CHICAGO — November 5, 2015 — One of Chicago’s favorite sons, Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez, returns to the Windy City on November 25th in the main event at Fight Night at the Horseshoe, the popular Hitz Boxing fight series, where he will compete for the NABA Super Middleweight and the WBC Continental Americas Super Middleweight titles. Jimenez is coming off of a spectacular knockout win over Argentinian Francisco Ramon Benitez, a fight that earned Jimenez the UBF All-American Super Middleweight title. Jimenez’s fight with Benitez, which took place in Victoria, Australia, put Jimenez back in the win column after he suffered a highly-questionable stoppage versus Jesse Hart on the undercard of Mayweather-Pacquiao in May.
“It was a good opportunity for me to fight away from home, and be in a different realm,” said Jimenez of his last two fights. “It was good experience to fight around a different fan base where you don’t have the whole house going for you. You’re away from home, you don’t know anybody. It’s just you and the guy across the ring from you.”
Jimenez didn’t let the change in venue get into his head. “My mentality stays the same. I’m there to do one job – to take the guy out. At the end of the day, that’s really the only thing on my mind. Getting the win.”
Fighting away from home gave Jimenez a new appreciation for fighting in front of his friends, family and fans. “It means a great deal to me to come home to Chicago,” said Jimenez of his upcoming fight. “I have a little bounce in my step because the fights away from home are tough. Coming home, having all your friends, family, and the city behind me…it’s pretty exciting for me. More than anything I want to give them a good showing. I want to give them a big victory, and show my appreciation for everyone back home.”
Promoter Bobby Hitz expressed pride and excitement at “Hollywood’s” return. “We’re excited to have him back,” said Hitz. “I think it shows a lot of what he’s made of, how he rebounded so quickly, went halfway around the world and fought a tough fight to pick up that title. He didn’t sit and ponder what happened to him in the Jesse Hart fight. He just got back on his horse, went to a different country, a different part of the world, and won a tough fight over there. I’m excited to have him back home. Myself, the Chicago boxing community, Chicago’s boxing fans are eager to see him back in the ring at home.”
Doors to The Venue at Horseshoe Hammond open at 6:00 Wednesday, November 25th, and first bell is at 6:30. Tickets are priced $90 and 40, and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets. Boxing fans must be 21 years and older to attend events at the Horseshoe Hammond.
