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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 10^th 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.”

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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 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.

Tripleheader TONIGHT! LIVE on SHOWTIME^®

From CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.

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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.