Chicago, IL (February 25, 2014) Chicago based middleweight contender Donatas Bondas wrapped up training on Monday in preparation for the first round of ESPN’s “Boxcino 2014” this Friday night, FEBRUARY 28, at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana.
Presented by Chicago’s promotional powerhouses; Hitz Boxing and Round 3 Productions along with Philadelphia based titan Banner Promotions, “Boxcino 2014”, the single elimination eight-man middleweight tournament headlines ESPN’s Friday Night Fights.
“I’m very excited about competing in the middleweight tournament” Bondas, 18-4-1 (6KO’s), a native Lithuania. “This provides a great opportunity for me to show how good I am.”‘
In the first round, with each of the four bouts scheduled for six rounds, Bondas will face off with Ithaca, New York’s Willie Monroe Jr.,
15-1-0 (6KO’s).
“This is a terrific opportunity for Donatas, he had the disappointing fight against Bryan Vera last March and I know he feels that this is an opportunity for redemption,” said Bobby Hitz of Hitz Boxing.
On March 29, 2013, Bondas challenged Vera in a scheduled ten round clash telecast on ESPN Friday Night Fights. Winning the fight through seven, Bondorovas’ opportunity at victory was halted as the referee mistakenly believed he could not continue from a cut resulting from a clash of heads in the previous round.
“I’d love a rematch with Vera to prove I’m the better fighter,” said Bondas. “But he’s fighting at super middleweight now and I would like to stay at middleweight or even move down to junior middleweight in the future.” Vera is rematching former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. this Saturday, MARCH 1 in the super middleweight division.
About his upcoming fight against Monroe, Bondas stated, “I’ve watched some of him on YouTube. I watched his style and I’m confident I can beat him. With it being only six rounds I’ll need to start quickly and fight every second of each round.”
The clash against Monroe will be Bondorovas’ tenth bout in Chicago where he is undefeated, most recently winning a shutout decision over Skyler Thompson on September 13, 2013 at the Horseshoe Casino.
Monroe enters the battle riding a five bout-winning streak which includes four starts in 2013.
Advance tickets for ESPN Friday Night Fights, are available online through www.Ticketmaster.com. Doors on the evening of the event will open at 7:00 p.m. CT.
Since its debut in 1991, Hitz Boxing has been the midwest’s leading boxing promoter. Led by Bobby Hitz, who boasted a 21-4 record with 18 KO’s as a boxer, Hitz Boxing is the longest running boxing promoter in the Chicago area dating back to the bi-monthly boxing series the “Ramada Rumble,” held at the former Rosemont Ramada Inn. The organization currently promotes the wildly popular “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN and is the subject of the actuality show “Hitz Boxing,” a web series which has amassed over 5 million internet views. Over the year’s the organization has produced matches that have included some of the top names in boxing such as James Toney, Antonio Tarver, Montell Griffin, Iran Barkley, Andrew Golota and “Fast Fres Oquendo.
The $500 million Horseshoe Casino, a Caesars Entertainment Corporation property, just 20 minutes from downtown Chicago is the premier entertainment and gambling destination in Chicagoland. Where legendary gaming lives on, Horseshoe boasts more than 350,000 square feet with over 3,000 slot machines, over 100 table games, one of the largest poker rooms in the Midwest, and more. The Venue at Horseshoe Casino is proud to offer the ultimate concert and entertainment destination and premier experience in a flexible space that can hold up to 3,300 guests. Dining elegance is not overlooked and guests can choose from a variety of dining options including; Jack Binion’s Steak House which overlooks Lake Michigan and winner of the 2009, 2010, 2011 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and the May 2012 OpenTable Diners’ Choice award, around-the-globe variety at the Village Square Buffet, and a taste of Chicago at Benny’s Pub and Eatery.
For more information, please visit: www.chicagohorseshoe.com.
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