Garcia Steps in to Face Gonzalez in Place of Injured Mantequilla

Because of an injury forcing Jonathan Gonzalez to withdraw, tough veteran Roberto “La Amenaza” Garcia (33-3, 22 KOs) of Weslaco, Texas, via Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, will step in to face Monterrey, Mexico’s Norberto “Demonio” Gonzalez (20-2, 13 KOs) in the Friday Night Fights-televised 10-round middleweight main event on Friday, February 7, 2014, at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.

33-year-old Garcia makes a worthy substitute opponent to say the least, as he has lost just one fight in the last decade and that to legendary champion Antonio Margarito.

Presented by Mike Tyson and Garry Jonas (Iron Mike Productions), Dominic Pesoli (8 Count Productions) and Leon Margules (Warriors Boxing), Garcia vs. Gonzalez will also feature a 10-round, televised co-feature between undefeated featherweight prospect Kamil Laszczyk (15-0, 7 KOs) of Warsaw, Poland, and Nicaragua’s Daniel “El General” Diaz (20-5-1, 14 KOs), plus 18-year-old welterweight prospect Erickson “Hammer” Lubin (2-0, 2 KOs) opening the telecast in a four-rounder vs. TBA.

Tickets for “Friday Night Fights” are priced at VIP $151, VIP Ringside $101, Ringside $76, Mezzanine $51 and General Admission $31 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.com, 1-800-745-3000), the 8 Count Productions Offices: 312-226-5800 or the UIC Pavilion Box Office: 312-413-5740.

The switch in combatants became necessary on Saturday when Puerto Rico’s “Mantequilla” Gonzalez hurt his shoulder sparring and found he couldn’t lift arms above his head. Gonzalez visited the hospital this morning and underwent tests confirming a muscle pull that requires adequate healing time.

A victory over Garcia would still be a step forward for the 32-year-old “Demonio” Gonzalez, who got his career back on track with a surprise upset over Michael “Brazilian Rocky” Oliveira last November at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.