Zenunaj, Rolls and Baranchyk All Impress With Knockouts

At Bayou City Event Center In Houston;

Heavyweight Challenger Artur Szpilka Interviewed During Telecast

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Photo Credit: Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME

HOUSTON (Dec. 12, 2015) – Regis Prograis dominated previously undefeated Abel Ramosen route to a ninth-round TKO in the main event of ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME on Friday at Bayou City Event Center in Houston.

Prograis (16-0, 13 KOs) was connecting at a more than 5-1 rate the last three rounds of the fight before Ramos’ corner asked referee Laurence Cole to stop the fight.

With the loss – and the previous results in the quadrupleheader – Ramos became the 139^thfighter to suffer his first loss on the prospect developmental series.

Prograis was the more aggressive and effective fighter from the outset.  He landed 53 percent of his power shots compared to just 28 percent for Ramos while throwing more than 250 more total punches.

Ramos (14-1-2, 9 KOs) simply couldn’t deal with Prograis’ speed and movement.  At the finish, he was a bloody mess from a cut around his left eye and a gash on the top of his head and had no answer for the onslaught of punches from his undefeated opponent.

“It was an incredible fight,” Prograis said.  “It was really, really tough and I didn’t think I was going to stop him, but I did.  We stuck to the game plan and I am happy.

“He was really messed up.  I don’t like to talk bad about my opponents, but I definitely hurt him and think that maybe they should’ve stopped it earlier. You never want to hurt anybody that bad where it can affect them in the long run.”

After the fight, Ramos complained that he wasn’t the same after the accidental head butt in the fifth that opened the gushing cut on the top of his head.

Late-replacement Dardan Zenunaj handed previously unbeaten lightweight prospect Bryant Cruz the first loss of his career after Cruz’ trainer Ronnie Shields called an end to the fight after the seventh round.  Zenunaj was ahead 67-64 on the three judges’ scorecards after the seventh.

Cruz was the more active fighter, throwing 754 punches through seven rounds compared to just 555 for Zenunaj, but it was clear that Zenunaj was landing the more powerful shots.

Zenunaj (11-1, 9 KOs) knocked Cruz down midway through the fourth with a wide left hook.  Cruz survived the round, but continued to eat a series of big shots to close the round.  Cruz bounced back but couldn’t keep Zenunaj from picking his shots and landing damaging power punches.  Zenunaj floored Cruz again with another strong blow in the final seconds of the seventh, Cruz beat the count, but Shields had seen enough and halted the fight when Cruz (16-1, 8 KOs) returned to the corner.

Zenunaj out-landed Cruz 40-24 in the seventh, the only time in the fight that he out-threw and out-landed Cruz.

“I wanted it to be a war for all of the people watching and I did it, so I’m feeling really good,” Zenunaj said.  “He is really good, much stronger than I believed he would be.  He hung in there, but I did the work and I won.

“Today was my first fight in the U.S. and it won’t be the last. Next year is going to be a big year for me.”

After the fight, Cruz didn’t make any excuses for the disappointing performance.

“I came in really confident that I was going to win.  I had almost seven weeks of training and this guy took the fight on a week’s notice.

“I came in thinking I was going to win, but it didn’t go my way.  He was a tough opponent. He came forward and hit me with some really awkward shots.  He’s an awkward fighter and he hit me with different angles I hadn’t seen before. He caught me by surprise, but that’s the way that boxing is so I can’t really be too upset with myself by this loss. I will come back stronger.

“I did everything I could and gave it my all.  I tried to listen to the punch list from my coach, but he just out-hustled me and I give him all the respect for that.”​

In a matchup of middleweight prospects, Steve Rolls scored an impressive fourth round TKO over previously undefeated Steed Woodall.  VIDEO HIGHLIGHT:http://s.sho.com/1O1bf7g

After two close rounds, Woodall knocked Rolls down midway through the third.  While Rolls complained it was a slip, Woodall came out blazing after the count and legitimately hurt Rolls in the final minute of the round.  Rolls (13-0, 7 KOs) came back with a vengeance in the fourth, landing nearly a dozen big right hands.  With Woodall wobbling around the ring with his guard down, referee Laurence Cole stepped in to halt the contest at 2:46 of the round.

“I was prepared to do what I came here to do,” said Rolls, who landed 41 percent of his power shots.  “I didn’t agree with the knockdown, but that’s the nature of boxing. That kind of stuff is going to happen and you just need to pick yourself up, collect yourself and fight on.

“I’m going to rest a bit and really just soak it in and relax.”

Woodall (8-1-1, 5 KOs) complained that the stoppage was premature.

“I didn’t agree with the stoppage,” Woodall said.  “I was caught on my ear so that threw off my balance a little bit, but I was totally fine.  I’m wise enough to take a knee if I wasn’t able to continue, but that wasn’t the case.  I definitely feel that was a premature stoppage but I’m not a sore loser.

“Now it’s back to the drawing board. I need to sit down with my manager and get back to training camp.  I know it’s soon to say this after the fact, but I’ll definitely be looking for the rematch at some point.  But, for now, it’s back to the drawing board.”

In the opening bout of the telecast, Ivan Baranchyk (9-0, 8 KOs) knocked out previously undefeated Shadi Shawareb (9-1-2, 5 KOs) with a steady diet of power shots at 2:28 of the first round.

Polish southpaw Artur Szpilka was interviewed by ShoBox expert analyst Steve Farhoodduring Friday’s telecast as he prepares to challenge undefeated WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay Wilder on Saturday, Jan. 16 on SHOWTIME.  During the interview, Szpilka warned Wilder that he’s coming to take his belt:

“Artur Szpilka is future heavyweight champion, future Polish champion and a wonderful person.  I can’t wait, man.  I can’t wait.

“I was so excited.  When I was very young I dreamed that one day I would be champion, and now I have that opportunity.  Thank you to the champ for giving me the chance.  But you don’t see what you’re doing.  This is no joke.  This is no (expletive) joke.

“This is very important for Polish fans.  This is when I change my story, change my life, change what people think about Polish people here.  Polish people have heart, we have everything.  And now I must show everyone what I want.  I am so confident, you will see.  I can’t wait.

“Listen, I don’t care what everyone thinks.  I care what my team thinks.  I care what my family, my people think.

“I’m going to kick his ass.  Remember, champ, I’m going to kick your ass.  Happy Holidays, champ.  Do not sleep.”

The ShoBox quadrupleheader will re-air on Monday, Dec. 14 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND^® beginning Saturday, Dec. 12

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

Local Favorite Regis Prograis Headlines Against
Fellow Top Prospect  in Main Event
Live on SHOWTIME^® at 10 p.m. ET/PT

NEW YORK (Nov. 12, 2015) – ShoBox: The New Generation returns on Friday, Dec. 11 live onSHOWTIME^® (10 p.m. ET/PT), with a quadrupleheader featuring eight undefeated prospects with a combined record of 92-0-3 in the final ShoBox telecast of 2015.

Headlining the DiBella Entertainment and Savarese Promotions-promoted event at the Bayou City Event Center in Houston will be talented 140-pound local prospect Regis Prograis (15-0, 12 KOs), who faces Abel Ramos (14-0-2, 9 KOs) in the 10-round super lightweight main event.

In the co-feature, Bryant Cruz (16-0, 8 KOs) takes on Wesley Ferrer (10-0, 5 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight bout.

Rounding out the telecast, fast-rising Ivan Baranchyk (8-0, 7 KOs) faces Andrew Ruiz (9-0, 5 KOs) in an eight-round super lightweight bout and Steed Woodall (8-0-1, 5 KOs) and Steve Rolls (12-0, 6 KOs) clash in an eight-round middleweight match.

“I am thrilled to present such a tremendous card for SHOWTIME on Dec. 11 featuring eight unbeaten up-and-coming prospects with a combined record of 92-0-3,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “With each boxer looking to reach the next level, these types of matchups are exactly what ShoBox is all about.”

“I’m excited to team up with DiBella Entertainment and SHOWTIME on this great event Dec. 11,” promoter Lou Savarese said. “We can’t wait to feature these eight young, undefeated fighters in their toughest tests to date at Houston’s premier venue, the Bayou City Event Center.”

Tickets are on sale and are priced at $40 GA, $60 GA, $150 Table Seats & $200 VIP Ringside. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.savaresepromotions.com or by calling (713) 658-0299.

To date, 135 fighters have suffered their initial defeats on ShoBox. With eight undefeated fighters on the card, four more O’s figure to go on Dec. 11. The question is, which four?

Prograis vs. Ramos

Last Aug. 7, Prograis made his ShoBox debut with an impressive eight-round decision over then-undefeated Amos Cowart. The hard-hitting Prograis landed an impressive 381 out of 909 total punches thrown, the 18^th-highest connect total for a junior welterweight fight counted by CompuBox over eight rounds.

Originally from New Orleans, Prograis and his family have called Houston home since relocating following Hurricane Katrina. The bout on Dec. 11 will be Prograis’ first in Houston since June 2014 and he is expected to draw a raucous crowd. The highly regarded Prograis has tremendous power and speed, but if he’s going to compete against the elite of the 140-pound division, he must first get by Ramos.

“I want to thank the cities of New Orleans and Houston — New Orleans for making me who I am and Houston for taking me in and making me feel at home,” Prograis said.  “I am glad to be fighting back in Houston; this truly is my second home. The city took me in as one of their own after I moved here during Hurricane Katrina.  Houston is close enough to New Orleans and I am expecting a great turnout come fight night.  My opponent is undefeated and that’s all I need to know.  He’s coming to win, and I am sure he will be tough.  I am preparing for this fight just like I do all of my fights, with the mindset that this is the toughest fight I will ever have.  Come Dec. 11, you will see a spectacular performance.”

Like Prograis, the 24-year-old Ramos was a stellar amateur, winning the bronze medal at the 2010 U.S. Boxing National Championships before turning pro the following year.  Ramos ran his record to a perfect 8-0, and then met fellow undefeated prospect Maurice Hooker (currently rated No. 10 by the WBO) onShoBox in January 2014.  Ramos and Hooker slugged it out for eight rounds, battling to a majority draw in one of the most exciting fights on ShoBox that year. The only other blemish on Ramos’ record is another majority draw against Levan Ghvamichava (15-1-1, 12 KOs).  Ramos has reeled off four consecutive victories with three by knockout, including an impressive second-round TKO over previously once-beaten Roberto Ramirez in June.  The bout against Prograis will be his first since signing an exclusive promotional agreement with DiBella Entertainment.  Ramos knows that a victory over Prograis will show the boxing world that he is one of the most talented up-and-comers in the division.

“I am very excited to have signed with Lou DiBella,’’ Ramos said. “He’s guided so many fighters to the championship level and I look forward to being added to that list.  Right now though, all of my focus is onDec. 11 and Regis Prograis.  He is unbeaten just like me.  I am sure he will be my toughest fight, just as I will be his.  I am ready to rise to the occasion and show the boxing world I am one of the best in the division.’’

Cruz vs. Ferrer

Both fighters in the co-feature, Cruz and Ferrer, are New York natives.  Cruz was a 2012 National Golden Gloves runner-up while Ferrer (a 2009 and 2013 Golden Gloves champion) competed at the 2012 USA Boxing National Championships, defeating 2011 National champion Semajay Thomas.  The matchup features two exciting come-forward boxers aren’t afraid to mix it up.  Cruz, now living and training in Houston under the tutelage of Ronnie Shields, has shown vast improvement since linking up with the renowned trainer. The bout will be the ShoBox debut for both young prospects, who will be looking to show they have what it takes to compete at the next level.

“I finally have the chance to show the world who I am and what I am about,” Cruz said.  “I am excited to be stepping in there with another undefeated fighter who is going to bring the absolute best out of me.  I have been working hard for an opportunity like this and it is finally here.’’

“I will be extremely focused and go in there to do what I do best,” Ferrer said.  “I know Bryant Cruz personally and he is a great fighter, but I have a job to do and will not let him take away the victory from me.”

Baranchyk vs. Ruiz

Prospects Baranchyk and Ruiz could produce “the fight of the night” in a matchup that has the makings of a slugfest.  The Ukrainian Baranchyk, 22, has been impressive since arriving in the U.S. in 2014.  He’s been on a tear this year, going 5-0 with five knockouts, all coming in three rounds or less.  Baranchyk, a stablemate of Sergiy Derevyanchenko and Ievgen Khytrov, is looking impress when he makes his ShoBoxdebut against his toughest opponent to date in former nationally ranked amateur standout and now Robert Garcia-trained Andrew Ruiz.

“I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity,” Baranchyk said. “I’m looking to follow in the footsteps of my stablemates Sergiy and Ievgen, who have had some of their best performances on ShoBox.  I know that Ruiz is coming to fight, and he is going to be the toughest opponent I’ve faced, but my dream is to become a world champion and there is nothing and no one that is going to get in the way of that.”

Ruiz was one of the most sought-after amateurs coming out of the West Coast when he turned pro at 18 in 2012.  After his first year and half as a pro, Ruiz had gone a perfect 7-0, getting major exposure fighting on a number of high level cards, included Pacquiao-Bradley I.  Following a victory in August 2013, Ruiz took a break from the sport as he dealt with managerial and promotional issues.  Ruiz signed with DBE last January and made his anticipated ring return in February, shaking off a bit of ring rust to get his career back on track.  Ruiz, 22, last fought in August, scoring a sixth-round TKO over Andres Bustamante, his fifth knockout in nine career victories.  Ruiz is looking to prove that he is the top prospect that so many thought he was when he takes on the dangerous Baranchyk.

“Baranchyk was an accomplished amateur and is currently undefeated, but I am ready for the challenge,” Ruiz said.  “This is my shot to prove myself and I’m not going to let it slip away.”

Woodall vs. Rolls

The Woodall-Rolls bout pits two former amateur standouts in their toughest pro fight to date. Woodall was a five-time England National champion, two-time British champion and a quarter-finalist in the World Youth Championships before relocating to the U.S. and embarking on his professional career at the age of 19.  Now 21, Woodall has relocated his training camp to Houston and linked up with world-renowned trainer Ronnie Shields.  The always-exciting Woodall is an aggressive come-forward banger with good power in both hands.  Woodall made his debut under Shields last Oct. 7 in New York City and looked sensational leading Shields to believe that he has what it takes to one day become a world champion.

“I have a great team that is working with me day after day,” Woodall said.  “I have had the chance to spar some of the best fighters in all of boxing, including Edwin Rodriguez and Jermall Charlo, and I am looking forward to putting all that work into action come Dec.11.  I’ve been putting in the work in the gym and now is my chance to prove it in the ring.”

As an amateur, Rolls competed on both the 2009 and 2010 Canadian National Boxing team, compiling an impressive 83-14 record.  In September 2009, he went to the 2009 International Boxing Association (AIBA) Men’s Boxing Championship in Milan, Italy, where he lost in the round of 16 to 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Vijender Singh of India.  Rolls, who will make his ShoBox debut, is coming off a unanimous decision last Sept. 19 in his first scheduled eight-round bout.

“Come fight night, I will be more than ready,” Rolls said.  “I am looking forward to putting on a great performance in my national TV debut and showing the world I am a force to be reckoned with in the middleweight division.”

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

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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 63 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.