Jack Reiss is Referee of Gradovich-Mu?oz IBF World Title Fight in Macau
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 22 Jul 2013
International Referee Jack Reiss of Oxnard Beach, California, will be the third man in charge of the action when Russian IBF Featherweight World Champion Evgeny Gradovich makes his first title defense against IBF #1 Featherweight Mauricio Javier Mu?oz of Argentina this coming Saturday July 27 at The Venetian? Cotai Arena? in Macau, China.
The announcement was confirmed by American Lindsey E. Tucker, IBF Championships Chairman. The all-American panel of judges are: Mrs. Adalaide Byrd of Las Vegas NV, Mike Ancona of Ohio and Jerome P. Jakubco of Evanston, Illinois.
The 26 year-old world champ Evgeny Gradovich (16-0, 8 KOs), born and raised in Igrim, Siberia, signed last year with Top Rank and moved to Oxnard to train with the current Trainer of the Year Roberto Garcia. The jovial Gradovich is nicknamed by his stablemates as "The Mexican Russian," for his aggressive fighting style and fluency in Espa?ol.
Last March, Gradovich showed up as a replacement in the main event on ESPN Friday Night Fights and defeated the world champion, capturing the IBF Featherweight world crown.
His rumble against Mu?oz will be his first world title defense.
Meanwhile, the challenger Mauricio Javier Mu?oz (26-3, 12 KOs) of San Juan, Argentina, is the current IBF Latino Featherweight Champion. Nicknamed by his fellow countrymen as "Chucky," Mu?oz will have his second shot at a world belt.
Two years ago, the 27 year-old Mu?oz (26-3, 12 KOs) lost in devastating fashion to the fists of then Japanese WBC Super Bantamweight world champ Toshiaki Nishioka. Since that tough night in Kobe, Japan, the motivated Mu?oz has scored back to back wins and captured his regional belt.
Both, Gradovich and Mu?oz, are orthodox warriors standing at 5' 7". Their match is one of the two world title fights on the line in this weekends's Macau card billed as "ZOU SHIMING: Fists of Gold II."
The other one is the defense of hard-hitting Mexican WBA/WBO Flyweight champ Juan Francisco "Gallo" Estrada from undefeated Milan Melindo of the Philippines.
In the headliner, Chinese 2-time Olympic gold medalist and 3-time Amateur World Champion Zou Shiming gets back into action to battle unheralded Jes?s "Jibarito" Ortega (3-1, 2 KOs) of Sonora, Mexico.
"ZOU SHIMING: Fists of Gold II" this Saturday July 27 at The Venetian? Macau's Cotai Arena? is promoted by Top Rank Inc. and Sands China Ltd., in association with Tecate and aired on HBO and TV Azteca.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Day One Concludes at 2026 USA Boxing International Open
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Female Boxing GOAT Katie Taylor to be Special guest at All-N.E. Golden Gloves Thursday, Feb. 12, in Lowell, MA
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Brandon McCarthy Signs with Wise Owl Boxing, Set to Make Noise at 135 lbs
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Filipino Boxers Set for Action on Valentine's Day in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Oklahoma Outplays LA Lakers, 119-110; Arrests Skid to Hold on to League Lead
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Malaya Vibrations to play gig at 5th MFPI Mindanao Summit
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Fight of the Night in Thailand: Ador Torres and Sairike Tuolewutayi Battle to a Thrilling Draw
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Young Australian Benji Birchell Claims Title Win in Thailand
Wed, 11 Feb 2026Tickets for the Inaugural “Mike Tyson Invitational” Amateur Fight Night on Saturday, March 14, in Las Vegas Are on Sale Now
Wed, 11 Feb 20262026 USA Boxing Men's Elite High Performance Team and Squad Rosters Announced
Wed, 11 Feb 2026IIEE, SAEP shared lead, PIChE won 3rd in a row in the PTC WED NEMO Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 11 Feb 2026The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
Wed, 11 Feb 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 9 FEBRUARY 2026: Figueroa Stops Ball in 12; Medina Outpoints Curiel; Asanau, Unal Win in Montreal
By Eric Armit, Tue, 10 Feb 2026Paradero gets a rematch against Francisco
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 10 Feb 2026Carcedo wins WBA Asia South super welterweight title
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 10 Feb 2026