Same Names, New Fight

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn- When it comes to a good fight inside the boxing arena, genuine hatred is generally a necessary ingredient. Typically this hatred is built up over time. In some cases, months, in some cases years.

That is of course unless you are Wilton Hilario or Jason Litzau. In April, Hilario won the IBA Americas Super Featherweight title in convincing fashion by overpowering Allen Litzau. The fight between the two finally came to pass following years of talk between the two camps. In the end, it was Hilario’s impressive performance that had people talking.

The Litzau’s left Target Center that night with huge questions. Jason had just made his return to Minnesota after fighting on the road and left the ring with fans booing when he grabbed the house microphone and told the 3,500 in attendance not to jump back on his bandwagon.

Following the fight, Hilario was asked about a potential matchup with the other Litzau. He nor any boxing fan in the state would have guessed that things would come together so quickly.

On May 21, Midwest Sports Council and Target Center announced that Hilario and Litzau will square off possibly the best pound for pound fighter in the state in Litzau (24-2) and Hilario (11-0-1).

The two met face to face during the press conference and it didn’t take long for the blood to begin to boil.

“I think the fact that this is a local fight for bragging rights and the history between Hilario and the Litzau family really helped the bad blood escalate quickly,” said Cory Rapacz of the Midwest Sports Council. “Probably a lot quicker than we anticipated at the Target Center press conference, but that's boxing!”

The winner of the fight will join the conversation on the national scene. Litzau has been in that discussion, Hilario gains serious credibility with the win.

“This is really a unique situation in the career of both fighters as well. Wilton is the up-and-comer looking to become a star in this state and move onto the world stage. A victory against Jason Litzau can accomplish all of that in one night,” said Rapacz. “Jason, on the other hand, has been to the top of the mountain in this sport and he needs a win like this not only to develop a long overdue local fanbase, but a chance to get back to where he once was.“

The boxing fans, in search of a legit world title contender, the answer could lie with the winner of the war on June 20.