held on Saturday, February 18, 2012, at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, featuring heavyweight contender “Merciless” Mike Mollo (20-3-1, 12 KOs) of Oak Lawn, Illinois; NABA-US Champion Yakubu “Black Mamba” Amidu (20-2-1, 18 KOs) of Los Angeles via Ghana; Vladikavkaz, Russia’s undefeated welterweight prospect Alanbek Kozaev (19-0, 6 KOs); the unveiling of newly signed Cleveland-based junior welterweight prospect Prenice “Greatness” Brewer (16-1-1, 6 KOs); and a host of local favorites and warriors who have earned their spots through previous strong performances. While the main and co-main and many of the opponents are yet to be determined, also scheduled to appear are unbeaten heavyweight slugger Dave Latoria (9-0, 5 KOs); popular local super middleweight Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez (5-0, 3 KOs) who will face Bruce “The Rage” Rumbolz (22-23-2, 15 KOs) of Sterling, Illinois; Lafayette, Louisiana, lightweight Chris Singleton (3-0, 2 KOs); the second four-round professional bout of Chesterton, Indiana, heavyweight Philip Triantafillo (1-0, 1 KO); Chicago junior welterweight Genaro Mendez (3-1-1, 2 KOs) will face Omaha’s debuting Eric Corrona; and the debut of Omaha, Nebraska-based former amateur heavyweight star (and newest member of the Hitz Boxing stable) Brian Houston in a surprisingly stern first test for his first time out against Chicago’s Felix Abner (3-2, 2 KOs). “I’ve been doing shows here for quite some time,” said promoter Bobby Hitz, “and I am honored to continue providing the boxing to this beautiful casino. To maintain quality standards at our shows, what we’re going to do from now on is feature only fighters who want to fight. We’re not going to focus on getting wins for local kids like some other promotions do. In fact, I don’t care if you’re from the same gym as another guy. If you fight at the Horseshoe, you have to be willing to be in tough, maybe even against another local kid. Let’s call it a tournament of sorts to see who the best fighters in the area really are by fighting one another.” The high-class atmosphere and luxurious surroundings the Horseshoe has to offer make their boxing shows a Las Vegas-style night of boxing that Chicago-area fans don't have to get on a plane to enjoy. The Horseshoe Casino has an intimate, comfortable venue with luxurious seats, a spectacular gaming area, free parking, exquisite food and all the amenities -- and is just 20 minutes from Downtown Chicago. Tickets for "Fight Night at the Horseshoe" are on sale now, starting at a fan appreciation price of $10, and are available atthe "Venue" box office,ticketmaster.comand all Ticketmaster outlets, as well as at www.fanfueled.com. |
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Thanksgiving Eve Boxing Back in Chicago: Hitz Boxing’s upcoming “Thanksgiving Eve Belvedere Bash” boxing event on Wednesday, November 23, at The Belvedere Banquet in Elk Grove, Illinois, will mark an important rebirth for the sport in Chicago, as it will bring the return after five years of a series of Thanksgiving eve shows that were once wildly popular with boxing fans, as well as celebrities and other members of the city’s socialite scene. “This is a show we did every year for 15 years straight and it was always a huge success,” recounts Hitz Boxing Founder, Bobby Hitz. Hitz, also active in the restaurant and bar trade, says he observed how busy the night before Thanksgiving was every year and the idea came to him. “I noticed everyone went out that night, so I said why not give people an evening of fights? It turned into a happening where there were lots of people who would only come to this show every year and bring family from out of town in. It’s a great guy’s night out. One year, I had Butterbean, Ken Norton, Tommy Hearns, Bobby Czyz, and Jake LaMotta there, all guys in town for Thanksgiving in Chicago.” This year’s event will feature Chicago’s comebacking former world title challenger Johnny Lewus (25-4-1, 21 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight bout, plus an undercard that includes Chicago-based undefeated super middleweight Mike Kurzeja (5-0-1, 4 KOs) in a six-round crowd pleaser; power-punching undefeated Chicago heavyweight Dave Latoria (9-0, 5 KOs) in a six-rounder; undefeated Chicago super middleweight Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez (4-0, 3 KOs) will go four; MMA star turned Mike Tyson clone, Chicago cruiserweight Terry Martin (4-0, 4 KOs) will return to the ring for four rounds or less, and in a very special added bonus, the night will kick off with the four-round pro debut of Chicago’s popular super heavyweight Golden Gloves Champion Erick Correa. Hitz says he’s bringing back his Thanksgiving Eve events after a five-year absence due to popular demand. “It’s been posed to me so many times to bring it back and some of my guys need fights, so it’s a great time to bring it back. The other promoters in town were nice enough not to start doing shows on this date, so I’ll start it back up again. Apparently, people love to watch guys knock the stuffing out of each other on the day before Thanksgiving.” All opponents will be announced soon. Tickets for the “Thanksgiving Eve Belvedere Bash” are $100 Ringside and $35 G/A and are available at fanfueled.com or the HITZ TIX HOTLINE: 630-442-4203. All bouts are subject to change. On fight night, doors open at 6:30 pm and the action starts at 7:30. The Belvedere Banquet is located at 1170 West Devon in Elk Grove. Visit www.hitzboxing.com for more information. |
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Lewus Tops Hitz Boxing’s Return: Thanksgiving Eve Belvedere Bash on November 23
Already the premier boxing promoter in the Chicagoland area, Hitz is coming off his smashingly successful Diaz vs. Lundy promotion at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, in August. Topping the “Thanksgiving Eve Belvedere Bash” will be the Chicago’s comebacking former world title challenger Johnny Lewus (25-4-1, 21 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight bout. The exciting Lewus has gone 3-0-1, 3 KOs since coming back from a decade of inactivity and will be looking to continue sharpening his world-class skills for another run at championship glory. Also featured that night will be Chicago-based undefeated super middleweight Mike Kurzeja (5-0-1, 4 KOs) in a six-round crowd pleaser; power-punching undefeated Chicago heavyweight Dave Latoria (9-0, 5 KOs) in a six-rounder; undefeated Chicago super middleweight Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez (4-0, 3 KOs) will go four; and MMA star turned Mike Tyson clone, Chicago cruiserweight Terry Martin (4-0, 4 KOs) will return to the ring for four rounds or less. And in a very special added bonus, the night will kick off with the four-round pro debut of Chicago’s popular super heavyweight Golden Gloves Champion Erick Correa. All opponents will be announced soon. Tickets for the “Thanksgiving Eve Belvedere Bash” are $100 Ringside and $35 G/A and are available at fanfueled.com or the HITZ TIX HOTLINE: 630-442-4203. All bouts are subject to change. On fight night, doors open at 6:30 pm and the action starts at 7:30. The Belvedere Banquet is located at 1170 West Devon in Elk Grove. Visit www.hitzboxing.com for more information |
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Protecting the President While Protecting
The series of events that led to him protecting the President by day and trading leather at night begins with a bored Chicago cop. “I was at a crossroads in my career,” he recounts, “I didn’t want to be a police officer for another 10 years, so I decided to apply to federal agencies. The Secret Service told me I could still be based out of Chicago if I came to work for them. It was a no-brainer at that point.” In his spare time, Kurzeja took to boxing in college and then as a police officer, became involved in the Police Athletic League’s program. In 2000, he started fighting in the annual Chicago-area Super Cop Tournament, a charitable boxing event for fallen officers, and won three times. It was the promoters of Super Cop who suggested Kurzeja consider turning professional. “I got my license and the rest is history. I made my debut in 2009." MORE |
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Interview with Bobby Hitz By Ed Ludwig 25.01 - Today I had the pleasure of speaking with Chicago based boxing promoter, Bobby Hitz. On Friday January 25th Bobby Hitz Boxing Promotions Inc. in association with Art Pelullo / Banner Promotions and Budweiser will feature a double main event from Rosemont Illinois to be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN2. Both fights will be for the number one contender slot in the IBF rankings. The main event of the ESPN telecast will feature Reggie “Sweet” Johnson (42-6-1 24 KO’s) vs. Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver (18-1 16 KO’s) in a Light Heavyweight bout. The main event of the ESPN2 telecast will pit Jr. Welterweights, Ben “Wonder” Tackie (23-2 14 KO’s) vs. Teddy Reid (19-4-1 13 KO’s). This is a must see show as both bouts could be showcasing two future world champions. I would like to thank Bobby for taking the time from his busy schedule to let me conduct this interview. Ed Ludwig: Can you tell me about the big fight card that is to be held this Friday January 25th that will be broadcast by ESPN and ESPN2? Bobby Hitz: This is a major event. Two big match ups with mandatory rankings on the line. The two main event bouts will feature Reggie “Sweet” Johnson (42-6-1 24 KO’s) vs. Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver (18-1 16 KO’s). Ben Tackie (23-2 14 KO’s) vs. Teddy Reid (19-4-1 13 KO’s). This will be like a Las Vegas event in Chicago. We have people coming from all over the country that will attend. EL: Is this card your debut on national television? BH: No, it is not. I have been involved in many events. The Tackie vs. Reid fight was supposed to take place last year on this very day but Tackie had to pull out due to personal problems and it was cancelled. EL: You are a former fighter turned promoter. Did your in ring experience help you at all with your transition into promoting? BH: Absolutely. It has helped. Business philosophies are different on each side and I have been on both so I can walk the walk and talk the talk. MORE |
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Rocky Fiore Making up for Lost Time
But the proud Italian/Jewish American found a passion for boxing, even if it wasn’t until the age of 25, and now eats and breathes the sport, even does homework assignments about it! Fiore is scheduled to face Daniel Crabtree in a four-rounder at the Hitz Boxing Fight Night event on Saturday, April 9, at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. “I feel great and I’m totally ready. I have had eight months off since my last fight which is long for me, but I’ve been training straight through. I had a couple fights not go through that I was training for, so I had no time off from the gym.” Fiore, who is also known as “Rocky”, almost suffered a setback in his last fight, a four-round majority draw with Antonio Avila last August. However, the story behind the story of that fight is almost as hard to believe as the original Rocky’s was. This is how the Chicago Tribune described the incident: MORE |
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Fighting at Home a Rare Treat For Galvan "Before a fight I have nothing to say to these younger guys I fight. But afterward, if they want to hear about my experiences, I'm fine with that. I'll tell them what I've learned, no problem."
"I never expected to be where I'm at today. Am I world champ? No. But I feel like a champ. I've been a pro fighter for 15 years. I'm not the best boxer, but my chin has gotten me through. Even though I'm always on the road and always in the opposite corner, I'm grateful and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's made me who I am today. I love it." Galvan will fight at home and on the left side of the bout sheet for the first time since 2006 when he enters the ring against Ohio's Gabriel Morris at the Hitz Boxing Fight Night event on Saturday, April 9, at his former place of work, the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. Galvan was employed at the Horseshoe for years, serving as valet supervisor, security guard and security trainer. "I feel great. It's been a while since I fought here at home, so I'm excited about it. I'm more nervous about fighting at the Horseshoe Casino. I worked there for so long. Going back there to fight is exciting for me." MORE |
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Amidu vs. Revish New Main Event for April 9 Boxing Event at Horseshoe Casino
 The main event has changed for the Hitz Boxing Fight Night event on Saturday, April 9, at the Venue in the Horseshoe Casino, in Hammond, Indiana.Yakubu “Black Mamba” Amidu (19-2-1, 16 KOs) will face Louisiana’s John Revish (10-2-2, 8 KOs) for the NABA-US Super Lightweight Title.
26-year-old Amidu’s only losses have come to current WBO champion Ricky Burns and multiple-time world championship challenger Ali Funeka. This will be Revish’s second consecutive title fight. He held capable veteran Jason Pires to a majority draw last March and even dropped him twice.
“This is shaping up to be a great fight between these two,” said Bobby Hitz, Founder of Hitz Boxing. “They can both punch and they’ve both been in with good opposition. Two solid pros going to war to see who can win this championship.” MORE
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Mike Kurzeja is your everyday police officer turned Secret Service agent/professional boxer with a nationwide nutritional supplement sponsorship.
To look at Chicago light welterweight Russell Fiore (4-0-1, 4 KOs), you’d think he belongs on Jersey Shore and not in some sweaty boxing gym five nights a week.
You'd think he'd have taken "Road Warrior" for a nickname, given the path his boxing career has taken, but Hammond, Indiana, welterweight veteran Ruben "Modern Day Warrior"Galvan (27-15-4, 10 KOs) is happy with his ring name and everything else about his boxing career. 
