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Unbeaten Taras Shelestyuk Outpoints Aslanbek Kozaev,
Undefeated Keenan Smith Takes Close Decision over Benjamin Whitaker,
Sam Teah Deals O’Shaquie Foster His First Defeat
Catch Replay Monday, Nov. 9, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHO EXTREME®
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Photo Credit: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME®
LAS VEGAS (Nov. 7, 2015) – It was cold outside, the temperature dipping into the low 50s, but the elements did not affect unbeaten Antoine “Action” Douglas, however, as the talented world-ranked middleweight turned up the heat and impressively knocked out Les Sherrington in the fourth round in the main event of a ShoBox: The New Generation quadrupleheader Friday live on SHOWTIME.
Douglas (19-0-1, 13 KOs), of Burke, Va., dropped Sherrington (35-8, 19 KOs), of Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia, five times before the one-sided fight for the WBO International 160-pound title was stopped at 1:02 of the fourth. The quick, hard-hitting Douglas dropped Sherrington one time in the first and second rounds, two times in the third and once in the fourth.
In the co-feature from the specially-constructed ring outside the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center (DLVEC) across from the D Las Vegas, Ukrainian southpaw Taras “Real Deal” Shelestyuk (13-0, 8 KOs), of Los Angeles, Calif., pitched a near-10-round shutout over Aslanbek Kozaev (26-2-1, 7 KOs), of Vladikavkaz, Russia, to capture the WBO-NABO Regional Welterweight title. A former amateur standout and 2012 Olympic Games Bronze Medalist, Shelestyuk, won by the scores of 100-90 twice and 99-91.
In other results on a card promoted by GH3 Promotions and Banner Promotions, “Killa” Keenan Smith (9-0, 3 KOs), of Philadelphia, won a unanimous eight-round decision overBenjamin “Da Blaxican” Whitaker (10-2, 2 KOs), of San Antonio, Texas, in a competitive welterweight scrap and “Tsunami Sam” Teah (7-1, 2 KOs) of Philadelphia scored a unanimous decision over previously undefeated O’Shaquie “Ice Water” Foster (8-1, 5 KOs) of Orange, Texas, in a lightweight match. It was the 135th time a boxer suffered his first loss on ShoBox.
For Douglas, it was his fifth consecutive victory on ShoBox and likely may have earned him a spot on a future SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® card. The 10 fighters who’ve appeared five or more times on ShoBox have all gone on to challenge for a world title.
“Antoine Douglas is the perfect example of what we do in the ShoBox series. We build fighters. We develop them from prospect to contenders,” said Gordon Hall, Executive Producer of ShoBox: The New Generation and Senior Vice President of Production, SHOWTIME Sports. “We’ve seen Antoine grow. He started as a promising prospect, and we matched him really tough and each and every time he stepped up to the task. Tonight, he graduated from ShoBox with a spectacular performance; there are no doubts he is now a contender.”
“We got what Antoine Douglas needed: The type of utterly dominant performance that makes you want to see him against the best middleweights. Tonight was Antoine’s graduation from ShoBox. Now he’ll move up to bigger and better things,” said ShoBoxexpert analyst Steve Farhood afterward:
Douglas went 10 rounds for the second time and upped his winning streak to five since boxing a draw in July 2014.
“They said this was my graduation day, time for a cap and gown, so this was definitely a big win,’’ said Douglas, a top amateur who made it to the 2011 U.S. Olympic Trials and was the WBA’s ninth-ranked contender going in. “It was a great experience fighting onShoBox and I appreciate everything they’ve done for me getting me ready to go to the next level. Now, it’s time for me to take the next step.
“I expected to win, probably by knockout, but I didn’t expect it to be this way. I expected Sherrington to be tougher, more prepared. I think my jab was the key. It set him up for all the big shots I landed with my right hand and left hook.
“I knew I’d be faster than him. I was very prepared. One good thing I’m happy about is how I kept my composure.’’
Sherrington, who was fighting outside of Australia and making his U.S. and 2015 debuts, came in having won eight of his last nine fights, including his last pair. But the WBA’s No. 12 contender was no match for Douglas.
“Antoine Douglas is very good and he will go on to really big things in this sport,’’ Sherrington said.
“I’m not making excuses, but I was freezing and could never really warm up. And then he caught me cold. I came here to reach a lifelong dream of mine but it was not meant to be. I got welcomed into the big leagues in a big hurry and in the worst way. All credit goes to Douglas for that.’’
Farhood was impressed with Shelestyuk, a former amateur standout. “[Taras] Shelestyuk looked like the most mature fighter on the card,’’ Farhood said. “He has a wonderful amateur pedigree, he was an Olympic Bronze Medalist. He fought a fighter that made him fight and throw a lot of punches — he averaged 85 punches a round. He dominated the fight from the first round on and he looked like the world-class fighter that he was developed to be.”
Shelestyuk utilized his 3½-inch height advantage to dominate the game but outclassed Kozaev. “This was a good fight for me. I’m so happy. I won my first pro title, went 10 rounds for the first time and won all the rounds,’’ Shelestyuk said.
“The guy was a super tough opponent. I thought I was going to knock him out in a few of the rounds but he took all my hard punches. He was a warrior and had a lot more experience than me.’’
Kozaev, making his first start in 18 months, started fast but got outhustled and outworked from the second round on. “He’s a good fighter and I gave my best, but having not fought for such a long time was a big factor,’’ he said.
Smith overcame a nasty cut over the left eye from an unintentional headbutt in the sixth but came back to score a knockdown in the seventh. He triumphed by the scores of 79-73 and 78-74 twice.
“Keenan Smith overcame a very bad cut to win this fight,’’ Farhood said. “He scored a knockdown that was unexpected late in the fight. I thought that it was a very close fight, but Smith did enough in the early rounds to win. He’s definitely a prospect that will get better.”
Smith was fighting for the fourth time this year after a three-year hiatus. He was less than enthusiastic afterward. “This was a rough camp for me. My mother died. I dedicated this fight to her and really wanted to get the knockout,’’ said Smith who wore all-pink trunks in her honor.
“I’m not all that happy because I felt I could have finished him even though my left shoulder was hurting and I was not 100 percent. I also couldn’t see much at all out of my eye after the cut.
“But tonight, it was like a welterweight fighting a junior welterweight. I weighed in at 141 and he was at 147. But going eight rounds for the first time was definitely a good thing. I just feel like I should have finished much stronger. The weather was not a problem.’’
Whitaker had a three-fight winning streak end. “The scoring was way off. It was a much closer fight than that,’’ he said. “I don’t understand how he could get warned the whole fight for holding, but never get a point taken away. The knockdown wasn’t even a knockdown. It was more of a trip. The ref asked me if I could continue and I was like, ‘I wasn’t even hurt, not even wobbled a little bit.’
“I would love to fight him again.’’
Teah won the opening bout of the telecast by the scores of 79-73 and 77-75 twice. “This was an upset,’’ Farhood said. “Teah beat a fighter who had been a tough amateur. The problem for O’Shaquie Foster is that he looked like an amateur. He didn’t adjust to the pro game. He didn’t show enough strength and enough determination. He was a disappointment and [Sam] Teah took advantage of that.”
Teah, making his eight-round debut, won his third in a row. “I’m ecstatic and couldn’t ask for anything better,’’ he said. “This is definitely my biggest win and I definitely felt I won. I could have done more, but I did enough. This was a great win for my team. Working 10 hours a day paid off for me.
“This was my first time going eight rounds and I felt strong. To beat an unbeaten fighter was huge. The first six rounds I coasted. The last two rounds fatigue set in and I started to feel the weather, but I feel great now.’’
If anyone of the eight boxers froze under the bright lights it was Foster. “For some reason I just wasn’t myself in there,’’ a visibly disappointed Foster said. “I could have done so much more but I just didn’t throw enough punches. It’s time for me to regroup and get it together for the next time.’’
All but Douglas were making their ShoBox debuts.
The ShoBox quadrupleheader will re-air this week as follows:
DAY CHANNEL
Monday, Nov. 9, 10 p.m. ET/PT SHOWTIME EXTREME
Friday’s four-fight telecast will be available at SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® beginning today/Saturday, Nov. 7.
Barry Tompkins called the ShoBox action from ringside with Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer wasGordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
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VIDEOS, PHOTOS AND QUOTES
Click HERE for Photos
VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/efyC54W0qaA
Photo/Video Credit: Hector Santos Guia/Roc Nation Sports/Miguel Cotto Promotions, LLC
LOS ANGELES (November 6, 2015) – WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion Miguel Cotto (40-4, 33 KOs) hosted a media workout on Nov. 5 with his renowned trainer Freddie Roach at Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles ahead of his Nov. 21 mega-fight against former WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KOs) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center which will produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View.
Below is what Cotto and Roach had to say:
MIGUEL COTTO, WBC, Ring Magazine & Lineal Middleweight World Champion
“I don’t care about Canelo’s age. I don’t care about his size. I’m just here to do my work and be ready for Nov. 21. I can tell you that I am going to be in the best shape on Nov. 21.
“I don’t care how Canelo is doing in training camp. I hope he can get in his best shape.
“People will have to wait to see on Nov. 21 if Canelo’s age is stronger than Miguel’s spirit. OnNov. 21, people are going to see the best Miguel Cotto they have ever seen.
“Freddie had the opportunity to make Miguel Cotto work better and harder. With Freddie, I just realized that I could bring more to every day. I’m here to follow everything Freddie wants me to do in training camp.
“The biggest tool I have on my side is Freddie Roach. They know what Freddie Roach means in boxing. They know what Freddie Roach is capable of doing with Miguel Cotto.
“They know what Miguel Cotto is capable of doing in his fights. I’m going to bring the same level of emotion to this fight.
“I’m going into the ring with our plan in mind and will implement it.
“The Mexican-Puerto Rican rivalry is one of the biggest in boxing. It’s in our hands to present the fight at the same level of intensity everyone expects. Mexico is a lot bigger than Puerto Rico, but we have something in our boxers that make us able to compete at the same level.
“I am a boxer. I’m here working and looking forward to Nov. 21. We are working for the victory and that is what we are going to get on Nov. 21.”
FREDDIE ROACH, International Boxing Hall of Famer & Seven-Time BWAA Trainer of the Year Award Winner, Miguel Cotto Trainer
“I believe this is going to be the best fight of the year. I think it’s a great match up. I think its youth versus experience. How much is Canelo’s youth going to take a toll on him? How much will it help him? I think you get a little bit of everything. You get Mexico versus Puerto Rico. You get youth versus experience. This fight brings a lot to the table. It’s the perfect match. It’s a very exciting fight.
“Canelo is only about a half-inch taller [then Miguel]. He doesn’t have a huge height advantage or reach advantage over us. I don’t think he’s stronger than we are. I think we are the better puncher out there. We have more experience. We beat a lot of guys a lot better than him along the way. He’s just another guy to us.
“We’ve had four sparring partners against Miguel each day. That’s for breaking the fighter down and hitting the body. We take their legs away from them. I feel that our opponent does a lot on his own. He’s not that disciplined. He’s a young guy. He’s the playboy. He’s a good looking guy. He gets all the girls like Oscar De La Hoya, but the thing is, those girls are not going to help him in this fight.
“I have the better fighter. We’ve fought better opposition. We’ve been in there with better fighters. We’ve learned after the process of going through this and he’s still at the beginning of the learning stage. Who knows how far he’ll go? Miguel’s gone a long, long way. We’ve proven ourselves and we’ll prove ourselves again on Nov. 21. I promise.
“Miguel and I get along really well together. We’re just working out the strategy of the fight. Both of us work together combining what he’s comfortable with and what I’m comfortable with and it works out really well.
“I think we’ll give Canelo a boxing lesson for about five rounds and then I think we’ll turn it up from that point on. After five, I am going to have Miguel go out there and trade with him a little bit and when Canelo slows down a little bit, I think we will knock him out in about eight or nine rounds.”
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Cotto vs. Canelo, a 12-round fight for Cotto’s WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Championships, takes place Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The fight is presented by Roc Nation Sports, Golden Boy Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra; Mexico, Live it to Believe it!; O’Reilly Auto Parts; Tequila Cazadores and Corporate Travel Made Simple (ctms). Also featured on the pay-per-view telecast will be Takashi Muira vs. Francisco Vargas in a 12-round fight for the WBC Super Featherweight World Championship presented in association with Teiken Promotions and Jayson Velez vs. Ronny Rios is a 10-round featherweight. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Randy Caballero vs. Lee Haskins, a 12-round fight for the IBF Bantamweight World Championship, is presented in association with Bristol Boxing Ltd. and will be featured as part of the preliminary undercards available on digital platforms starting at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT.
A limited number of tickets priced at $2,000, $1,750, $1,250 and $650, not including applicable service charges, can be purchased at the Mandalay Bay box office, ticketmaster.com,mandalaybay.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling (800) 745-3000. Ticket orders are limited to four per person.
Tickets for closed circuit viewings of Cotto vs. Canelo at select MGM Resorts International properties in Las Vegas are priced at $75, not including applicable service charges, and can be purchased at all MGM Resorts International Ticket Offices, http://www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling (800) 745-3000.
Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez will be presented live with Fathom Events in select theaters nationwide. Tickets for theater screenings of Cotto vs. Canelo can be purchased online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. For a complete list of theater locations visit www.fathomevents.com/event/cotto-vs-canelo-live.
Sports bars, restaurants, casinos (outside of Clark County, Nevada) and other commercial establishments can order Cotto vs. Canelo by contacting Joe Hand Promotions at (800) 557-4263 or by visiting www.JoeHandPromotions.com. Joe Hand Promotions is the exclusive commercial distributor for Cotto vs. Canelo throughout the United States and Canada.
For more information, visit www.rocnation.com, www.goldenboypromotions.com,www.promocionesmiguelcotto.com, www.canelopromotions.com.mxwww.hbo.com/boxingand www.mandalaybay.com; follow on Twitter at @RocNation, @GoldenBoyBoxing, @RealMiguelCotto, @Canelo, @HBOBoxing, and @MandalayBay; become a fan on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/RocNation, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing,www.facebook.com/RealMiguelACotto, www.facebook.com/SaulCaneloAlvarez,www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing and www.facebook.com/MandalayBay; and follow on Instagram @rocnation, @GoldenBoyBoxing, @realmiguelacotto, @Canelo, @HBOboxing and @MandalayBay. Follow the conversation using #CottoCanelo.
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Baltimore, MD (November 5, 2015) – Baltimore Boxing Club and founder Jake Smith have been featured in Under Armour’s new commercial for the Muhammad Ali Collection.
Based out of Baltimore, Under Armour is a global giant forsports clothing and accessories, making a name for themselves in the boxing world during the last few years.
Recently, Under Armour filmed fighters training at the Baltimore Boxing Gym while Smith gave instructions, followed by an intense sparring session. The commercial also features highlights from Ali’s career followed by boxing superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez discussing what made Ali successful before showing one of Canelo’s training sessions.
“Under Armour has been a great supporter of local boxing and my gym in particular,” said Smith. “They’ve done filming here before and sponsored the recent Regional Qualifiers for the Olympic Trials here in Baltimore. Even with all of that, never in a million years did I think that the Baltimore Boxing Club would appear in a commercial featuring the great Muhammad Ali and Saul Alvarez. We appreciate the exposure and hope it creates more recognition for our fighters and the gym.”
Baltimore Boxing’s next card takes place Wednesday, November 25 at Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD.
The commercial can be seen by going to Youtube.com/watch?v=DHv7tSM2mwQ.
For more information on Baltimore Boxing or to buy tickets to their next card, visit Baltimoreboxing.com.
NEW YORK (November 4, 2015) – Roc Nation Sports regretfully announces that due to an injury sustained while training, Andre Ward will be unable to participate in his previously scheduled Saturday, Nov. 21 bout at the Mandalay Events Center in Las Vegas. A replacement fight for the HBO Pay-Per-View produced and distributed event is currently being worked on.
Ward has been suffering from significant inflammation and constant pain in his right knee that is severely restricting his mobility. He has been advised by his physician to immediately rest and begin rehab on the knee to reduce the inflammation.
“I’m extremely disappointed that I’m missing this opportunity on November 21, but at the same time, I’m encouraged,” said Ward. “Anytime I have had a minor or major setback in my career, by the Grace of God, I’ve come back stronger and this will be no different. I’m looking forward to a big 2016. Thank you to all my fans for your support and patience.”
“Andre’s injury is a huge disappointment not only to him, but all of us involved with this promotion,” said David Itskowitch, COO Boxing of Roc Nation Sports. “We have no doubt that Andre will come back stronger than ever once his knee heals and that he will be a force in the light heavyweight division. We are working diligently to make an intriguing fight that will deliver a level of excitement commensurate with this great event.”
“While we feel terrible for Andre that he has encountered this setback, we have no doubt that Andre will return stronger than ever in 2016,” said James Prince and Josh Dubin, Ward’s management team.
PROVIDENCE (November 4, 2015) – Last Thursday night, undefeated super welterweight Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (22-0, 15 KOs) was honored by the Harvard Club at its annual Fight Night in Boston’s Back Bay.
The 27-year-old Andrade, fighting out of Providence, is a former world super welterweight champion. The sensational southpaw was a 2008 U.S. Olympian and 2007 AIBA World Championships gold medalist.
“It was great being at the Harvard Club with so many successful people there supporting boxing,” Andrade said. “I was grateful for them showing so much interest in me.”
Follow Demetrius Andrade on Twitter @AndradeATeam.
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London promoter Mark Lyons has joined forces with Championship campaigning Marianne Marston to co-promote a huge pre-Christmas event, aptly named LET BATTLE COMMENCE, at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, on Sunday, the 6th of December.
Heading up the fifteen-bout card are no less than three World Championship battles;
Bradford’s Tasif Khan makes his first foray onto the World stage, when he challenges Ghana’s Isaac Quaye for the World Boxing Union Super Flyweight Championship.
Reigning World Boxing Union Super Middleweight International Champion, Nazeing, Essex’s George ‘Hithard’ Hillyard aims to add the vacant WBU World crown to his collection, when he faces a yet to be named opponent.
Finally British #1 and reigning MBC International Super Bantamweight Champion Marianne Marston will go toe to toe with Hungary’s Csilla Nemedi in a four, WBU, WBF, WIBA & WIBC, Bantamweight World title unification bout.
Also on the Championship trail on this historic event will be a number of fast rising young stars.
Former Team GB star Iain ‘The Blessed One’ Weaver gets his first taste of professional Championship boxing, when he challenges a yet to be named opponent for the International Masters Super Featherweight title.
Bardney, Lincolnshire’s unbeaten prospect, Nathan ‘Nightmare’ Decastro also will be fighting for an International Masters Championship, albeit at Middleweight.
The final Championship bout will see reigning MBC International Welterweight Champion, Hackney’s Siar Ozgul, challenge for another International Crown, this time at Super Welterweight.
Supporting the six Championship bouts are nine bouts featuring the cream of local talent, including another reigning Champion, WBF Super Bantamweight Intercontinental supremo Paul Economides in a non-championship six rounder.
Joining Paul on the undercard is another well known Champ, former British and Commonwealth King, Michael Aldiss, who made his most welcome return to the ring back in October.
Another hugely popular recent returnee to the hallowed square ring, Super Middleweight Manzo Smith will also be in action, as will Rockin’ Robin Deakin, who will be seeking to add another win to his card, following his victory over Deniss Kornilovs back in August.
Unbeaten, big punching Cruiserweight prospect Daniel Mendez will be looking to add a third scalp to his belt on the night, as Adam Taylor seeks to get his career back on track when he faces off against a yet to be named opponent.
Back in August Marianne Marston, Shaunagh Brown and Sam Smith made history when they all fought on the same event at York Hall, as that was the first time that three female bouts took place on a pro event in the UK, well on the 6th December that record will get broken, as joining Marianne on the card will be former Big Brother star and multi title challenger Angel ‘The Entertainer’ McKenzie, British Masters Super Flyweight Champion and World Championship challenger Juliette Winter and making her most welcome return to the sport Jamie Johnson.
In addition to the top class boxing fayre, the event will also feature the first live performance by local singing star Stephan Dante, who will be performing her viral smash ‘Nails Did’, as well as further tracks from her soon to be released debut album.
To cram all this action in the doors will open at 2:30pm, with the first bout starting at 3pm.
Tasif Khan vs Isaac Quaye, Marianne Marston vs Csilla Nemedi and George Hillyard vs TBA World Title bouts co-headline the Monarch Communications, BoxFit UK, 3X Sports and Sulnox Eco Systems PLC sponsored Mark Lyons and Marianne Marston co-promoted LET BATTLE COMMENCE event at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London on Sunday 6th December 2015.
This event is sanctioned courtesy of the Malta Boxing Commission (MBC) www.maltaboxingcommission.com
Tickets, priced £35 (standard seated) and £65 (Ringside) are available from any of the boxers taking part, on-line atwww.letbattlecommence.com and www.mariannemarston.com or call 07960 850645
www.facebook.com/letbattlecommenceinlondon
Twitter: @LondonBattle
#LetBattleCommence
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