Photo Credit: Esther Lin / Showtime

Chofoza LAPHA Thwebula Ama ifotho

SangoLwesihlanu knockout-filled ShoBox: The New Generation telecast will re-airtonight at 10 p.m. KANYE/PT (kwabambezeleka the West Coast) on SHOWTIME EXTREME.

Tune-in to watch Paul Williams pupil Justin DeLoach stop previously undefeated Dillon Cook in a KO of the Year contender (VIDEO:http://s.sho.com/22LV0i0), Ivan Golub shine in his ShoBox DEBUT, can’t-miss prospect Ivan “The Beast” Baranchyk finish Nick Givhan in just 21 seconds (VIDEO: http://s.sho.com/1TakSkM), and emerging star Regis “Rougarou” Prograis make quick work of veteran Aaron Herrera.

SangoLwesihlanu quadrupleheader is also available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND^® futhi Showtime Anytime^®.

FROM BUFFALO RUN CASINO IN MIAMI, OKLAHOMA

Ivan Baranchyk Knocks Out Nick Givhan in 21 Seconds – VIDEO: http://s.sho.com/1TakSkM

Ivan Golub Finishes Marlon Aguas in the Sixth,
Paul Williams-Trained Justin DeLoach Stops Dillon Cook in Fourth – VIDEO: http://s.sho.com/22LV0i0

Catch The Replay Monday, March 28, at 10 p.m. KANYE/PT on sho OKUKHULU^®

Chofoza LAPHA Thwebula Ama ifotho

Photo Credit: Esther Lin / Showtime^®

Miami, Okla. (March 26, 2016) – On a night of knockouts, unbeaten super lightweight Regis "Rougarou" IZINHLELO (17-0, 14 Kos), of Houston, scored his third consecutive dominant victory on ShoBox: The New Generation, knocking out Mexico’s Aaron Herrera (21-5-1, 12 Kos) at 2:17 of the emzuliswaneni wokuqala Friday kwenzeka main onISIKHATHI SOMBUKISO kusukela Buffalo Run Ikhasino ku Miami, Okla.

In scheduled eight-round bouts that all ended early, Ivan "The Beast" Baranchyk (10-0, 9 Kos), of Brooklyn, N.Y., registered a 21-second, lokuqala round Knockout phezu Nick Givhan (16-1-1, 10 Kos), of Kalamazoo, Mich., in a super lightweight scrap, Ukrainian welterweight Ivan "Le Volk" Golub (16-0, 10 Kos, 5-0 e World Series of Boxing), of Brooklyn, N.Y., scored a sixth-round TKO over UMarlon Aguas (9-1, 6 Kos), of Quito, Ecuador, futhi Justin DeLoach (14-1, 8 Kos), of Augusta, Ga., who is trained by former world champion Paul Williams, registered a fourth-round knockout over undefeated super welterweight and local favorite Dillon “White Lightning” Cook (16-1, 6 Kos).

All but Prograis and Baranchyk were making their ShoBox debuts. Cook, Aguas and Givhan became the 143rd, 144^th futhi 145^th boxers to suffer their first pro loss on the prospect developmental series.

“I can’t remember in 15 Eminyakeni of working ShoBox a show with such emphatic knockouts – and two of them being spectacular knockout of the year candidates,'' Kusho ShoBox Umhlaziyi uchwepheshe Steve Farhood.

IZINHLELO, a 5-foot-9, 27-year-old originally from New Orleans, was fighting in his second consecutive ShoBox main event and second scheduled 10-rounder. The aggressive-minded southpaw pounded Herrera’s body from the opening bell; five of his six power punches were targeted to the Mexican’s midsection. A left hook to the body downed Herrera, who crumpled to the canvas and wasn’t able to beat the count.

“I was prepared to go 10 emahlandla umnyuziki, the last thing I was expecting was a first-round knockout,’’ said Prograis, who was making his 2016 DEBUT. “I’m making hard fights look easy but they’re really not. It’s all the daily work in the gym all day every day that is paying off for me. Tonight was fun. I’m very satisfied.

“I want all the fighters in my division to know one thing: I’m coming after all of you.’’

“He just got me with a great shot, it was simple as that,’’ said Herrera, who making his second start in the United States. “There’s really not that much that I can say.’’

The highly regarded Baranchyk – making his second eight-round start and second in a row on ShoBox – knocked out Givhan with a huge left hand with the first power punch of the fight. He required only two punches to finish the 17-fight veteran. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the quickest professional KO for the Belarus native. Baranchyk owns a three-second KO over Angel Figueroa kusukela 2015.

“I’m very happy,’’ Baranchyk said. “I was expecting a much longer fight. I was focused on a full fight. But knockouts are good. I know fans like knockouts.

“I’ll take a week off and then go back to the drawing board. I’m looking ahead to fighting again soon and on ShoBox again.’’

Givhan was shocked with the result.

“I’m good but I am very, very disappointed,” Givhan said. “This is the lowlight of my life. For me to get knocked out by someone I know I can beat is just the worst feeling. And there’s nothing worse than for it to happen on national television.

“No one expects 20-second fights. I just got caught, that’s all.”

Golub, a former standout amateur from Ukraine, had to rally from the first knockdown of his career. “This was a little tougher than I expected,'' Uthe. “But it’s all about learning. I had to go through some adversity to win. You don’t know adversity until it hits you in the face.”

Golub was the more active fighter against the awkward Aguas, who was at his best when matters turned ugly. In a bizarre second round, southpaw Golub scored a questionable knockdown as Aguas hit the canvas while clinching and off-balance. Aguas bounced back seconds later to knock down Golub with a short right, sending the Ukrainian to the canvas for the first time in his career.

“I was surprised that I got knocked down, but he caught me off-balance,’’ Golub said. “Overall, I am very happy with my performance.”

Golub resumed control after the second and a series of combinations in the sixth sent a gassed Aguas falling back through the ropes in the closing seconds of the round. Aguas somehow rose to his feet to beat the count, but his trainer quickly waved off the bout when the Ecuadorian returned to the corner.

Aguas said an injury, not fatigue, was the reason his corner stopped the fight at the end of the sixth. “I hurt my right bicep in the fifth round,'' Uthe. “That’s the reason we stopped it. I wasn’t that tired.”

In the lwa ukuvulwa telecast, DeLoach made Williams a winner in his training debut. With Williams looking on from his wheelchair in the corner, DeLoach, a winner of four in a row, dropped Cook with a devastating, counter-overhand right at 2:47 of the fourth that sent Cook awkwardly to the canvas in a knockout of the year candidate.

“I’m happy with my performance,’’ said DeLoach, who was the more active fighter, uphonsa cishe 100 more punches over the four rounds. “This was a great experience fighting a guy like this in his backyard. I enjoyed the crowd and their enthusiasm. It motivated me. I got a little lazy in parts of the second and third rounds, but I listened to my corner and picked it up on offense and got my punch count up and going again.

“Dillon was a good fighter who moved a lot. I know I have to do better cutting off the ring. He landed with a left a second before I landed that big right. This was a great win for all of us. I’m ready to do this again.’’

“Look at me, look at my shirt. It feels like I was sweating worse than when I fought,’’ said Williams, who’s pro career came to a sudden and tragic end when he was paralyzed from the waist down after a motorcycle accident in May 2012. “I am very relieved to get this one out of the way. I’m very happy for Justin and Mr. Pete (Paul’s longtime manager and trainer and DeLoach’s assistant trainer, George Williams)

"Ngilungile, all things considered,’’ said Cook. “He was a tough guy. I’ve never been knocked out before so I don’t exactly know how to act. I felt I was in the fight until I was caught. It’s disappointing, but this was a great learning experience for me. It can only help me in the long run.’’

A taped interview with Williams and ShoBox analyst Steve Farhood aired prior to the bout. In the discussion, Farhood asked the former two-time champ why he chose to return as a trainer for the first time since the 2012 motorcycle accident left him paralyzed. Full Interview:http://s.sho.com/1WPrJ28

SangoLwesihlanu four-fight telecast will re-air Monday at 10 p.m. KANYE/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND beginning today, Saturday, March 26.

Barry Tompkins okuthiwa ShoBox ethile ringside nge Farhood and zangaphambili emhlabeni iqhawe Raul Marquez ukukhonza njengoba uchwepheshe abahlaziyi. Umkhiqizi executive kwaba Gordon Hall kanye Richard Gaughanlikhiqiza futhi Rick Phillips oqondisa.

# # #

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Kusukela yaqala ukuba khona ngo July 2001, the akukhuthazwa bajule Showtime boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation kunyatheliswa talent young abafanelana ezinzima. The ShoBox ifilosofi iwukuba televise okuthakazelisayo, isixuku ejabulisa nokufana yokuncintisana kuyilapho sihlinzeka kuyindlela yokunquma for amathemba uzimisele sizimisele ukulwa for isihloko emhlabeni. Ezinye uhlu elandayo 65 fighters abaye bavele on ShoBox sezihambile ukuletha izihloko emhlabeni kuhlanganisa: 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.

Ezingakanqotshwa Super uHlelo Prospect Regis Prograis Takes On Veteran Aroni Herrera e Main Izinkundla; Telecast Begins at 10:30 p.m. ET / PT

Chofoza LAPHA Ngoba Cabanga-In Izithombe; Credit Esther Lin / SHOWTIME

Chofoza LAPHA Ngoba Izithombe Of DeLoach & Trainer Paul Williams; Credit Amanda F. Westcott / SHOWTIME

Miami, Okla. (March 24, 2016) - All fighters ayisishiyagalombili, kuhlanganise nalabo Ezingakanqotshwa eziyisithupha, wenza isisindo uLwesine ShoBox: The New Generation quadrupleheader kusasa/Friday March 25, hlala e ISIKHATHI SOMBUKISO (10:30 p.m. ET / PT, kwabambezeleka the West Coast) kusukela Buffalo Run Casino.

In the umcimbi main, unbeaten star abasafufusa, Regis "Rougarou"IZINHLELO (16-0, 13 Kos), of Houston ngendlela of New Orleans, uzohlangana laseMexico Aroni "Le Jewel" Herrera (29-4-1, 18 Kos) in a 10-round iziqubu super engasindi.

okwakwenza abashayi-sibhakela abane unbeaten zishayisane emibili ayisishiyagalombili-round ezintathu izikhathi zokudakwa: Okungishaya Ivan "The Beast" Baranchyk (9-0, 8 Kos), of Brooklyn, N.Y., ubuso bekasilingekile-minded Nick "INkosi Akhanyayo 'Givhan (16-0-1, 10 Kos), of Kalamazoo, Mich., in a super lightweight scrap and Ukrainian Ivan "Le Volk" Golub (10-0, 8 Kos, 5-0 e World Series of Boxing), of Brooklyn, N.Y., liba UMarlon Aguas (9-0, 6 Kos), of Quito, Ecuador, emdlalweni welterweight.

In the ayisishiyagalombili-round ngikwazi ukuqala telecast, Ezingakanqotshwa super welterweight futhi eyintandokazi Dillon Cook (16-0, 6 Kos), of Seneca, Mo., uzohlangana kanye bashaywe Justin DeLoach (13-1, 7 Kos), of Augmaster, Ga. umsebenzich aqeqeshwe zangaphambili ShoBox fighter kanye esigcwele ezimbili zezwe iqhawe, Paul Williams, owenza ukuqeqeshwa okokuqala yakhe.

Amathikithi umcimbi eyethulwe DiBella Entertainment noTony Holden Productions ontengo yakhe yayinqunyiwe at $45, $55 futhi $75 futhi iyatholakala ukuthi ithengwe at buffalorun.com futhi ngaso stubwire.com. Le mpi yokuqala bukhoma at 8 ezimpondweni.

izisindo:

IZINHLELO: 141 amakhilogremu

Herrera: 142 amakhilogremu

Baranchyk: 139 Amakhilogremu ½

Givhan: 140 ¼ amakhilogremu

Golub: 146 Amakhilogremu ½

Aguas: 147 amakhilogremu

Cook: 154 amakhilogremu

DeLoach: 153 ¼ amakhilogremu

Nakhu fighters ngoLwesine:

Regis PROGRAIS

"Lena impi yami enkulu kunazo. Sesibe ejimini izinyanga ezimbili ukuzilungisa. Sisebenza sparring ne zonke isitayela, yini edingekayo ukuze uthole kimi ngomumo.

"Mina kwadingeka lonke okuningi fun empini yami yokugcina ngoba (Abel) Ramos nje yaqhubeka iza. Ngithathe balwa veteran, a different kind of guy tomorrow. He’s tough with the Mexican style so I expect him to be smart and know all the tricks.

"Herrera uyeza ngalutho, kodwa ngiyakuthanda silwa isitayela Mexican. Ngiye kwaqeqeshwa e Houston, ngakho ngeke ulethe lutho angizange ngimbone ngaphambi.

"I kungaba southpaw bahlakaniphe noma angikwazi sekusuke isidumo. Mina ngiyakuthanda ukulwa, yingakho ngaqala ukushaya isibhakela. engqondweni yami iwukuba bang futhi ukulwa, uma zehla kuso. Ngezinye izikhathi uma mina musa hit I ngizithola ngakho mina mix it up kancane more kanjalo ngiyakuba athole hit bese angikwazi ukuza back. Ngiyakwazi ulungise kunoma iyiphi isitayela.

"Lena impi yami yesithathu ShoBox futhi Isenzakalo sesibili main. Ngiyawajabulela ingcindezi kodwa ngesikhathi esifanayo ngiyazi ukuthi kufanele ushaye sengathi awuboni futhi bajabulele futhi ujabule khona.

"Engqondweni, Ngizizwa sengikulungele for ukulwa enkulu ngokumelene yimuphi kwabazabalazayo phezulu, kodwa ngiyazi ukuthi bangobani izinhlobo ukulwa namanje kancane phansi line kimi. Engisenayo umsebenzi omningi okumele uyenze; Ngidinga ukugcina ishaya ngaze uthole Kulungile.

"Ngibheke phambili ukulwa okuhle kusasa. ''

AARON HERRERA

"Lena mpi ezithakazelisayo ngoba thina vele kokubili ekhuphuka ngalo mdlalo. Sengike ngakubona ezimbalwa ukulwa kwakhe futhi wazi ukuthi ngiyingxenye yamelana. Kubukeka sengathi Prograis uthanda ukuba eze phambili afike ukulwa, mina uyokwenza okufanayo, nakuba ngingeyena cishe a boxer esingaphezu slugger.

"Lokhu kumayelana ukunakekela ibhizinisi. Bengi 12 emahlandla ngaphambi. I’ve fought some good fighters with good records. Lena kuphela impi yami yesibili in America kodwa ngafunda okuningi owokuqala nokuthi nakanjani ukungisiza. Nginethemba ngaphezulu. Lokhu ngeke kube yinto entsha kimi.

"Ngiye ngalwa kwesokunxele-handers ngaphambi ngakho emva umbhangqwana emahlandla, Ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi ngamtshela uyozizwa ekhululekile. Ngiyeza nakanjani ukunqoba. Sengijahe ukuze uzwe okuvula bell ring. ''

Oy BARANCHYK

"Lokhu 100 abangamaphesenti angu-guy okungcono kunakho konke esingakwenza owabhekana nazo. Nick is a fighter omkhulu futhi asikwazi siyibukele phansi kwakhe. Siyazi ukuthi noma yini engenzeka ekushayeni isibhakela. Ngabeka umsebenzi ejimini futhi manje ngidinga ukwenza umsebenzi wami ring.

"Ngingumfana puncher, Ngithanda ukuyibuyisa futhi Ngiyeza for the Knockout.

"Ngikhathazekile kuphela 23 kodwa ngisebenza kanzima kakhulu futhi bazizwa Ngiyeza kanye. Ngingumfana ejimini sonke isikhathi. Enye yezinto eziyinhloko sisebenzela phezu kunazo zonke iwukuthi ukuzibamba ngaphakathi esiyingini. Ngizizwa like Ngithathe elala xaxa futhi sisebenza jab, kodwa namanje into ukusebenza thina.

"Wena Ngeke nje ngikwazi ukuya e ngingqongqotha everybody out. Akukona ukuthi kulula. Udinga wamisa punches yakho ngezinye izikhathi. I am akusoze ukushintsha kusukela ekubeni puncher yemvelo, ethimba lami akazami ukuba asuse umlilo kimi, bafuna mina zahlala. ''

NICK GIVHAN

"Leli yithuba enkulu futhi ngizizwa ngibusisekile ngokuba abe ngayo, kodwa kungcono into bengilokhu yokufeza iminyaka. Ngizizwa lena engikhonza kufanele kube kulesi sigaba career yami. Ngidinga ukuba uthole ring ukuze uqiniseke ngiphathe ibhizinisi lami ring

"Muhle nakanjani omunye nabaphikisi eziqine I owabhekana nazo. Muhle big, enamandla futhi hits kanzima yonke mpi. Kodwa Ngingumfana kwezinwele eziqine yena abhekana nazo.

"Lokhu zilolonga izimo njengomnikelo boxer Ukuqhathanisa mpi puncher ukuthi ubabonisa umusa kimi. Angase aphume jabbing ekuqaleni, kodwa once uye wathinta kungaba ekhungathekile. Yilokho mina uyosebenzisa, phezu-nolaka lwakhe.

"Ngibheke phambili bayawuqhwaga mzuzu kusasa ebusuku. ''

Ivan GOLUB

"Ngijabulile kakhulu ukuba abe phezu leli khadi ngabomvu ukulwa lami lokuqala ShoBox ikhadi. Lena omkhulu isinyathelo up futhi kuzoba empini enkulu.

"Lapho ngifika ithuba ukulwa ShoBox, Angizange ngisho ukubuza ukuthi ngingubani owayelwa. I-Spar ezinye best laphaya (Ievgen Khytrov,Sergey Derevanchenko, njll). Kodwa Ngingumfana ngaphezulu boxer-puncher kunezinye nabalingani bami.

"Ngisebenza kanzima kakhulu. Ngitadisha izihloko ezibonisa Boxing okuningi. Ngiyazi isikhathi sami siyeza. Njengoba nje ngibonisa amakhono amahle boxing, the Knockout kuyofika. "

UMarlon AQUAS

"Kufanele uqaphele nge komkhiwane ulambileI htersu abazi lutho mayelana, kodwa Ngizofika ukunikeza 100 amaphesenti angu lapho. Ngilapha ukukhombisa ukuthi mina unayo yini edingekayo ukuze ube iqhawe emhlabeni.

"I am eyashukumisela kakhulu. Lena impi yami yokuqala U.S. futhi on SHOWTIME ngakho Ngibheke ukwenza isitatimende. Ngiyazi ukuthi ngemva kwalokhu ukulwa eziningi iminyango lizovuleka. Abantu bangase awungazi manje, kodwa ngeke bayongazi emva kusasa ebusuku.

"Ziningi ukunyakaza kodwa futhi ame lapho uzwane ukuze uzwane futhi sekusuke isidumo. They are making a mistake taking a step up and fighting me. They don’t know what they’re getting into.

"Sengike ngaya off ngenxa yokulimala esandleni sami sobunxele kodwa wenza waphulukiswa futhi ngikulungele. Ngike ngaba inkatho sparring.

"Ngingumfana ngaphezulu stylist, the boxer. Ngithanda ukuhamba a lot. Kodwa uma ngiye phezulu sekusuke isidumo ngizo-. Ngifuna ukukushintsha nge- mpela ukukhombisa abalandeli ukuthi ngingubani uyakufanelekela ukubukela futhi. ''

Dillon Cook

“This will be my toughest fight but I’m feeling great. I’m excited but not all that nervous. Kukhona ezinye ingcindezi ukulwa TV okokuqala, kodwa akubanga kuyethusa.

"Lena mpi enkulu; Sengikulungele yini kuletha. Angikho ngizama ucabange yini. Ngifuna engikwenzayo.

"Lona umdlalo ekhaya kimi. Ngihlala mayelana 25 imizuzu away. Ngakho-ke kusiza ukuthi Mina ngijwayele abantu abaxoxayo emkhathini futhi akudingeki ukuba bahambe.

"Ngiye ngabona kancane kuye. Ngizizwa izinto yena engenzi sonke isikhathi uzosebenza ngokumelene naye. Indlela yakhe eze phambili muhle kimi. Ngike ngaba nesikhathi esiningi ukulungiselela (amasonto amahlanu) ngakho ngeke kube khona noma yimuphi lezimanga.

"Ngiyakholwa ukuthi babe namakhono ukuya ubaba okuningi, ngakho ngifuna benombono omuhle.

“Speed and footwork are my biggest weapons. I’ve been dazed before, kodwa hhayi abhidliza. ''

JUSTIN DeLoach

"Konke kuleli qophelo kuye kwaba isibusiso ngoba mina. Lena nakanjani ukulwa big futhi Ngibheke phambili ekwenzeni lokho ngenzeni futhi ukugqoka show enkulu. Angizange ngimbone eziningi Dillon kodwa Ezingakanqotshwa futhi uyeza ukunqoba. Sengikulungele yini afuna kuletha.

"Ngizizwa I Ziningi ithalente eluhlaza esiye nokho ukuba ngimbone. Into My oyinhloko ukulawula mpi kusukela ekuqaleni.

"Lena zijabulisa. My biggest and most important fight yet. If I do what I’m supposed to I’ll be OK. Lena sokuqala eyisishiyagalombili Rounder yami kodwa angikhathazekile mayelana ukuthi ngaso sonke.

"Sesikhathele ingxenye omkhulu ShoBox show. Sengijahe. ''

Barry Tompkins ngibize ShoBox action kusuka ringside nge Steve Farhood futhi owabe wezwe iqhawe Raul Marquez ukukhonza njengoba uchwepheshe abahlaziyi. Umkhiqizi executive Gordon Hall kanye Richard Gaughan likhiqiza futhi Rick Phillips oqondisa.

# # #

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Kusukela yaqala ukuba khona ngo July 2001, the akukhuthazwa bajule Showtime boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation kunyatheliswa talent young abafanelana ezinzima. The ShoBox ifilosofi iwukuba televise okuthakazelisayo, isixuku ejabulisa nokufana yokuncintisana kuyilapho sihlinzeka kuyindlela yokunquma for amathemba uzimisele sizimisele ukulwa for isihloko emhlabeni. Ezinye uhlu elandayo 65 fighters abaye bavele on ShoBox sezihambile ukuletha izihloko emhlabeni kuhlanganisa: 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.

Seneca, MO (March 18, 2016) - On March 25, junior middleweight prospect Dillon “White Lightning” Cook will find himself in a familiar place but with a new challenge when he battles Justin DeLoach in an eight round bout on ShoBox: The New Generation at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, KULUNGILE.

Tickets for the event promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Holden Productions are $45, $55 futhi $75 and can be purchased by logging onto Buffalorun.com or Stubwire.com.

Unbeaten e 16 professional bouts with six wins by knockout, Cook’s fought five of his last seven matches at the Buffalo Run, winning handily each time. A member of Holden Productions’ “Four State Franchise”, the popular Cook is from nearby Seneca, MO and fought in front of sellout crowds on multiple occasions. While these are definite advantages for Cook, DeLoach comes into the ring with an impressive background.

Against DeLoach, 13-1 (7 KO sika), Cook is taking a significant step up in competition and will do so before a national audience. Hailing from Augusta, GA and based in Houston, TX, DeLoach trained alongside top fighters including IBF junior middleweight champion Jermall Charlo, undefeated Jermell Charlo, Bryan Vera and Edwin Rodriguez amongst others. Muva, Team DeLoach announced that his new chief second is former two division champion Paul Williams and highly respected George Peterson will work as an assistant.

To prepare for DeLoach, Cook’s been training out of the Heartland Boxing Gym and travels to various gyms for sparring as he anxiously waits for the opening bell on March 25.

“I’m excited for the fight but trying not to let the pressure of fighting on TV get to me,” said Cook, a former National Junior Golden Gloves titlist and six time Kansas City Golden Gloves winner. "(To specifically prepare for DeLoach) we’re working on (technique to counter) his style. DeLoach is a good fighter I’ve seen him fight a few times he’s fast and a busy fighter but I’m pretty fast myself. I expect to match his speed, if not beat it.”

Cook also acknowledges his advantages and never second guessed taking the step up in competition.

“I’m a smart fighter and can adapt well (plus the) hometown crowd is definitely a benefit. I knew we’d step (up the competition in the near future) and this is a great time for it. I’ve had 16 professional fights and am ready to show the world that I’m capable of going to the next level.”

Cook’s promoter, Tony Holden, is confident in his fighter and believes the locals will come out droves to support him.

“I’m proud to see him get a shot on a national stage. He’s a key part of the “Four State Franchise” and is a big crowd draw. He’s worked very hard and I expect him to put forth a tremendous performance. I’d like to personally thank Showtime as well for this incredible opportunity.”

The Cook-DeLoach bout opens up a quadrupleheader live on Showtime (10:30 PM ET). The card also features highly regarded junior welterweight Regis Prograis (16-0) against Aaron Herrera (29-4-1), two showdowns where somebody’s 0 must go between unbeaten welterweights Ivan Golub (10-0) and Marlon Aguas (9-0) and junior welterweights Ivan Baranchyk (9-0) vs Nicholas Givhan (16-0-1).