Boxing Wed Jul 09 2008
Chicago will once again return to the national boxing spotlight when Tomasz "The Polish Warrior" Adamek takes the ring against Gary Gomez this Friday at the Aragon Ballroom, in a 10-round bout slated to be televised on ESPN2.
Adamek, the No. 1 IBF mandatory cruiserweight contender and a former light heavyweight champion, will be joined on the card by middleweight Andrzej "The Polish Prince" Fonfara taking on Derrick "Superman" Findley in the co-main event. Undefeated super middleweight Pior Wilczewski and undefeated heavyweight Mariusz Wach are also on the card, which kicks off at 7:15 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Adamek has fought in Chicago twice before, both times facing Australian Paul Briggs. In their 2005 bout, Adamek claimed the vacant WBC light heavyweight title at the United Center.
- Ken Green |
Boxing Wed Jun 18 2008
It's been a long time since Chicago was one of, if not THE, boxing capital of the U.S. The list of historic bouts that have occured here are legendary: Gene Tunney vs. Jack Dempsey in the infamous "long count" bout in 1927 at Soldier Field; Joe Louis defeating James Braddock in 1937; Sugar Ray Robinson knocking out Jake LaMotta in 1951; Floyd Patterson KOing Archie Moore to win the vacant world heavyweight title in '56.
But the glitz, gawdy atmosphere and, frankly, money of Las Vegas stole the boxing spotlight from not only Chicago but places like New York and Atlantic City as well, leaving the city to settle for things like Lamont Brewster vs. James "Quick" Tillis (feel free to say "Who?"), which took place at the Rosemont Horizon (now the Allstate Area) some 25 years ago.
Still, there's something about a professional bout within the city limits that hearkens back to those old days. Boxing fans will get a chance to experience a little of what that was like when Chicago native Montell Griffin takes on Corey Commings at the Aragon Ballroom on Friday, June 20. The six-bout card begins at 6:30 p.m.
The 37-year-old Griffin, 48-7 with 30 KOs in his 15-year career, was a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team (that included Oscar De La Hoya) and held the WBC light heavyweight title in 1997 until losing to Roy Jones Jr. While presumably heading for retirement, Griffin is hoping to finish his career with an even 50 wins and a final title shot.
- Ken Green |
Boxing Fri Apr 04 2008
You can argue all day about whether boxing is a sport of precision and science or a brutal display of man’s penchant for violence. But either way, the sport is hard to ignore.
This might partially explain the appeal and longevity of the Chicago Golden Gloves tournament, the city’s amateur boxing showcase that’s been battling along, in one form or another, since 1923. It’s a far cry from the professional ranks, where personality and glitz often overshadow the fights themselves. These are stripped-down, no-frills affairs where the limo is replaced by the Red Line and the “entourage” usually consists of an anxious kid and his coach. But from those humble beginnings the Chicago Golden Gloves tournament (or the Chicago Tournament of Champions as it has alternately been known) has spawned a few professional champions, including Barney Ross, Ezzard Charles, Sonny Liston, Ernie Terrell and some kid named Cassius Clay.
The semi-finals of this year’s Golden Gloves tournament will take place tonight (Friday) and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Gym, 1658 W. Addison. Finals will be held April 17-19, 7:30 p.m., also at St. Andrew’s.
- Ken Green |
