On Feb. 15, at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind., Chicago lightweights Russell "Rocky" Fiore (6-2-1, 6 KO's) of Rockford, Ill. and Anthony "The Assassin" Linenfelser (3-3, 3 KO's) of Chicago, Ill. will do battle and collide on the under-card of Donatas Bondoravas vs. "King" David Thomas. The bout will be promoted by Chicago veteran promoter Bobby Hitz of Hitz Boxing.
Linenfelser, like Fiore, is 2-2 in his last four fights, and like "Rocky," the young Linenfelser needs this victory to stay relevant in the local boxing community. The fight should be an interesting one considering Linenfelser has a new trainer and outlook on the sweet science. At 10 years the elder of Fiore, the "Assassin" needs to do all he can to come out victorious. With a loss to either fighter, it will be safe to say they will be considered nothing more than an opponent.
The Rockford native had this to say:
Q: Rocky Fiore is known as a tough, heavy puncher, why take a tough fight after a whole year off?
Linenfelser: Because I got to prove that my losses were flukes, I got robbed, and I thought by taking this fight I can prove to everyone I am a fighter. They say styles make fights, and Russell's style is perfect for me to show my abilities in the ring.
Q: Your last time in the ring you scored a TKO victory, the fight was almost a year ago, why the long delay in returning to the ring?
Linenfelser: I didn't have a promoter, so I had to come in as the opponent if I wanted to fight.
Q: Can you tell us how you prepared for Fiore?
Linenfelser: I have a new trainer, and he's excellent, I have been training hard with John James “Ponyboy” Mc Keogh, but I had a late start. I'm still confident and what he's taught me these past few weeks and now looks forward to using it in the ring Friday, Feb. 15
Q: Give us a prediction on how this fight ends.
Linenfelser: I will improve to 4-3 with 4 knockouts; I refuse to leave the ring any other way. I'm willing to bet my whole fight purse on a victory come this Friday on Hitz card.
Q: So is it safe to say win, lose or draw we will be seeing a lot more of Anthony Linenfelser
Linenfelser: There is no win, lose or draw… only a victory
Q: If you can tell Russell anything what would that be?
Linenfelser: You should have never taken this fight.
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