TV Fight Card Highlighted by Polish Boxers
- PostEagle
- September 20, 2013
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CHICAGO — Boxing returned to the ballpark here and it was a first for U.S. Cellular Field. Chicago has so much boxing history. 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 heavyweight championship. For these fights, two Polish born contenders, Andrzej Fonfara and Artur Szpilka highlighted the slugfests. Local promoter Frank Mugnolo said there were over 8,000 spectators. The ring for this event was centered right over home plate and the stadium was lit up for a spectacle. The crowd was spirited and loud.
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 Wieliczka, Poland and currently also trains in Chicago.
ESPN2 televised the fights and in 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.
BOXING NEWS –
• Tomasz Adamek is traveling and visiting family in Poland. He is planning a family pilgrimage to Czestochowa. “I am going to give thanks for the win (August 3, over Dominick Guinn) and to pray for health for my entire family. Once there is health, that’s when I can accomplish other life goals,” said Adamek.
• WBC junior cruiserweight champion Krzysztof Włodarczyk (48-2-1, 34 KO) is looking to schedule Giacobbe Fragomenim (31-3-2, 12 KO) for a fight in Chicago to be promoted by Ulrich Knock-Out Promotions. Włodarczyk took the title from Fragomenim in an eight round TKO in May of 2010 in Łódź, Poland. The soon to be 32 year old champion has not fought in America since November of 2005.
By Raymond Rolak
Courtesy of the Rolco Sports Network