Category Archives: ShoBox

FRANK GALARZA vs. SHELDON MOORE IEVGEN KHYTROV vs. AARON COLEY SERGIY DEREVYANCHENKO vs. ALAN CAMPA FINAL WEIGHTS, QUOTES & PHOTOS

 

ShoBox: The New Generation Tripleheader LIVE TONIGHT on SHOWTIME®

From Aviator Sports and Events Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

 

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Credit: Rosie Cohe / SHOWTIME

 

ALL ACCESS: Chavez, With Unparalleled Access To Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Sr.

Premieres Immediately Following Friday’s ShoBox

 

NEW YORK (April 9, 2015) – Brooklyn-native, unbeaten Frank “Notorious” Galarza weighed-in at 154 pounds and Belgium’s Sheldon “The Closer” Moore measured 153 ¼ pounds during Thursday’s official weigh-in for the main event of this Friday’s ShoBox: The New Generation, live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

 

Galarza (16-0-2, 10 KOs), regarded by many as “The Brooklyn Rocky,” and Moore (13-2-1, 9 KOs) will square off in the eight-round super welterweight headliner of the televised tripleheader from theAviator Sports and Events Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

 

Undefeated power-punching middleweight Ievgen “The Ukrainian Lion” Khytrov (9-0, 9 KOs) tipped the scales at 161 ½ pounds and fellow unbeaten Aaron “Heavy Metal” Coley (9-0-1, 6 KOs), of Hayward, Calif., measured 160 ½ pounds for their eight-round middleweight bout.

 

In the opening fight of the telecast, blue-chip super middleweight prospect Sergiy “The Technician” Derevyanchenko (4-0, 3 KOs/World Series of Boxing: 23-1, 7 KOs) will take on once-beatenAlan “Amenaza/Threat” Campa (13-1, 1 NC, 9 KOs) in an eight-round super middleweight match.  Derevyanchenko, of Ukraine and now training in Brooklyn with Khytrov, measured 163 ¼ pounds while Mexico’s Campa weighed-in at 165 pounds.

 

Tickets for the event, promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Fight Promotions Inc. and New Legend Boxing are on sale and priced at $100, $70 and $35. Tickets can be purchased by calling DiBella Entertainment at (212) 947-2577. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. ET, with the first bout scheduled for 6:45 p.m. ET.

 

Here’s what the fighters had to say prior to Thursday’s weigh-in:

 

GALARZA:

“We had some great sparring with guys like Daniel Jacobs, Sadam Ali, Khytrov.  They always give me top tough work.  That’s top competition right there.  Fighting guys like that builds my confidence.  If I can hang in there with them then I can hang with anyone.  They’re going to help to bring me to another level.  I feed off their energy.

 

“Moore is an aggressive fighter, but I’m a come-forward guy, too.  I can be aggressive, but smart aggressive.  Not just aggressive to punch and throw punches wildly.  It’s more being smart, using my defense, my offense and countering when he makes mistakes.

 

“I try not to think about fighting in the main event in Brooklyn, but it helps and it definitely motivates me.  I mean, it doesn’t get any better than that – fighting in my home in the main event.

 

“It’s my backyard, so I have to put on a show.  It doesn’t give me jitters because I’ve fought in my home before, but the main event is different.  I just need to do my job.

 

“For me, it’s will and skill.  I bring my skill level to the next level.  How bad do I want it?  Am I going to perform well enough to move to the next level and face those top contenders?

 

“I want to face the top prospects so I can earn a spot as a contender.  But I need to get through this guy first.”

 

MOORE:

“The main reason why I came all the way to the United States is because here is where boxing is at its best.  I’m really excited about this opportunity. Being on SHOWTIME as a main event is huge for me.

 

“It’s not going to be easy, I’m fighting a guy from Brooklyn in Brooklyn in his back yard.  But I’ve been in this situation before, I’ve fought abroad many times before and I’m not intimidated.  It’s another day at the office for me.

 

“This is it for me, there’s no turning back.  I have to win.  I just don’t see myself losing tomorrow.

 

“I’ve seen a couple Galarza videos on YouTube. He was more of a brawler at the beginning of his career.  Now, he’s a more disciplined boxer. That can backfire sometimes, something to watch out.

 

“You’ll see fireworks and excitement.  I’m not going to look for the knockout.  I think it’s a bad strategy to do that.   If it comes, it comes.  I’ll be looking to win, no matter what.  This is a very big fight for me, so it’ll be all about winning, impressing and being at my best.”

 

KHYTROV

“The atmosphere training in Big Bear was amazing.  It was one of the best training camps I’ve had.  I’ve never been through a camp in the amateurs like that.

 

“I had a chance to meet Gennady (Golovkin) in Big Bear and we spoke and actually became pretty close.  We talked about training regime, stuff athletes talk about.  I loved it there.

 

“The adjustment from amateurs to pros has been fine.  The only difference is handling the different rounds and realizing that you have to pace yourself for these eight, 10, 12 round fights.

 

“The best time to knock a guy out is in the first two rounds when they aren’t warmed up yet.  I tried against (Jorge) Melendez but I couldn’t get him out.  I just realized I needed to pace myself for the other six rounds and work the body.  It was nice to get those rounds and experience against a tough fighter.

 

“I know he (Coley) is a pretty hard-hitting southpaw.  I assume that he won’t come forward, but maybe he’ll surprise me.  He has a few knockouts, but I’m going to watch him, learn and adapt.

 

“I faced southpaws in the amateurs.  His style won’t give me any issues.  I could even switch to a southpaw stance if I need to.

 

“Personally, health allowing, I think I should be a contender by the end of 2015.  But I put all my trust into my team.  They know best.  My job is just to train and prepare for everything they put in front of me.

 

“Yes, 100 percent I’d like to face Gennady.  To be the best you have to fight the best.  And right now I consider him to be the best 160 pound fighter in the world.”

 

COLEY:

“Fighting on TV for me is a big deal.  When I was little, my father used to throw fight parties to watch big fights and tomorrow he’s throwing one for me. That alone makes me so proud.  I’ll have my own viewing party.  I’m fighting on national television, on SHOWTIME.  That’s such of big deal for me. This is my breakout. This is the sign I’m made it.

 

“I stay in shape all year round, but for the past two months I’ve been taking it to the extreme. Training hard, sparring even harder.

 

“I’ve been working very hard. I’ve sparred with world champions and I’ve been doing well.  I think this is my time to step up and show everybody how good I am.

 

“I’m predicting there will be a stoppage in the later rounds.”

 

DEREVYANCHENKO:

“The competition I faced in the WSB was, for the most part, the best fighters in the world.  So far, the guys I’ve faced in the pros don’t have that resume, that skill level.  So I think I’ve fought in more than just four pro fights.

 

“I’m working hard in the gym to make the transition from amateur to pro.  I’m taking it step-by-step.  I don’t want to jump the gun or make a mistake too fast.  I’m looking forward to increasing my level of opposition gradually.

 

“I’ve seen some of his (Campa) fights.  In some fights he boxes different than in other fights.  We’ll see what he does in the ring and adjust accordingly.  But I don’t think he can bring anything that I haven’t seen before.  But he’s a Mexican fighter so we know he won’t give up.

 

“I’m going to show what I’m worth.  I’ve been preparing for this my whole life.  Now is my chance to build my fan base and show what I can do in the ring.”

 

CAMPA:

“This is my first fight in the U.S., and I’m planning to take full advantage of this opportunity.

 

“My training was intense, a lot of running, especially in the mountains. I worked on my conditioning and my speed.  I’m at the best shape I’ve ever been.

 

“When I found out about my opponent, I watched video on him and I know I’m better than him.  I think my main advantages are age and speed. My opponent is 29, I’m 23.  I’m younger and quicker and I’m not about to make it easy for him.

 

“I’m going to read him in the early rounds and, if I feel he’s not hurting me, I’ll go the distance.

 

“This fight is a huge step-up for me.  I see it as key fight.  I feel it might be a make or break for me.  We’ll see, I might get a chance to deliver a knockout and that might spark some attention in the boxing world.”

 

# # #

 

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughanproducing and Rick Phillips directing.

 

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 59 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Omar Figueroa, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.

* * * VIDEO ALERT * * *FRANK GALARZA LOOKS TO STAY UNBEATEN THIS FRIDAY ON SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION AFTER REGISTERING ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE KNOCKOUT VICTORIES OF 2014  

In his ShoBox: The New Generation debut in January 2014, Frank “Notorious” Galarza registered one of the most memorable knockouts of the year against the favored John Thompson. Galarza, regarded by many as “The Brooklyn Rocky,” faces Belgium’s Sheldon Moore thisFriday, April 10, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME®

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About ShoBox: The New Generation

Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 59 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Omar Figueroa, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.

 

Tickets for the DiBella Entertainment event are on sale and priced at $100, $70 and $35. Tickets can be purchased by calling DiBella Entertainment at (212) 947-2577. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. ET, with the first bout scheduled for 6:45 p.m. ET.

SHOWTIME Sports® Award-Winning Series Returns With “ALL ACCESS: Chavez”; One-Episode Special Premieres This Friday, April 10 on SHOWTIME®

Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. & His Legendary Father In Training Camp, Preparing For His SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Debut on Saturday, April 18, live on SHOWTIME

 

VIDEO PREVIEW LINK: http://s.sho.com/1c5cLDQ

 

“I had a hard life so yes, I am angry with him.” – Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.

 

“I had all Mexico and the world at my feet at that time. But it still didn’t fill the void…So what was it that I looked for? The easiest and stupidest things…drugs and alcohol.” – Julio Cesar Chavez, Sr.

 

NEW YORK (April 7, 2015) –The Sports Emmy® Award-winning series ALL ACCESS returns to examine the life of Mexican superstar Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., as he prepares to make his SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® debut against dangerous brawler Andrzej Fonfara on Saturday, April 18, live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT) from the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

 

ALL ACCESS: Chavez premieres Friday, April 10, immediately following the live ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

 

ALL ACCESS: Chavez is written and reported by SHOWTIME Sports contributor Mark Kriegel. Author of acclaimed biographies “The Good Son: The Life of Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini” and “Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich,” Kriegel has long focused on the conflicts and complexities that beset fathers and sons in sports.

 

With unprecedented access to the young star–Mexico’s first and only middleweight world champion–and his famous father, ALL ACCESSuncovers the stormy yet loving relationship between Junior and his legendary father.

 

No question remains unanswered in a series of interviews at Junior’s high-altitude camp in Lake Tahoe, where his father once trained. What was it like to grow up as the son of Mexico’s greatest fighter? What price does a fighter pay for drugs and alcohol? And what does it do to his family?

 

Only the ending remains in doubt: Is Junior being punished for the sins of his father, or is he doomed to repeat them?

 

“Fame can be a disease, like addiction,” says Kriegel. “And this family has battled both. Junior and Senior weren’t merely candid. They were confessional. And, I think, courageous, too.”

 

With ALL ACCESS cameras entrenched in camp, viewers will meet three generations of Mexico’s most famous fighting family as the 29-year-old Junior navigates a crossroads of his career.

 

ALL ACCESS: CHAVEZ premieres on SHOWTIME with multiple encore presentations. ALL ACCESS will be available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, SHOWTIME ANYTIME® and online atSHO.com/Sports.

 

# # #

 

“Chavez Jr. vs. Fonfara”, is a 12-round bout to takes place at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., and will air live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT). The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will also be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).

 

Tickets for the event, which is co-promoted by Goossen Promotions and Chavez Promotions, are priced at $200, $150, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and service charges, go on sale today at 12 p.m. PT and are available for purchase online at AXS.com.

UNBEATEN BROOKLYNITES FRANK GALARZA, IEVGEN KHYTROV AND SERGIY DEREVYANCHENKO FEATURED ON SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION TRIPLEHEADER AT AVIATOR SPORTS AND EVENTS CENTER IN BROOKLYN, N.Y.

 

 

Friday, April 10 At 10 p.m. ET/PT; Live on SHOWTIME®

                                                                                                           

NEW YORK (April 2, 2015) – Brooklyn-native, unbeaten Frank “Notorious” Galarza (16-0-2, 10 KOs) returns to the ring to battle Belgium’s Sheldon “The Closer” Moore (13-2-1, 9 KOs) in an eight-round super welterweight bout headlining ShoBox: The New Generation  tripleheader on Friday, April 10 from the Aviator Sports and Events Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

 

Galarza, regarded by many as “The Brooklyn Rocky,” continues to make up for lost time. His shocking second-round knockout victory over the favored John Thompson on his ShoBox: The New Generationdebut, was one of the most memorable knockouts of the year.  Galarza has been on a tear since.

 

“Galarza was a fortuitous find by ShoBox,’’ acknowledged boxing historian and ShoBox expert analyst Steve Farhood. “Since he upset Thompson, he’s won four more times, and looked better each time. The level of his opposition doesn’t allow him to be called a contender yet, but he’s made major strides. I would think at age 29 he would try to make this a breakthrough year for him.”

 

The Galarza-Moore bout is one of three scheduled eight-rounders on a telecast that has a distinct Brooklyn flavor to it. Undefeated power-punching middleweight Ievgen “The Ukrainian Lion” Khytrov (9-0, 9 KOs) and stablemate, blue-chip super middleweight prospect Sergiy “The Technician” Derevyanchenko (4-0, 3 KOs/World Series of Boxing: 23-1, 7 KOs) also reside in Brooklyn.

Khytrov takes on fellow unbeaten Aaron “Heavy Metal” Coley (9-0-1, 6 KOs), of Hayward, Calif., while the world-ranked Derevyanchenko will box once-beaten Alan “Amenaza/Threat” Campa (13-1, 1 NC, 9 KOs), of Sonora, Mexico.

Tickets for the event, promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Fight Promotions Inc. and New Legend Boxing  are on sale and priced at $100, $70 and $35. Tickets can be purchased by calling DiBella Entertainment at (212) 947-2577. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. ET, with the first bout scheduled for 6:45 p.m. ET.

 

For Galarza, who’s creeping up in the world rankings, the recent surge couldn’t come at a better time. A physically strong, aggressive boxer-puncher, Galarza got a late start in boxing and had only 11 amateur fights.

 

“The time for me is definitely now,’’ he said. “My first ShoBox fight set the platform for me. I didn’t just win a fight that absolutely nobody thought I could, I won it in grand style. I made a statement. I’ve continued to grow and feel I’ve gotten better since that fight. But I’m here to show people what I’m all about, continue to train very hard and just take it little by little, one fight at a time.

 

“It’s exciting to fight in the televised main event in my backyard. I’ve never been more motivated for a match. I want to thank SHOWTIME for giving me another opportunity to fight on ShoBox.’’

 

Style-wise, Galarza believes this is a great matchup for him. “Moore looks physically big and strong, tough and hungry and comes to fight,’’ he said. “He’s aggressive and that’s the best part about it – it should make for a great fight. I can be aggressive, too. I know he’s coming to fight and everybody knows I’m not moving backwards, so I expect fireworks.

 

“I come to fight every time, especially on SHOWTIME, on ShoBox where they give you opponents of good caliber who are expected to put on a show and expected to make a good fight.

 

“It’s in Brooklyn, my hometown, and I want to entertain the people. This is my show, my homecoming, and I will defend my home turf. I have a job to do on April 10, but after that, the big names of the division are going to be forced to deal with me. I’m 29 and laying it all on the line.’’

 

In his most recent ShoBox appearance, Galarza won a unanimous eight-round decision over previously unbeaten Sebastien Bouchard (8-0 going in) on May 16, 2014, by the scores of 78-73 and 77-74 twice despite having a point deducted for a low blow in the final round.

 

Galarza’s opponent, 27-years-old Moore, is making his ShoBox debut and fourth start in the United States where he is 1-1-1. He last appeared in the U.S. in June 2012.

“This is a huge opportunity for me and my career, hands down this is the biggest fight of my life,” Moore said. “It is a must-win fight for me. I have seen a few of Galarza’s fights and I am fully confident that I have what it takes to upset him in his backyard. This is a dream come true for me, fighting on national television, and I plan on showing the boxing world that I belong at the elite level of this division.

“My style is definitely aggressive. I like to walk down my opponent. Galarza has good movement and good reach. But this fight will be the first fight where I don’t have to work on the side during the preparation. I’m 100 percent dedicated to the sport and set to go on April 10.”

 

The 5-foot-10 Moore has won his last two fights, the most recent on a first-round knockout over Janos Varga last Dec. 20 in Belgium. Just like Galarza, he got a late start in boxing and had a limited amateur career (27 bouts). He did kickboxing when he was 15, but didn’t have his first amateur fight until the age of 19.

 

Khytrov (pronounced HE-trov) was a phenomenal amateur with reportedly 500 amateur bouts. He was the 2011 amateur world champion and a representative for Ukraine in the 2012 Olympic Games.

 

This will be his second appearance on ShoBox. In his debut on Jan. 9, he destroyed the previously undefeated Maurice Louishomme, winning by third-round TKO. He lit up Louishomme with right hands and uppercuts to the body, staggering him on multiple occasions in a one-sided affair that was stopped at 0:24 in the third round.

 

Aggressive, offensive-minded Khytrov has fought a total of 27 rounds in nine starts, an average of three rounds a fight – and that includes his career-best eighth-round TKO over always-tough Puerto Rican Jorge Melendez on March 6.

 

“Ievgen [pronounced YEV-gin, with a hard G] is as fan-friendly a fighter as you’ll find, never takes a backwards step, looks to hurt his opponent with every punch,’’ Farhood said.  “After nine fights, he shows all the signs that he’ll be a title contender in a year-to-18 months. His most recent, a stoppage over Jorge Melendez, was a bold move to take on a dangerous and experienced opponent and he took him out, broke him down. What does that tell me?”

 

One of the top prospects in boxing, the 5-foot-11, 26-year-old Khytrov has been moved at a much faster pace than most other prospects at this stage of their careers. He made his professional debut at age 25 in December 2013 and fought six times in 2014. This is his third fight of 2015. All of his fights have been in the United States.

Khytrov, who relocated to Brooklyn shortly after the 2012 Olympics, is eager for April 10 to arrive. “I am very excited to be returning to the ring on April 10, especially being that the fight is in my adopted home of Brooklyn,’’ he said. “I want to thank my promoters DiBella Entertainment and Fight Promotions Inc. and my manager Al Haymon for this opportunity to once again showcase my skills on ShoBox.

“I expect a tough fight out of Coley, who, like myself, has never been defeated as a professional. We knew that 2015 was going to be a big year for myself and my career, and I promise yet another spectacular performance on April 10 as we continue to move up the ranks of my division.”

Khytrov compares his style to one of boxing’s all-time greats. “I’ve got a Roberto Duran style. I’m an all-out brawler,’’ he said. “I attack the body. I love the TV spotlight.’’

 

Coley is a left-hander and two-year pro who’s taking an immense step up in this fight, his ShoBox and eight-round debut. A prospect at 160 pounds – he moved up from the junior middleweight division in his last fight – he iscoming off the sixth knockout of his career, a fifth-round KO over Loren Myers on Oct. 11, 2014.

 

“I’m very excited about showcasing my skills on a platform like SHOWTIME,’’ said the always well-conditioned Coley, who has never been knocked down as a pro or amateur. “I’ve seen Khytrov fight. From what it looks like, he is a decent fighter. I really don’t think there’s anything special about him. He’s pretty straightforward, an Eastern European dude who just comes in and uses little angles. He’s a hard puncher with good power, but I don’t know the guys he’s been fighting.

 

“Plus, you can’t hurt what you can’t hit.”

 

An agile boxer who now works out of Virgil Hunter’s gym in northern California, Coley is making his second start for new trainer Eddie Croft.He had been living and training in Las Vegas. He went 8-0 at the outset of a pro career that began in April 2012.

 

Regarding his nickname, Coley said, “My dad owns a scrap metal business.”

 

Derevyanchenko (pronounced der-i-van-CHENK-oh), who is making hisShoBox debut, has the look of a “can’t-miss” contender. One step further, many expect his ascent in the world rankings to be nothing less than meteoric. He’s currently ranked No. 12 in the IBF, No. 25 in the WBC.

 

“I’m very excited about my first fight on American television,’’ he said. “This will be my first time appearing on ShoBox and I’m absolutely thrilled. This is my coming out party. I’m preparing day and night, and I’m ready to showcase my skills to the world. I’m ready to show them ‘The Technician.’

 

“My style is very technical, but once I figure my opponent out, I attack viciously. With hard work and a great team behind me, I will become a world champion in my division. There is no doubt in my mind.”

 

An exceptional amateur, the 5-foot-7 Derevyanchenko compiled an astonishing record of 390-20 while representing his native Ukraine at the 2008 Olympic Games. One year before, he won the bronze medal at the 2007 Amateur World Championships.

 

This will be Derevyanchenko’s fifth start in a row outside the World Series Of Boxing where he went 23-1. He was the 2012 WSB Team Champion and 2011 and 2012 WSB Individual Champion. He fought in the WSB from November 2010 to April 2014.

 

Derevyanchenko won his first fight outside the WSB on a second-round TKO over Cromwell Gordon on July 23, 2014. In his last start this pastFeb. 20, he scored a one-sided second-round TKO over Vladine Biosse.

 

As for his opponent, Derevyanchenko said, “Campa is a good fighter – tall, strong. He looks durable, a solid opponent.’’

 

Campa is making his ShoBox debut on April 10 and it will be his first fight outside of Mexico. He has won four in a row, three by knockout. He knocked out Christian Chavez in the second round in his last outing lastDec. 6.

The 6-foot-1, 23-year-old is taking a gigantic leap in class and the odds are against him, but none of that matters to him once the opening bell sounds.

“I am very excited to finally make my dream a reality and fight in the United States,’’ he said. “This is just the opportunity that I have trained and fought for the last five years. I am versatile; I can fight aggressively or box and move.

“Many promising young prospects got their start on ShoBox and went on to win world titles. On April 10, Alan Campa will start paving the road to join the list of ShoBox world champions.

“I have trained very hard. I know I can win this fight.”

Campa also had a strong amateur background (182-6). Before turning pro in September 2010, he was a five-time Sonoran state champion, a five-time regional champion, and a four-time national champion. He was also the gold medalist at the 2010 Pan American Youth Championships at 165 pounds.

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughanproducing and Rick Phillips directing.

 

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 59 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Omar Figueroa, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.

DOUGLAS, BARROSO, ODOM & LOPEZ SCORE KNOCKOUTS IN SHOBOX QUADRUPLEHEADER FROM WESTBURY, N.Y.

NIGHT OF KNOCKOUTS

 

Watch The Replay On SHOWTIME EXTEME® Monday, March 16 At 10 p.m. ET/PT

 

Click HERE To Download Photos

Credit Rosie Cohe/SHOWTIME®

 

WESTBURY, N.Y. (March. 14, 2015) – Talented unbeaten middleweight Antoine Douglas made an impressive 2015 debut thoroughly outboxing previously unbeaten Thomas LaManna before finishing him by TKO at 2:44 of the sixth-round in the main event of a night of knockouts on ShoBox: The New Generation Friday from The Space at Westbury in Westbury, N.Y.

 

Douglas (17-0-1, 10 KOs), of Washington, D.C., controlled the bout from the opening bell and was the more active and accurate fighter, throwing 127 total punches to LaManna’s 73. LaManna (16-1, 7 KOs), of Millville, N.J., was tough and tried to counter, but wasn’t experienced enough to land anything meaningful against the skilled Washingtonian. Douglas employed a diverse and ferocious attack of uppercuts, hooks and jabs knocking LaManna down twice before scoring the knockout in an exciting win.

 

“I put the work in at the gym and that made it easy. It took me longer than I thought it would, but I got the job done,” said Douglas. “I thought I hurt him early in the fight now and then. I just wanted to keep the ball rolling from here.”

 

“He’s a good fighter, fast and strong. He’s everything I thought he would be. It was a learning experience for me,” said LaManna. “He caught me with a good shot. The first knockdown wasn‘t a knockdown. The last one, I was off balance, but he caught me with a good shot. He was the better man tonight.”

 

“The last time Douglas fought on ShoBox, it was a very unsatisfying fight because he was held to a draw and he faded late. This time, he took control the first 30 seconds of the first round, won every round, and then, just as you thought that the only thing that he needed to do was put an exclamation point on the performance, that’s what he did by scoring three knockdowns in the sixth,” said Boxing Historian and SHOWTIME Analyst Steve Farhood. “Douglas took down a fighter that had never been down before. This was a very impressive performance that reestablished him as a top 160-pound American prospect.”

 

In the co-feature of a thrilling quadrupleheader, unbeaten southpaw Ismael “El Tigre” Barroso (17-0-2, 16 KOs), of El Tigre, Venezuela, scored his 13th consecutive victory earning the NABO Lightweight Title with a TKO over determined Issouf “Volcano” Kinda (17-3, 7 KOs), of Bronx, N.Y. The stoppage happened just three seconds deep in the sixth after Kinda appeared to have problems with his vision.

 

Barroso dominated from the early rounds despite a nasty cut above his right eye in the third and another below his left eye in the fourth, both from accidental heabutts from Kinda.

 

“I fight better when I’m worried. I had to get worried I would lose so I knew I had to fight my best,” said Barroso. “The cuts bothered me a little but I had a job to do. I thank God everything went well once I started to fight the way I fight.”

 

Kinda was rushed to the hospital with a possible orbital fracture. This is the second time he has experienced vision problems in his last three fights.

 

Skilled Jerry “The King’s Son” Odom (13-1, 1 NC, 12 KOs), of Washington D.C., avenged his lone loss with a first-round TKO against formerly unbeaten Andrew “Hurricane” Hernandez (8-1-1, 1 ND, 1 KO) of Phoenix, Ariz., in a super middleweight rematch.

 

Odom delivered his 12th knockout in 13 fights at 2:47 of the first by throwing solid jabs and strong connecting power shots. Hernandez attempted to counterpunch, but he was quickly finished by the talented Odom.

 

“I told you he couldn’t beat me. He caught me at a bad moment in the first fight,” said Odom. “I did it like my idol Roy Jones did it. After I hit him, I saw him smile, so I knew I hurt him. I did to him this time what I was on the way to doing in the first fight.”

 

Although it was clear that Hernandez was hurt, he challenged the referee call.

 

“I don’t know how the referee sleeps at night. He made a huge mistake,” said Hernández. “I was dominating. As soon as he landed a punch, they stopped the fight. I want a third fight. The world saw and will demand a rubber match.”

 

In the opening bout of the telecast, San Antonio’s Adam “Mantequilla” Lopez (10-0, 5 KOs) kept his record unblemished by delivering a second-round TKO at 1:42 with a strong left hook over fellow countryman Pablo “El Zankudo Letal” Cruz (11-1, 3 KOs) in a battle of Lone Star State super bantamweights.

“I hurt my left hand in the first round, but I knocked him out with the same punch a round later. I’m looking forward to fighting on SHOWTIME again,” said Lopez.

 

# # #

 

The event was promoted by GH3 Promotions and Greg Cohen Promotions in association withDavid Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions and sponsored by Foxwoods Resort Casino & Westbury Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Ram Dealership & Maxim Group.

Meet Tonight’s ShoBox Fighters

Quadrupleheader Tonight LIVE on SHOWTIME® At 10 p.m. ET/PT
From The Space at Westbury in Westbury, N.Y.
Westbury, NY (March 13, 2015)–Below are video interviews with the fighters that will compete in tonight’s ShoBox: The New Generation card that will feature four big fights beginning at 10 PM ET/PT.  (Note–Andrew Hernandez was unavailable for interview).
In the 10-round main event, undefeated middleweight’s Antoine Douglas (16-0-1, 10 KO’s) battles Thomas LaManna (16-0, 7 KO’s); The NABA & NABO Lightweight titles will be on the line when Isamel Barroso (16-0-2, 15 KO’s) takes on Issouf Kinda (17-2, 7 KO’s) in a bout scheduled for ten rounds.
 In eight-round bouts, super middleweight Jerry Odom (12-1, 11 KO’s) looks to avenge his only defeat when he battles Andrew Hernandez (8-0-1, 1 KO) and rounding out the card will be undefeated super bantamweights Adam Lopez (9-0, 4 KO’s) taking on Pablo Cruz (11-0, 3 KO’s)
Antoine Douglas 031215
Antoine Douglas 031215
Thomas LaManna 031215
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Ismael Barroso 031215
Ismael Barroso 031215
Issouf Kinda 031215
Issouf Kinda 031215
Jerry Odom 031215
Jerry Odom 031215
Adam Lopez 031215
Adam Lopez 031215
Pablo Cruz 031215
Pablo Cruz 031215
Advance tickets for the event promoted by GH3 Promotions and Greg Cohen Promotions in association with David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions, are priced at $150, $125, and $60 for general admission. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, thespacewestbury.com, The Space at Westbury Box Office at 516.283.5566 or by calling the GCP Office at 212.851.6425.

The event is sponsored by Foxwoods Resort Casino & Westbury Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Ram Dealership & Maxim Group.

GH3 Promotions features undefeated Middleweight Antoine Douglas, Super Middleweight’s Jerry Odom & Derrick Webster, undefeated Super Bantamweight Adam Lopez as well as Jr. Middleweight John Thompson, Featherweight Jorge Diaz, undefeated Super Bantamweight Qa’id Muhammad, Light Heavyweight Lavarn Harvell and undefeated Welterweight Jerrell Harris.

SIX BOXERS RISK UNBLEMISHED RECORDS  ON SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION QUADRUPLEHEADER

 Unbeatens Antoine Douglas & Thomas LaManna Meet in The Main Event

Live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT

                                                                                                           

NEW YORK (Feb. 25, 2015) – Six unbeaten boxers, eight total with a combined record of 105-3-3, will highlight a ShoBox: The New Generation quadrupleheader live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) on Friday, March 13, from The Space at Westbury in Westbury, N.Y.

 

Two of the fights will feature undefeated boxers against each other. In the main event, Antoine “Action”Douglas (16-0-1, 10 KOs) of Washington, D.C., will meet Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna (16-0, 7 KOs) of Millville, N.J., in a 10-round middleweight scrap.  Adam Lopez (9-0, 4 KOs), of San Antonio, and Houston’s Pablo Cruz (11-0, 3 KOs) clash in an eight-round battle of Lone Star State super bantamweights in the opener of the telecast.

 

In the co-feature, unbeaten southpaw Ismael Barroso (16-0-2, 15 KOs), of El Tigre, Venezuela, will shoot for his 13th consecutive victory when he faces Issouf “Volcano” Kinda (17-2, 7 KOs), of Bronx, N.Y., in a 10-round scrap for the NABO Lightweight Title. In the eight-round feature bout, once-beatenJerry “The King’s Son” Odom (12-1, 1 NC, 11 KOs), of Washington D.C., will try and avenge his lone loss when he takes on undefeated Andrew “Hurricane” Hernandez (8-0-1, 1 ND, 1 KO) of Phoenix, Ariz., in a super middleweight rematch.

 

Which of the undefeated boxers will keep their unblemished records intact on Friday The 13th? SinceShoBox premiered in July 2001, 125 fighters – and counting – suffered their initial defeats on the popular series, where promising prizefighters often face their toughest foes to date.

 

Douglas, 22, is unbeaten (1-0-1) in two ShoBox appearances.  He has won two in a row, including a lopsided six-round decision over Don Mouton in his most recent start last Nov. 13 2014,  and a 10-round majority draw with former world title challenger Michel Soro (23-1-1 going in) last July on ShoBox.

 

“Douglas grew up a little bit in his last fight on ShoBox, dominating Soro early and then fading late in a fight that could have gone either way,’’ said ShoBox Expert Analyst and Boxing Historian Steve Farhood. “It’s the kind of fight a young prospect needs to learn about himself and I’m anxious to see if that experience proves to play a big part in his maturity as a fighter.  He’s a very exciting, aggressive middleweight and for a very young fighter seems to be moving very quickly.’’

 

A solid amateur who made it to the 2011 U.S. Olympic Trials before going pro in Oct. 2012, Douglas fought twice that year, nine times in 2013 and six times in 2014.

 

Douglas looked strong while pitching a shutout in his 12th pro start, winning his ShoBox debut and knocking out one of his opponent’s teeth in an entertaining but one-sided eight-round decision over previously unbeaten Marquis Davis (8-0-2 going in) in January  2014.

 

Douglas, who acknowledges the notoriety he’s received since appearing on ShoBox, is now taking his third scheduled 10-round fight.

 

“This is going to be a big fight, a very big fight,’’ he said. “I am the main event.  It is another step up the ladder and I get to take that step on a big network like SHOWTIME.

 

“I know LaManna from the amateurs so this fight came as a bit of a surprise to me.  But this is the sport of boxing.  I know he’s coming to win and stay undefeated, just like I am.  I think 160 is my best weight and is one I should stay comfortable at.  No more catch-weights hopefully.

 

ShoBox has shown me love and has been very beneficial to me and my career.  I’m definitely getting noticed more. I know I need to get a win on March 13 to continue to climb the rankings.”

 

LaManna, 23, is a determined young fighter with a sometimes unpredictable style.  A pro since February 2011, he has been a fixture on Atlantic City boxing cards, having fought there eight times.  LaManna, who is two-and-a half inches taller than Douglas, is looking forward to the opportunity and is confident he can spring an upset in his 10-round ShoBox debut.

 

“I’ve been waiting for a fight like this,’’ said LaManna, who is coming off a unanimous six-round decision over Gilbert Sanchez last Dec. 13.  “Without a doubt they made a mistake by picking me.  I am so excited for this fight and I am going to make the best of it.  I know I am going to come in there 100 percent prepared and do what I have to do to get the victory.

 

“I know Antoine from the amateurs although we never sparred or boxed.  I know he is a good fighter and this will be a good fight. This is what boxing needs, two undefeated fighters facing each other and what better place than on ShoBox.’’

 

Barroso, 32, is a power-punching nine-year pro who’s making his ShoBox, U.S. and 2015 debut. The well-traveled Barroso turned pro in August 2005, had two draws in his first six fights, but has won 12 straight since, 11 by way of knockout.  In his most recent outing last Dec. 5, the devastating Barroso destroyed Maximiliano Galindo, scoring four knockdowns — one in the first and second and two in the third — en route to a third-round knockout.

 

Kinda, 27, who was born in Ouagadougou (pronounced wa-ga-DOO-goo), Burkina Faso, is making his 14th start in New York. Kinda turned pro in January 2009 and won his initial 16 fights, including the New York state 140-pound title. He is coming off a second-round TKO over Kevin Carter last Jan. 17 in Tennessee.

 

“My style is moving, punching and attacking people,” said Kinda, an accomplished amateur who was the 2007 African Championships silver medalist at 132 pounds. “I want do my best to be known as a good fighter in the U.S., and around the world.  This is my first shot to prove myself on a big stage and I’m not going to let it slip away.

 

“His power doesn’t scare me.  I’ll be ready.”

 

The Odom-Hernandez bout has “grudge” written all over it.  “There’s obviously some intrigue in the rematch because of the way the first fight ended,’’ Farhood said. “Odom proved in his one ShoBoxappearance to be a very exciting, big punching prospect and I can’t wait to see him again.’’

 

Odom, 21, a top amateur and 2012 National Golden Gloves Champion at 178 pounds, had a 12-fight win streak end on Jan. 9, 2015, when he was disqualified in the fourth round for continuing to punch and land shots after he’d dropped Hernandez with a flurry of punches. The crowd booed, but Hernandez was clearly down.

 

“This time it will be a totally different fight,’’ Odom insisted. “I will leave no doubt.  I was on my way to winning easily and he was out to try and give me my first loss anyway he could.  So he just quit.  I’m looking forward to March 13 to avenge that loss and get the win that I should have the last time we fought.”

 

In his ShoBox debut, Odom overcame the first cut of his career to register two knockdowns—in the fourth and seventh rounds—en route to knocking out previously undefeated Vilier Quinonez (8-0 going in) in the seventh round on July 25, 2014.

 

Hernandez, 29, scoffs at the notion that he quit and concedes that while Odom is talented, it was his opponent who was the one looking for a way out.

 

“I find it hilarious that he says I quit,’’ Hernandez said. “I honestly think the reason why he got disqualified is because he was looking for a way out.  All his talk has me absolutely looking forward to this fight.  I don’t want just a victory, I want a knockout and I’m going to get it.  He can say what he wants, but I guarantee you. I’m going to stop him.

 

“Odom’s really talented and very strong, no doubt about it, but that may go against him and I’m going to make him pay.  He throws very wide punches and is not a very good boxer.  He’s obviously talented and has a lot of knockouts but if you have boxing skills and can take a punch, you can pretty much take him apart.

 

“I felt I was landing what I wanted in the first fight and feel I would have stopped him.  I thought I was doing fine the first three rounds.  And now I know what I’m up against.  He can say what he wants, but he was the one who head-butted me several times.  One finally cut me right on my ear and it cost me seven stitches.’’

 

Lopez, 24, and Cruz, 28, will be making their ShoBox and eight-round debuts and will be fighting for the first time outside of Texas.  It is unquestionably the most dangerous fight to date for both prospects.

 

A top amateur before going pro in February 2012, Lopez has scored two knockouts in a row, including a fifth-round TKO over Leonardo Torrez in his most recent scrap last Aug. 30.

 

Cruz was also an accomplished amateur.  Due to his dual citizenship –his father hails from El Salvador – Cruz competed for El Salvador in the amateurs, was a 2011 Salvador National Amateur Champion and made it to El Salvador’s Olympic Trials.  Cruz has fought three times since last September.  In his last outing he won a six-round unanimous decision over Manuel Rubalcava on Jan. 22, 2015.

 

The fighters are confident of making the next step in their career a successful one, and both anticipate a terrific battle.

 

“It’s going to be a really good fight,’’ said Lopez, an aggressive counter-puncher who’s trained by former two-time world champion Carlos “Famoso” Hernandez.  “We’re familiar with each other.  We sparred once.  I’m not going in totally blind.  I expect a competitive fight.  We are both undefeated and from Texas.’’

 

“I think it’s going to be a super fight.  Lopez is a great fighter. I have heard excellent things about him,” said Cruz. “This is going to be a huge challenge for me.  It’s going to be a great show.  I am going to work and do my thing.  I’m ready and excited to walk out of that ring undefeated.’’

 

Advance tickets for the event promoted by GH3 Promotions and Greg Cohen Promotions in association with David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions, are priced at $150, $125, and $60 for general admission. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations,thespacewestbury.com, The Space at Westbury Box Office at 516.283.5566 or by calling the GCP Office at 212.851.6425.

 

The event is sponsored by Foxwoods Resort Casino & Westbury Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Ram Dealership & Maxim Group.

 

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall withRichard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

 

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 58 fighters who have appeared onShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Omar Figueroa, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.

Antoine Douglas to take on Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna in Sho Box headliner on Friday, March 13 at the Space at Westbury in Westbury, New York

4 big fights highlight broadcast as Ismael Barroso battles Issouf Kinda, Jerry Odom rematches Andrew Hernandez while Adam Lopez takes on Pablo Cruz.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nutley, NJ( February 24, 2015)On Friday night, March 13, at the Space at Westbury in Westbury, New York, three undefeated fighters in the GH3 Promotional stable will all be in action as part of a nationally televised quadruple header on ShoBox: The New Generation.

The show is co-promoted with Greg Cohen Promotions

In the main event, Antoine “Action” Douglas will see action in a 10-round Middleweight bout against fellow undefeated Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna.

Appearing in the co-main event will be undefeated Lightweight Ismael Barroso (16-0-2, 15 KO’s) of Venezuela in a 10-round bout against Issouf Kinda.

Barroso is promoted by Greg Cohen Promotions.

In an 8-round bout, Jerry “The Kings Son” Odom will look to avenge the only blemish on his ledger when he takes on Andrew Hernandez in a Super Middleweight bout.
In an 8-round bout, Adam Lopez will make his GH3 Promotions debut in a Super Bantamweight bout against fellow unbeaten Pablo Cruz.
Douglas of Burke, Virginia has a record of 16-0-1 with 10 knockouts is looking for a big year in 2015 where he wants to transform from hot prospect to top contender.  The 22 year-old has wins over Colby Courter (4-0), Marquis Davis (8-0-2) and in his last bout he scored a six-round unanimous decision over Don Mouton on November 13 in Washington, DC.
In his lone ShoBox appearance, Douglas battled former world title challenger Michele Soro to a draw on July 25.

LaManna of Millville, New Jersey has a record of 16-0 with 7 knockouts and has built a large fan base in the New Jersey area.

He turned pro in 2011 and has solid wins over Joshua Robertson, Ashandi Gibbs and Jamaal Davis.  In his last bout, LaManna scored a 6-round unanimous decision over Gilbert Alex Sanchez on December 13, 2014 in Philadelphia.

Barroso of Venezuela has a record of 16-0-2 with 15 knockouts and has won the WBA Fedebol Lightweight title and the WBA Interim Fedlatin title.

He has wins over Alfonso Perez (4-1), Addir Sanchez (7-1), Oscar Arenas (22-3) and Winston Campos (17-2-4).  In his last bout, Barroso scored a 3rd rouns stoppage over Maximillano Galindo on December 5, 2014 in Concordia, Mexico.
Kinda of the Bronx, New York has a record of 17-2 with 7 knockouts.
The 27 year-old turned professional in 2009 and is a former New York State Lightweight champion.
He has wins over former world title challenger Mike Arnaoutis and Javier Loya (7-1).
In his last bout, Kinda won via 2nd round round stoppage over Kevin Carter onJanuary 17 in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Odom (12-1, 11 KO’s) of Bowie, Maryland and Hernandez battled to a controversial finish on January 9 at the Madison Square Garden Theater.
Odom was well on his way to stopping Hernandez when it was ruled that Odom hit Hernandez while he was down after being dropped.  On March 13, Odom will look to even and settle the score with Hernandez.

Odom had an impressive 7th round stoppage over previously undefeated Villier Quinonez (8-0) on July 25 in his ShoBox appearance.

Hernandez of Phoenix, Arizona has a record of 8-0-1 with 1 knockout.
Besides the win over Odom, Hernandez has a win over previously undefeated Dustin Sultey.
Lopez (9-0, 4 KO’s) of San Antonio, Texas is coming off a 5th round stoppage over Leonardo Torres on August 30.
Cruz of Houston, Texas has a record of 11-0 with three knockouts.
The 28 year-old turned pro in 2012 and is coming off a 6-round unanimous decision over Manuel Rubalcava on January 22 in Houston.
The combined record of the 8 fighters are 105-3-4 with 58 knockouts.
On the off-television portion, undefeated Welterweight Jerrell Harris (4-0, 4 KO’s) will make his GH3 Promotions debut against an opponent to be named in a bout scheduled for four rounds.
Tickets for this great evening are $150 for Golden Ringside, $100 for Ringside & $50 for General Admission and can be purchased at ticketmaster, ticketmaster.com,thespacewestbury.com, The Space Box office at 516-283-5566 or Greg Cohen Promotions at 212-851-6425
The Space at Westbury is located at 250 Post Avenue.  Doors open at 6 PM with the first bout at 7 PM.

GH3 Promotions features undefeated Middleweight Antoine Douglas, Super Middleweight’s Jerry Odom & Derrick Webster, undefeated Super Bantamweight Adam Lopez as well as Jr. Middleweight John Thompson, Featherweight Jorge Diaz, undefeated Super Bantamweight Qa’id Muhammad, Light Heavyweight Lavarn Harvell and undefeated Welterweight Jerrell Harris.

SAMMY VASQUEZ DOMINATES EMMANUEL LARTEY FRIDAY ON SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION

 

Catch The Replay On Monday, Feb. 23 At 10 p.m. ET/PT

On SHOWTIME EXTREME®

 

Click HERE To Download Photos

Credit Amanda Kwok / SHOWTIME®

 

PITTSBURGH, PA. (Feb. 21, 2015) – Sammy Vasquez put on a show for his hometown fans in Pittsburgh, winning a near-shutout 10-round unanimous decision (99-91 twice, 100-90) over Emmanuel Lartey in the main event of ShoBox: The New Generation on Friday, Feb. 20 from CONSUL Energy Center.

 

Vasquez (18-0, 13 KOs) entered the bout seeking his 10th consecutive knockout against an opponent who hadn’t been knocked down before and had been in the ring with two U.S. Olympians.  The military veteran wasn’t able to finish Lartey (17-3, 8 KOs, 1 NC), but that was just about the only thing that didn’t go his way in a thoroughly impressive performance in which he landed 50 percent of his power shots.

 

Vasquez started slow and was able to pick his shots in the early rounds, but he accelerated the tempo in the second half of the fight as Lartey appeared to slow down.  The hometown favorite did his best work with Lartey against the ropes and landed at will in the middle rounds.  Lartey seemed like he was ready to quit on his stool after the eighth, but he continued and Vasquez slowed his production in the final two rounds and cruised to the victory.

 

“I thought he was going down a few times but he hung in there,” Vasquez said.  “The jab was going well, but I made a couple of mistakes because I started feeling comfortable.  I knew he was hurt after the eighth and my corner told me to step off the gas a little bit and pick my punches more instead of just storming him.

 

“I thought he was going to quit a couple times on his stool.  He’s a tough guy – no one could knock him out. I couldn’t either.”

 

Lartey dropped his third fight to a top prospect after decision losses to Errol Spence Jr.and Felix Diaz.

 

“Sammy is a tough fighter,” Lartey said.  “He’s really strong. I did my best, but he was just too good.”

 

After the fight, ShoBox announcer Steve Farhood broke down Vasquez’s impressive game plan.

 

“It was a very controlled and intelligent performance by Vasquez, accelerating as the rounds progressed, dominating every round and controlling the action whether boxing, attacking or pinning Lartey against the ropes,” Farhood said.  “He showed a lot and he deserves the reputation he has as being one of the top young American welterweights.”

 

Craig Baker knocked out Humberto Savigne in a stunning upset, finishing the heralded former Cuban amateur with a highlight-reel TKO at 1:58 of the second round.

 

Savigne (12-2, 9 KOs, 1 NC), who had a huge size advantage and was the heavily favored fighter, landed a series of right hands in the first and looked like he could make it a quick night against the undefeated-yet-untested Baker.  But the Texan fought like an opponent who had nothing to lose against Savigne, an experienced veteran with over 400 amateur bouts under his belt.

 

Baker (16-0, 12 KOs) landed a few decent shots in the first and came out blazing in the second, throwing a high volume of punches with Savigne against the ropes.  Fighting in a small ring, Savigne had nowhere to go and continually ate shots on a suspect chin before falling face forward to the canvas.  Savigne got up, but he fell into the ropes and was clearly out on his feet, forcing the referee to halt the contest at 1:58.

 

“I hurt him in the first round and I could tell that his chin was weak, I could tell that I could finish him,” Baker said.  “In the second, I just smelled blood and I knew I had to go to work, I had to finish him.

 

“Nobody gave me a chance going in, but I was the undefeated fighter and he wasn’t.  I worked too hard to come here and lose.  I just have to keep working.  You haven’t seen the last of me – this is a life changing moment.”

 

The 36-year-old Savigne was clearly shocked after the fight.

 

“He was the better man tonight,” Savigne said.  “I wasn’t expecting him to be as tough as he was.  I made a huge mistake in taking him lightly. This is something that I’ll learn from.  Now I’ll go back to the drawing board.  I’ll go back to the gym – I’ll keep working hard and I’ll be back.

 

“In the first round, Baker hit me on the side of the ear and I lost equilibrium. I was completely dizzy. He hurt me with that shot.  He was the better man tonight.”

 

Claudio Marrero won a dominating unanimous decision victory over Orlando Rizo in the opening bout of the telecast.  Marrero (18-1, 13 KOs) controlled the bout from the outset, knocking Rizo (18-6, 11 KOs) down four times en route to a convincing victory scored 78-71, 78-70, 80-68.

 

Marrero was the more aggressive and effective fighter, landing 43 percent of power punches and 39 percent of his total punches.

 

“I was trying to set up the big shots so I could end the night,” Marrero said.  “It got away from me at times, but it was a good preparation for taking that step for a shot at a world title.

 

“I’m not disappointed I didn’t knock him out.  I underestimated his tenacity to get back up and stay in the fight and I need to work on my discipline so that doesn’t happen again.  I feel that I’m ready for a shot at a title whenever I get an opportunity.”

 

# # #

 

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 58 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Omar Figueroa, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.

 

SAMMY VASQUEZ vs. EMMANUEL LARTEY SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION FINAL WEIGHTS, QUOTES & PHOTOS

Tripleheader TONIGHT! LIVE on SHOWTIME®

From CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.

 

Click HERE To Download Photos

Credit Amanda Kwok / SHOWTIME

 

PITTSBURGH, PA. (Feb. 19, 2015) – Pittsburgh favorite and undefeated welterweight Sammy Vasquez tipped the scales at 147 ¼ pounds and Emmanuel Lartey measured 146 ½ pounds during Thursday’s official weigh-in for tomorrow’s ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader.

 

Vasquez (17-0, 13 KOs), who has knocked out nine straight opponents, and Lartey (17-2, 8 KOs, 1 NC), of Brooklyn, N.Y. by way of Ghana, who has never been knocked down, will meet in the 10-round welterweight main event, live onSHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.

 

In the co-feature of the Goossen Promotions tripleheader, former longtime Cuban amateur star and current third-ranked WBC light heavyweightHumberto Savigne (12-1, 9 KOs, 1 NC), of Miami via Guantanamo, Cuba, will take on undefeated Craig Baker (15-0, 11 KOs), of Baytown, Texas, in a 10-round bout.  Savigne measured 176 pounds and Baker weighed-in at 174 pounds.

 

In the opening bout of the telecast, talented southpaw and WBA No. 7 ranked featherweight Claudio Marrero (17-1, 13 KOs), of Miami by way of the Dominican Republic, will face southpaw Orlando Rizo (18-5, 11 KOs) of Managua, Nicaragua, in an eight-round match.  Marrero stepped-in at 126 ¼ pounds while Rizo was at 126 pounds.

 

Advance tickets priced at $238, $100, $60, $40 and $25 for students and military with valid ID (Box Office Only), plus applicable fees, for “The Pride of Pittsburgh III” are on sale through the Dick’s Sporting Goods Box Office at CONSOL Energy Center, Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets or charge by phone at 800-745-3000. Prices increase $5 on the day of the event. Doors will open on the night of the event at 6 p.m. with the first bell at 6:30 p.m.

 

Here’s what the fighters had to say before Thursday’s weigh-in:

 

SAMMY VASQUEZ

“This fight is definitely going to be exciting.  I can’t talk trash about Emmanuel – he’s a tough guy who has faced two U.S. Olympians and never been dropped.  So there’s not much I can say about him.

 

“I’m looking to open up some flaws.  I’ve seen a couple of things I can do to maybe make him hit that canvas.

 

“I hope everybody tunes in.  We’ve trained hard and this is just the beginning.  It’s the start of 2015 and by the end of the year I hope to be a top contender or get a title shot.  But I have to get past Emmanuel first and that won’t be easy.”

 

EMMANUEL LARTEY:

“He hasn’t faced the type of guys that I’ve faced; he hasn’t faced the opposition that I have.  He’s going to be surprised when he steps in the ring with me.

 

“No, I’m not worried about fighting in his hometown.  I can win with a decision, but I’m going to be looking for the knockout to make an impression and make a statement.

 

“He’s definitely underestimating me.  Sammy has built up his record with cupcakes.

 

“This is going to be a good test for him and a good test for me.  I’m going to be the one walking out with a W.”

 

HUMBERTO SAVIGNE:

“I don’t take any opponent lightly. I know Baker is going to try to break me, but I’ve trained very hard and, in all honestly, I’m better than he is. Don’t take me wrong, I’m not overlooking him.  I’m just determined to win, and I will, either by decision or knockout.

 

“I know I’m fighting a tough guy, but I’ve trained hard and this is my year.  I’m lucky to be surrounded by such of great team.

 

“I feel that 2015 is my year. I’m ranked third in the WBC, and that’s only because I had six months of inactivity, otherwise I’d be second. After Baker, I want [Adonis] Stevenson.

 

“I suggest fans to get ready, sit back and enjoy because I’m going to give them a real show.  I’m going to make Baker see fireworks.”

 

CRAIG BAKER:

“This is the fight I’ve been waiting for.  I’m finally getting an opportunity to make a statement and surprise some people.  I know I’m the underdog, but that doesn’t bother me.  I’m undefeated for a reason.  He’s the one with a loss on his record.

 

“A win would do wonders for my career.  It would open up the door to some great opportunities.

 

“It will be an interesting fight.  I’ll play it by ear, but I’m ready to be the aggressor and I’m ready to go 10 rounds.”

 

CLAUDIO MARRERO:

“I’m not intimidated by Rizo’s amateur accomplishments.  If he says he trained hard, well, I trained ever harder than him. I think he’s the one that doesn’t know what he’s in for. Trust me – this is not going to be a day in the park. This is going to be a war.

 

“I wish Orlando Rizo good luck. He’s going to need it not to get knocked down.

 

“I’m not a trash talker. It’s simply not my style. I do all the talking I need to do with my fists in the ring.”

 

ORLANDO RIZO:

“I know this is not going to be an easy fight. I know Claudio Marrero is tough, but I’m ready for him.  I’ve been training very hard for him.  He better be ready, because I know I am.

 

“I don’t think he has ever fought anybody like me. My amateur credentials are impeccable. I’m a four-time military boxing champion, three-time Central American champion and former Nicaraguan and FECARBOX Champion. I also got a Bronze Medal in the 2007 Pan-American games in Brazil. So he better be ready for a tough fight, because I’m not going to make it easy for him.

 

“Claudio Marrero better have his A-game on, because I’m coming to take him down.”

 

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CONSOL Energy Center is located at 1001 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219. Further information can be located at their website,www.consolenergycenter.com

 

Social Media: Follow Goossen Promotions on Twitter @GoossenBoxing, Sammy Vasquez on Twitter @TeamSVasquez, Showtime Sports@SHOsports and CONSOL Energy Center @CONSOLEnergyCtr. Use hashtag #VasquezLartey to follow the discussion.

 

For more information on Goossen Promotions view their website atwww.GoossenPromotions.com. For additional information on Showtime Sports visit www.Sho.com/sports.

 

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 58 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Omar Figueroa, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.