Boxing always has been a bastion of ethnic chauvinism, and that element will be the main ingredient in Friday night’s card at the Congress Theater.
Promoters Dominic Pesoli and Bob Arum are calling it a celebration of “Mexican independence day pride,” so it’s not surprising to see Mexican fighters are pitted against Puerto Rican pugilists in the main event and the top bout on the supporting card.
In the 10-round main event, Mexico City lightweight Fernando Trejo (29-12, 18 knockouts) will clash with Juan Ramon Cruz (15-3-1, 11 KOs) of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Both have won their last two bouts.
The top preliminary is an eight-round match for the Illinois super bantamweight title, pitting Francisco Torres (9-1, 6 KOs), a Mexican living in Chicago, and Ivan Rodriguez (8-3-1, 3 KOs), a Chicago-based Puerto Rican boxer.
The six-bout card will begin at 6:30 p.m. with two-time Chicago Golden Gloves titlist Eric Estrada making his professional debut in a four-round super bantamweight match against Selso Bosquez.