Hard Rock Casino Rockford’s first live boxing event includes clash between heavyweight ‘monsters’

April 14, 2025|By Kevin Haas|In Rock River Current, Sports events, 815 News, Rockford, Top Stories, Sports

Deontae Pettigrew sets his WBC Fecarbox belt on the podium on Monday, April 14, 2025, as he prepares to take questions from reporters at Hard Rock Casino Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The last time Deontae Pettigrew fought in Rockford, it was his last bout in the amateur circuit on his step toward turning pro.

For his next fight, he hopes it’s a step toward a world title.

Pettigrew, a Chicago-based heavyweight fighter nicknamed Tank, will face Richard Lartey on Saturday at Hard Rock Casino Rockford for the vacant World Boxing Association Continental Championship. It’s the first-ever World Boxing Association-sanctioned event held in the city, and it has big implications for Pettigrew and the other fighters on the card.

“He’s ready to embark on a quest for the world title and this is the first step in that quest,” said Bobby Hitz, a retired boxer who runs Hitz Boxing, which is putting on the event with Hard Rock. “The implications for the victor of this fight, there’s world rankings involved, there’s going to be members of the WBA here. This is a big deal. This is that next step.”

Hitz Boxing Presents: A Night of Championship Boxing kicks off with the first bell at 6 p.m. Saturday at Hard Rock Live, 7801 E. State St., Rockford. The multifaceted entertainment venue will be configured for roughly 1,600 fans with the ring in the center of the floor and special VIP seating in the traditional stage area.

Several of the fighters, including Pettigrew, and promoters held a news conference on Monday at the casino in the lead-up to fight night.

“This is a Vegas-esque type atmosphere,” said Rick Ramos, who manages 4-0 super welterweight Everett Olivares and 8-0 super lightweight Lukas Moldenhauer. “This is electrifying … Hopefully we can build a relationship here that will bring us here four, five times a year.”

Geno Iafrate, president of Hard Rock Casino Rockford, said the first WBA fight night here has the potential to grow into a series.

“We do not anticipate this to be a single event,” Iafrate said. “We anticipate this to be the start of an ongoing relationship and multiple events a year.”

Hitz said he hopes the event builds on Rockford’s great boxing tradition, from Olympic bronze medalist Kenny Gould to Pat “The Cat” Coleman, and kickboxer ‘Bad’ Brad Hefton.

“It’s a great history here and we want to bring that back,” Hitz said. “To be part of this at the Hard Rock Casino is a dream come true for us.”

Bobby Hitz speaks at a news conference on Monday, April 14, 2025, about the upcoming WBA-sanctioned fights at Hard Rock Casino Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

This fight doesn’t have odds-makers who put the matches on the books, so there won’t be betting on these fights. It is on pace to be a sellout crowd, Hitz said.

“I love seeing the crowd when I come out. It fuels me,” said Olivares, a Chicago fighter who is 4-0 at the pro level. “I can’t wait to see my people in the crowd. I’ll spot them right away.”

The card also includes the professional debut of Rockfordian Jonathan Cruz, a Chicago Golden Gloves Champion who trains out of Aurora. Cruz wasn’t at Monday’s press event.

Pettigrew’s last fight as an amateur was a win at the Lombardi Club in Rockford. He’s now 14-0 at the pro level and preparing to fight a “monster” in Lartey, as Hitz described him.

“Last time (Lartey) fought on our show he came in our town and knocked out the hometown favorite,” Hitz said. “It’s a very scary fight for Tank. This is not a layup whatsoever.”

Deontae Pettigrew and Polish fighter Kewin Gibas listen on Monday, April 14, 2025, during the start of a press event to promote the upcoming World Boxing Association event at Hard Rock Casino Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Hitz said there is also bad blood between the two fighters stemming from the last event they were on together, where they each beat their opponents.

“After the fight, he literally went and challenged Tank in the ring and got in his face. That’s why I didn’t bring him here today because I don’t want any fisticuffs before we pay them,” Hitz said. “It’s a very, very serious fight because the implications for the victor are just tremendous.”

Pettigrew, who is the WBC Fecarbox champion and ranked No. 14 in the WBA heavyweight division, describes himself as an adaptive fighter who can mix up between pressing the action and counter-pounching. He said Lartey is a “very, very, very dangerous opponent.”

“He’s a massive man, like myself,” Pettigrew said.

Still, Pettigrew said he’s confident he’ll win the 10-round fight “in exciting fashion.”

“The fight is 10, but don’t blink,” he said.

Hitz Boxing Presents: Deontae Pettigrew vs. Richard Lartey

What: A night of championship boxing comes to Rockford with a World Boxing Association-sanctioned event headlined by Deontae Pettigrew vs. Richard Lartey for the vacant WBA Continental Championship.

When: 5 p.m. Saturday, April 19

Where: Hard Rock Casino Rockford, 7801 E. State St., Rockford

Tickets: Go HERE