Legendary Chicago national anthem singer James Cornelison, best known for his beloved renditions of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "O Canada" at the beginning of home games for the Chicago Blackhawks, will sing the national anthem at tomorrow night's (Friday, August 16) historic boxing event at U.S. Cellular Field.
A huge crowd is expected to watch Cornelison perform, just before the night's 12-round main event between IBO Light Heavyweight Champion Andrzej Fonfara and former world champion Gabriel "EL Chico Guapo" Campillo.
Fonfara and Campillo are headlining "THE BIG FIGHT 2," a historic outdoor boxing event being held at U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, and broadcast worldwide on ESPN Friday Night Fights. It is being presented by "The Promoters"- Round 3 Productions, 8 Count Productions, Warriors Boxing and Ulrich KnockOut Promotions in association with the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority.
In the other bouts scheduled for broadcast, undefeated heavyweight Artur 'The Pin" Szpilka (15-0, 11 KOs) will fight a 10-round rematch to his bloody war with "Merciless" Mike Mollo (20-4-1, 12 KOs) and Chicago's Adrian "EL Tigre" Granados will face off against undefeated Mansfield, Ohio's Mark Salser over eight scheduled rounds
Five-time Chicago Golden Gloves champ Kristin Gearhart will also make her professional boxing debut.
The addition of the well-respected Cornelison adds even more flavor to a card packed with Chicago sports history and tradition. He began singing the anthem for the Blackhawks in 1996 and has also sung for the Chicago Bears.
Tickets start at $32 and are available through Ticketmaster (www.Ticketmaster.com, phone, (800-745-3000), The Chicago White Sox (www.whitesox.com) the U.S. Cellular Field Box Office and the 8 Count Productions Office (312-226-5800).
The last professional outdoor boxing event held in Chicago took place over 50 years ago. "THE BIG FIGHT" was held at Comiskey Park on SEPTEMBER 25, 1962 and was headlined by the Heavyweight World Championship between Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson.
U.S. Cellular Field is located at 333 W. 35th Street, one block west of the Dan Ryan Expressway. For this memorable evening the ring will be set up just behind home plate with the grandstand serving as the backdrop. Doors on the night of the event will open at 6:00 p.m. CT with the first at 7:00 p.m. CT.
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