HOLLYWOOD JIMENEZ GUNNING FOR A HAPPY ENDING AGAINST ANTWUN ECHOLS

Chicago super middleweight prospect Mike "Hollywood" Jimenez (7-0, 4 KOs) has seemed to have all the tools in his first seven pro fights. Blessed with natural showmanship, decent punching power and an ever-growing army of loyal fans, Jimenez has been a world beater at the preliminary levels of his career. Now it's time to start finding out if he really is a world beater. The 25-year-old will take a significant step up on Thanksgiving Eve at Hitz Boxing's "Fight Night at the Horseshoe" boxing event on Wednesday, November 21, 2012, at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, when he faces three-time world title challenger Antwun Echols (32-18-4, 28 KOs). "I'm ready. I feel confident," said Jimenez, "I've been working hard in the gym. I understand it's a step up but I'm ready for the challenge. I think I can take this guy out." For a fighter with just seven pro fights, even a shop-work Antwun Echols is handful. While Echols has suffered most of his losses in recent years, they were all against top-flight opposition and before eventually winning, many of these fighters first found themselves on the floor courtesy of Echols' well-known power. "I heard the name and got excited. I welcome the opportunity. He's fought top guys like Bernard Hopkins and he used to be number one contender. I talked it over with my trainer/manager Pete George and we think it's the right move. We've been trying to take it the right speed, but I feel like I'm ready for this level of a challenge. He's a big name and he's super experienced and I've definitely seen him fight before. He's real technical and throws hard punches. He's game and he'll be ready to bring it, but I'm going to force my will on him. I'm going to put it all together and show everybody I can do this." Jimenez claims that while he's been a fan of the all-action Echols in the past, on fight night, he will be looking to make a statement. "I'll come in there and pump my jab like I always do at first, feel him out for a bit, then start getting my shots off. I'll have to pick my shots and use my skills to take this guy out." So what would a victory over Echols mean? "I've been thinking about it a lot and it'd be a huge accomplishment for me to say I beat somebody like that. Definitely something I can talk about for a time to come. Not everybody gets to fight in a fight like this. I'm definitely excited about it." ### In the night's eight-round main event, Hitz will unveil his new heavyweight contender, Andrey Fedosov (22-2, 18 KOs) the former WBC Youth Heavyweight Champion from Shuya, Russia. In his Horseshoe debut, Fedosov will face comebacking former NABA Champion "Rockin" Rodney Moore (17-6-2, 7 KOs) from Houston, Texas. In the co-featured bout, Chicago cruiserweight Dimar "Strongman" Ortuz (5-0, 3 KOs) will be taking on UFC veteran and fellow undefeated Terry Martin (5-0, 5 KOs) in a heavily hyped local grudge match. In another notable six-round encounter, Chicago (via Lithuania) middleweight slugger Donatas Bondorovas (15-3-1, 4 KOs) will take on Evansville, Indiana's "King" David Thomas (10-2-2, 8 KOs). The huge undercard (12 bouts are scheduled in total) will also feature Pacquiao sparring partner and undefeated knockout sensation Abdulai "The Classiq" Amidu (20-0, 17 KOs) also going six. In four-round fights will be Frankie "Time Bomb" Scalise (4-1, 4 KOs), Genaro Mendez (4-1, 3 KOs), kickboxing and Golden Gloves champ Simon "The Punisher" Buettner (2-0, 2 KOs), Russell "Rocky" Fiore (6-2-1, 6 KOs) and, making their pro-debuts, "Irish" Jimmy Murphy and Jonathan Manos.     Complete match-ups will be announced shortly. 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 are priced at $90 Ringside & $40 Orchestra and available at all Ticketmaster outlets and ticketmaster.com. Please Note Early Start Time: On fight night, doors open 6:00 pm and the action starts at 7:00. All bouts are subject to change.

Martin vs. Ortuz Clash Heating Up in Hammond

While very few of his comments can be printed verbatim, it is an understatement to say that undefeated cruiserweight boxer Terry Martin is upset with his next opponent, Dimar "Strongman" Ortuz. The heavy-handed Martin (5-0, 5 KOs) will face fellow undefeated Chicagoan Ortuz (5-0, 3 KOs) in a "can't miss" eight-round clash on Hitz Boxing's "Fight Night at the Horseshoe" boxing event on Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, November 21, 2012, at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. A well-respected MMA fighter in addition to his thus-far perfect boxing career, Martin is known as an easy-going person outside the ring... but Ortuz's pre-fight comments have him boiling over. "I can't wait till the fight. I'm going to hurt this dude bad," he seethed. "He's been talking trash about me." When calm enough to explain, Martin says what bothers him is Ortuz's assertions that he got the better of him when they sparred in the past. "Yes, we sparred together wearing 18-oz gloves. Now we're fighting for real in some 10-oz gloves and we'll see who gets the best of who. It's going to be a lot different. I'm going to destroy him. I'm going to hurt him bad with every punch I land. He got the best of me? What the %&*$ is he talking about?" But that's not the only thing Ortuz said that Martin isn't happy about. "He's also been saying his trainer (Sam Colonna) is my old trainer. That's not true either. I trained at his gym for a while, but he was never my trainer. Sam never even worked pads with me. I don't know what he's dreaming about. Maybe he's having imaginations?" Martin says he's especially ready for this fight and nothing can stop his destruction of Ortuz that night. "I've worked my ass off and I'm ready to go. I'm 100%. This will be my first fight where I'm not cutting twenty pounds the week of the fight. I won't be weak and my endurance will be excellent. I'm ready to go in there and bang." Even Martin says he's surprised at how irritated he is with Ortuz. "I never talk like this. I'm gonna f$%& this dude up. I can't wait to settle this with him. He better think before he speaks next time." ### In the night's eight-round main event, Hitz will unveil his new heavyweight contender, Andrey Fedosov (22-2, 18 KOs) the former WBC Youth Heavyweight Champion from Shuya, Russia. In his Horseshoe debut, Fedosov will face comebacking former NABA Champion "Rockin" Rodney Moore (17-6-2, 7 KOs) from Houston, Texas. In another notable six-round encounter, Chicago (via Lithuania) middleweight slugger Donatas Bondorovas (15-3-1, 4 KOs) will take on Evansville, Indiana's "King" David Thomas (10-2-2, 8 KOs). The huge undercard (12 bouts are scheduled in total) will feature such popular local names as promising super middleweight prospect Mike "Hollywood" Jimenez (7-0, 4 KOs), who will go six rounds, and Pacquiao sparring partner and undefeated knockout sensation Abdulai "The Classiq" Amidu (20-0, 17 KOs) also going six. Also featured will be four-round fights for Frankie "Time Bomb" Scalise (4-1, 4 KOs), Genaro Mendez (4-1, 3 KOs), kickboxing and Golden Gloves champ Simon "The Punisher" Buettner (2-0, 2 KOs), Russell "Rocky" Fiore (6-2-1, 6 KOs) and, making their pro-debuts, "Irish" Jimmy Murphy and Jonathan Manos.     Complete match-ups will be announced shortly. 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 are priced at $90 Ringside & $40 Orchestra and available at all Ticketmaster outlets and ticketmaster.com. Please Note Early Start Time: On fight night, doors open 6:00 pm and the action starts at 7:00. All bouts are subject to change.

Ortuz Gearing Up For Another Tough War in Hammond

Chicago cruiserweight fighter Dimar "Strongman" Ortuz is in heavy preparations for another tough war, this one on Thanksgiving Eve at Hitz Boxing's "Fight Night at the Horseshoe" boxing event on Wednesday, November 21, 2012, at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. The undefeated (5-0, 3 KOs) 31-year-old Ortuz wowed Horseshoe fans last August with his savage battle against then-undefeated (8-0) Donta Woods, grinding Woods down and dropping him twice in an eight-round thriller. And now he is back in the co-featured bout, taking on UFC veteran and undefeated power-punching fellow Chicago native Terry Martin (5-0, 5 KOs). To put it mildly, this fight has explosive written all over it. "He called me out!" explained Ortuz of the dangerous match-up. "I heard through everybody that he wanted this, so it's on. I don't back down from any challenge." Ortuz, who took eight years off boxing after winning the Chicago Golden Gloves in 2002, has had an added obstacle to face in preparation for this fight. "I tore my calf muscle about three weeks ago which took me out for a week and a half. I'm slowly getting back into the pace of it, building up cardio to make up for the time I spent off. I'm also doing a lot more running up and down stairs, rebuilding the strength in my calf. I'll be fine." Ortuz says he and Martin are former sparring partners and although he is careful to never seem arrogant, when asked who got the better he replied: "I know he's got a hard hook and a good inside game and he holds a lot, but I present a difficult style to a lot of fighters. A lot of guys have difficulty sparring me. Put it that way." Ortuz intended to relocate to New York City, but had such a great experience at the Horseshoe in his last fight, he's decided to postpone. "I sat down and talked to Bobby (Hitz) about leaving and what he can do for me, and I decided to give Bobby a shot and test the waters. If I don't have to go far from home to fight as much as I want, why go? New York was an option because they had fights scheduled for me throughout the year and I'm looking to fight around eight times a year. Bobby does lots of shows, so he can probably keep me busy." A hard-nosed throwback type of fighter who brings relentless pressure, Ortuz says he's not sure how the fight will unfold. "My trainer, Sam Colonna, was also Terry's trainer, so that's an advantage. We've been working on a game plan. Sam knows a lot of his weaknesses and we've worked on targeting some of them. I won't say I'll get the KO because anybody who goes in saying they'll KO someone is too confident. I'm going to box. I didn't expect to put Donta Woods down and I put him down twice. I'll keep doing what I do. I'm just going to give it all I can for six rounds and really go after him." ### In the night's eight-round main event, Hitz will unveil his new heavyweight contender, Andrey Fedosov (22-2, 18 KOs) the former WBC Youth Heavyweight Champion from Shuya, Russia. In his Horseshoe debut, Fedosov will face comebacking former NABA Champion "Rockin" Rodney Moore (17-6-2, 7 KOs) from Houston, Texas. In another notable six-round encounter, Chicago (via Lithuania) middleweight slugger Donatas Bondorovas (15-3-1, 4 KOs) will take on Evansville, Indiana's "King" David Thomas (10-2-2, 8 KOs). The huge undercard (12 bouts are scheduled in total) will feature such popular local names as promising super middleweight prospect Mike "Hollywood" Jimenez (7-0, 4 KOs), who will go six rounds, and Pacquiao sparring partner and undefeated knockout sensation Abdulai "The Classiq" Amidu (20-0, 17 KOs) also going six. Also featured will be four-round fights for Frankie "Time Bomb" Scalise (4-1, 4 KOs), Genaro Mendez (4-1, 3 KOs), kickboxing and Golden Gloves champ Simon "The Punisher" Buettner (2-0, 2 KOs), Russell "Rocky" Fiore (6-2-1, 6 KOs) and, making their pro-debuts, "Irish" Jimmy Murphy and Jonathan Manos.     Complete match-ups will be announced shortly. 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 are priced at $90 Ringside & $40 Orchestra and available at all Ticketmaster outlets and ticketmaster.com. Please Note Early Start Time: On fight night, doors open 6:00 pm and the action starts at 7:00. All bouts are subject to change.

Spectacular Thanksgiving Eve Boxing Event Planned for Final Hitz Boxing 'Fight Night at the Horseshoe' of the Year on Black Wednesday, November 21

Promoter Bobby Hitz of Hitz Boxing will continue his yearly tradition of doing a boxing event on Thanksgiving Eve with his final "Fight Night at the Horseshoe" instalment of the year on a very special date: Wednesday, November 21, 2012, at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. Packed with local and international talent, Hitz's remarkably popular Horseshoe shows never fail to deliver on action or old-school boxing glitz. Add in the fact that his annual Black Wednesday galas are "the place to be" in the Chicago every year on that day and a very special evening of world-class professional boxing is assured. In the night's eight-round main event, Hitz will unveil his new heavyweight contender, Andrey Fedosov (22-2, 18 KOs) the former WBC Youth Heavyweight Champion from Hollywood, California, via Shuya, Russia. In his Horseshoe debut, Fedosov will face comebacking former NABA Champion "Rockin" Rodney Moore (17-6-2, 7 KOs) from Houston, Texas. Also scheduled for battle that night are a couple of undefeated area cruiserweights who love to mix it up, as Chicago's Dimar "Strongman" Ortuz (5-0, 3 KOs) will return from his sensational victory over formerly undefeated Donta Woods at the last Horseshoe event to face UFC veteran and power-punching slugger Terry Martin (5-0, 5 KOs), also from Chicago. Given their styles and in-ring ferocity, the rugged pair is scheduled for six, but a distance fight is highly improbable. In another notable six-round encounter, Chicago (via Lithuania) middleweight slugger Donatas Bondorovas (15-3-1, 4 KOs) will take on Evansville, Indiana's "King" David Thomas (10-2-2, 8 KOs). The huge undercard (12 bouts are scheduled in total) will feature such popular local names as promising super middleweight prospect Mike "Hollywood" Jimenez (7-0, 4 KOs), who will go six rounds, and Pacquiao sparring partner and undefeated knockout sensation Abdulai "The Classiq" Amidu (20-0, 17 KOs) also going six. Also featured will be four-round fights for Frankie "Time Bomb" Scalise (4-1, 4 KOs), Genaro Mendez (4-1, 3 KOs), kickboxing and Golden Gloves champ Simon "The Punisher" Buettner (2-0, 2 KOs), Russell "Rocky" Fiore (6-2-1, 6 KOs) and, making their pro-debuts, "Irish" Jimmy Murphy and Jonathan Manos.     Complete match-ups will be announced shortly. 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 are priced at $90 Ringside & $40 Orchestra and available at all Ticketmaster outlets and ticketmaster.com. All bouts are subject to change. On fight night, doors open 6:00 pm and the action starts at 7:00.

Undercard Announced for Hitz Boxing's 'Fight Night at the Horseshoe' on February 18

The undercard of Hitz Boxing's "Fight Night at the Horseshoe" series, scheduled for Saturday, February 18, 2012, at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, has been announced and a strong group of local fighters are scheduled for intriguing battles. In support of headlining undefeated welterweight prospect Alanbek Kozaev (19-0, 6 KOs) of Vladikavkaz, Russia and newly signed Cleveland-based junior welterweight prospect Prenice "Greatness" Brewer (16-1-1, 6 Kos) will be: unbeaten heavyweight slugger Dave "Diesel" Latoria (9-0, 5 KOs), who will face Oak Lawn, Illinois native Ed "The Iron Man" Gutierrez (15-10-1, 6 KOs) in a heavyweight six; popular local super middleweight Mike "Hollywood" Jimenez (5-0, 3 KOs) taking on Bruce "The Rage" Rumbolz (22-23-2, 15 KOs) of Sterling, Illinois; talented Lafayette, Louisiana, lightweight Chris Singleton (3-0, 2 KOs) versus pro debuting Nebraska resident Eddie Corrona; nearby Chesterton, Indiana, heavyweight Philip Triantafillo (1-0, 1 KO) doing battle with fellow Indiana resident Calbert Lewis making his pro debut; Chicago junior welterweight Genaro Mendez (3-1-1, 2 KOs) vs. Beloit, Wisconsin's Josh Rodriguez (2-6, 1 KO); 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). And in a late addition to the card, "Italian Stallion" Russell Fiore (5-1-1, 5 Kos) will take on an equally determined foe in pro debuting Elvis Gori of Windsor, Ontario. Kozaev and Brewer's opponents will be announced shortly. 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.com and all Ticketmaster outlets, as well as atwww.fanfueled.com.