Rockford pro ready to ‘bring the fight’ as Hitz Boxing returns to Hard Rock Casino Rockford

September 17, 2025|By Kevin Haas|In Things to Do, Local Sports, Sports events, News, 815 News, Top Stories, Sports

From left, Rick Ramos, Eddie Olivares, Lukas Moldenhauer, Geno Iafrate, Bobby Hitz, Lane Hanlin, Seth Swinehart, and Troy Smith pose for a photo Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, at Hard Rock Live ahead of an upcoming night of boxing on Oct. 3. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Rockford boxer Julian Lugo may make pro debut, Roy Jones Jr. slated to make appearance

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Before construction had started on the future Hard Rock Casino Rockford, boxer Seth Swinehart and his coach Troy Smith envisioned a pro bout in a ring at the future venue.

“When we drove past here and there was nothing but rocks crumbled everywhere … before we had even seen the Hard Rock here, we pointed and said, ‘We’re going to be fighting there,” said Smith, who coaches Swinehart out of Northern Illinois Combat Club in Machesney Park. “Now we’re 5-0 with five knockouts and here we are. We’re not stopping.”

Swinehart, a 2011 East High School grad, is one of the featured bouts when Hitz Boxing returns to Hard Rock Live, 7801 E. State St., on Oct. 3. The Rockford boxer and kickboxer will drop weight to 175 pounds to take on Jeremy Cullors.

“If I’m going to go far in this I need to build a backing, I need to do it in the hometown first,” Swinehart said at a press event Wednesday at the casino. “I just love everybody. I love all the support. It drives me.”

Swinehart’s full-time job is installing gutters. The married father of two then goes straight to training.

“I put it all out there because I want it more than anything,” Swinehart said. “I don’t really have a style. My style is just push forward and just fight. A lot of people are more skilled in the technical aspects, but a lot of people don’t have that fight in them. I try to bring the fight out in them, and see if they have it. If they have that dog. …

“To stop me you literally have to stop me.”

Seth Swinehart speaks with reporters on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, at Hard Rock Live in Rockford ahead of a bout there on Oct. 3. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Swinehart, right now, is the only Rockford boxer on the card. But that could change.

Bobby Hitz, a former heavyweight boxer who runs Hitz Boxing, held up Julian Lugo’s name during the news conference. He said Lugo, who dazzled in two Rockford Boxing Classic bouts with TKO victories in 2024 and this year, will make his pro debut pending the approval of his licensing by the state governing body. Lugo said in a message with the Rock River Current that he’s discussing the potential debut with his coach.

Lugo, who fought with Rockford Patriots Boxing Club at amateur events, and has been preparing to enter the pro ranks for more than a year.

“We’re going to push really hard to make sure he’s here, so you have two really great Rockford fighters on this show,” Hitz said.

Bobby Hitz introduces trainer Troy Smith of Rockford on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, during a news conference to promote an upcoming Hitz Boxing event Oct. 3 at Hard Rock Casino Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

The event is headlined by Chicago boxer Lukas Moldenhauer taking on Marko Szalai, a pro boxer out of Ontario, Canada. Moldenhauer, 21, defeated Manuel Guzman in the first round the last time he was in Rockford with Hitz Boxing in April. Now, he’s the main event.

“This is his time to showcase his talents against a very tough, rugged guy,” Hitz said.

The full lineup of bouts is being finalized. It will also feature Polish fighter Kewin Gibas, Marlon Harrington of Detroit, Hunter Lee, Demetrius Green, Lane Hanlin and Eddie Olivares of Chicago.

“Bobby is so committed to making sure we put on a spectacular event and we have the best of the best fighting here in Rockford,” said Geno Iafrate, president of Hard Rock Casino Rockford.

Geno Iafrate, president of Hard Rock Casino Rockford, speaks Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, at a news conference about an upcoming Hitz Boxing event at Hard Rock Live. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Roy Jones and a local legend

All-time great Roy Jones Jr. is also committed to make an appearance at the event, Hitz said.

Jones was an Olympic boxing teammate with Rockford great Kenny Gould in 1988. Gould won the bronze that year in Seoul, and Jones took home silver in a widely criticized decision. South Korean fighter Park Si-hun gave the gold medal to Jones earlier this month, acknowledging that it should have gone to Jones years ago.

Gould retired in 1993 after going 26-2 in pro boxing.

“Him being teammates with local legend Kenny ‘Candy Man’ Gould, I would like to see that reunion when it first happens,” Hitz said. “If Roy’s in the house, it’s going to be a great thing.”