Unbeaten Super Bantamweight Vladimir Tikhonov to Face Jesse Angel Hernandez in Opening Bout Live on SHOWTIME^® (10:30 p.m. ET / PT) From MGM Grand Detroit

DETROIT (Lub Xya hli ntuj 19, 2017) – Junior welterweight knockout artist Bakhtiyar “Bakha Bullet” Eyubov (13-0, 11 Kos) will face fellow undefeated prospect Sonny “Pretty Boi” Fredrickson (17-0, 11 Kos) in a 10-round ShoBox: Tshiab Tiam co-featured bout Friday, Aug. 4 live on SHOWTIME from MGM Grand Detroit.

The match-up will serve as the chief supporting bout of Salita Promotions’ “BATTLE OF THE BEST” – a women’s 10-round super middleweight unification between two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (3-0, 1 KO) and WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Nikki Adler (16-0, 9 Kos). Adler vs. Shields is also for the vacant IBF Super Middleweight Title.

In the opening bout of the telecast at 10:30 p.m. THIAB/PT, undefeated consensus Top-10-ranked super bantamweight Vladimir Tikhonov (15-0, 9 Kos), ntawm Russia, will face Texas slugger Jesse Angel Hernandez (8-1, 6 Kos) in an eight-round matchup of fellow southpaws.

Ntawv: The ShoBox telecast will now begin at 10:30 p.m. THIAB/PT immediately following the premiere of Episode 1 ntawm TAG NRHO ACCESS: Mayweather vs. McGregor. The start time was previously announced as 10 p.m. THIAB/PT.

Tickets for the event promoted by Salita Promotions are on sale now and priced at $350, $250, $125 thiab $60. They will be available at www.ticketmaster.com. Eyubov vs. Fredrickson is promoted in association with Roc Nation.

The 30-year-old Brooklyn-based Eyubov is originally from Aktjubinsk, Kazakhstan. A charismatic showman, Eyubov is a fast-rising prospect – his fight against Fredrickson will be Eyubov’s third on ShoBox: Tshiab Tiam. He stopped then 16-2-1 Jared Robinson in three rounds in January 2016 and took an exciting 10-round split decision from veteran Karim Mayfield in August 2016.

“I simply want to fight the best,” Eyubov said. “Sonny is a skilled fighter who I know will come to fight. I look forward to putting on a great show for fans at MGM Detroit and those watching on SHOWTIME. Expect a special performance on Lub yim hli ntuj 4.”

The 22-year-old Fredrickson hails from Toledo, Ohio. Tall and rangy for the weight, Fredrickson stands an imposing 6-foot-2 and has power in both hands. He compiled an outstanding amateur record of 120-8 (60 Kos) and collected numerous accolades, nrog rau cov 2013 National PAL Bronze Medalist (141 lbs.), lub 2013 Lub teb chaws Golden Hnab Looj Tes kawg Yim (141 lbs.), five Toledo Golden Glove Championships and two Ohio State Junior Olympics Championships.

Fredrickson said, “Going up against another undefeated fighter will be a great opportunity for me to showcase my skills in front of the world Personally, I feel like I have much to prove and I’m looking forward to making a strong statement against a tough, quality fighter. I’ve been training hard to get this chance and I’m looking forward to putting together a great performance.”

The 27-year-old Tikhonov was born in Grozny and now lives in Saint Petersburg, Russia. A former decorated amateur boxer, Tikhonov finished with a record of 85-15 and is designated a “Sport Master of Russia,” a prestigious honor bestowed upon the country’s top athletes. Currently rated No. 9 by lub WBA thiab tsis. 10 by the IBF and WBO, the southpaw has made his training home in Detroit for this fight.

Tikhonov said, “I came to Detroit and am training at the Kronk Gym to round out my camp. Russia has a great school of boxing and I feel very prepared. With that Kronk Gym magic, the sky is the limit. I can’t wait to show my skills to the world onLub yim hli ntuj 4."

The 26-year-old Jesse Angel Hernandez, of Fort Worth, Texas, compiled a 68-6 record as an amateur in Texas before turning pro in 2009. The southpaw was inactive for five years due to managerial issues and a shortage of local gyms, but has rededicated his career since returning in 2014 and has since remained active. The 5-foot-8 Hernandez comes from a boxing family and is one of 16 brothers and sisters. Nine of the boys were boxers and six turned professional, including Jose “El Loco” Hernandez, who scored a draw against former world champion Mickey Bey, and Rodrigo Hernandez, who fought to the only draw with Leo Santa Cruz.

Hernandez said, “I will do everything to entertain and make the folks giving me this opportunity proud of their decision to give me this spotlight. I have been doing this since I was a young kid. Boxing runs through my family’s blood, and I’m coming to turn people’s heads, showcase my talent, and show I’m a force to be reckoned with. Catch me throwing bombs on Lub yim hli ntuj 4.”

Dmitriy Salita, head of Salita Promotions, hais tias, “Both fights are between top contenders with real aspirations for world titles soon. This is what ShoBox yog tag nrho hais txog, qhov zoo tshaj plaws sib ntaus sib tua qhov zoo tshaj plaws. Lub yim hli ntuj 4 is going to be a memorable event, top to bottom, with the birth of new stars in several weight classes. Detroit, Mich., the birth place of numerous boxing greats, is the perfect location for this night of exciting world-class championship boxing.”

Hais txog ShoBox: Tshiab Tiam

Txij thaum nws inception nyob rau hauv Lub Xya hli ntuj 2001, lub critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: Tus Tshiab Tiam tau featured hluas txuj ci sib phim tawv. Lub ShoBox philosophy yog televise exciting, neeg coob coob-pleasing thiab sib tw ntais thaum npaj ib qhov tseeb hauv av rau kam zeem muag txiav txim sib ntaus rau ib lub ntiaj teb title. Ib co ntawm cov loj hlob daim ntawv teev cov 69 neeg tua hluav taws uas tau los tshwm sim rau ShoBox thiab paub mus garner ntiaj teb no lub npe muaj xws li: Lwm Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, 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, Errol Spence Jr. thiab ntau yam ntxiv.