CHICAGO - Boxing returned to the ballpark here and it was a first for U.S. Cellular Field. Comiskey Park on the ‘South Side’ regularly held big-time fights. U.S. Cellular Field replaced Comiskey Park 22 years ago. On September 25, 1962 Sonny Liston knocked out Floyd Patterson in the first round at Comiskey Park for the heavy-weight championship.
For these fights, two Polish born contenders, Andrez Fonfara and Artur Szpilka highlighted the slugfests before 8,000 plus spirited spectators. The ring for this event was centered right over home plate and the stadium was lit up for a spectacle.
Fonfara, a light heavyweight, knocked out Gabriel Campillo in the ninth round with a nasty body-blow. Campillo had previously controlled most of the fight. Fonfara, 26, (24-2, 14 KO) was born in Radom, Poland and now trains in Chicago. The home crowd showcased raucous energy for the winner. Fonfara is now on tap for an IBF title shot against Bernard Hopkins.
In the co-main event, a heavyweight match, Szpilka knocked out Chicago native son, Mike Mollo in the fifth round. It was another hard-hitting contest. It was also a rematch and put Szpilka, 22, (16-0, 12 KO) on the world map as a title contender. The undefeated 6’3” southpaw cracked Mollo with a hard left to the body and the loser never finished the fifth round. Mollo was able to rise from the canvas but the referee waived him off and it was a TKO for Szpilka. The winner hails from Wielicizka, Poland and currently also trains in Chicago.
ESPN2 televised the fights and in an another exciting match, Adrian Granados (12-2-2, 8 KO) came up after being knocked down to score an exciting win over Mark Salser (15-1, 9 KO). It was the first loss for Salser.
Fight Results from the Sportgym Radom in Radom, Poland from August 31:
- Przemyslaw Opalach won in 2nd over Ionut Trandafir Ilie. Ilie injured his right hand at the end of the round two and didn’t come out for round three.
- Michal Zerominski TKO over Mariusz Czerniewski. Czerniewski was given a standing 8 count at the end of round two and retired in his corner before the third round.
- Nikodem Jezewski won in 4th Michal Szebestik
- Damian Wrzesinski TKO-in 2nd over Petr Gyna
- Ewa Brodnicka won in 4th over Claudia Szymczak
- Ewa Piatkowska TKO in first round over Pavla Votavova
By Raymond Rolak
Courtesy of the Rolco Sports Network
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