Tag Archives: Marlon Aguas

boxing, ShoBox, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

PAUL WILLIAMS RETURNS TO BOXING AS A TRAINER

Leave a comment

FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TO TRAIN PROSPECT JUSTIN DELOACH

IN FOURTH FIGHT ADDED TO FRIDAY, MARCH 25,

SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION TELECAST

 

“I’m scared all over again, like this is my first fight.” – Paul Williams

 

Super Welterweight DeLoach Takes on Undefeated Local Favorite Dillon Cook;

Promising  Meets Aaron Herrera in Main Event;

Live on SHOWTIME® At 10:30 p.m. ET/PT

NEW YORK (March 15, 2016) – Former two-time world champion Paul 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, is back in boxing as a trainer.

 

The popular Williams will work the corner of once-beaten Justin DeLoach (13-1, 7 KOs) when DeLoach faces undefeated super welterweight and local favorite Dillon Cook (16-0, 6 KOs) in the opening eight-round bout of what is now a ShoBox: The New Generation quadrupleheader on Friday, March 25, live onSHOWTIME (10:30 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla.

 

DeLoach is the first boxer to be trained by Williams, the former 154-pound southpaw who has been confined to a wheelchair since the accident.

“I guess I was being selfish at first,” Williams said.  “I didn’t want to deal with the fight game.  I wanted to be the one fighting.  But that changed.”

 

Williams was reluctant to train fighters for a long time.  It wasGeorge Peterson, who managed and trained Williams from the time the boxer was a skinny kid with little amateur experience until his career ended, that helped persuade “The Punisher” to return to the ring.  Williams trains his pupil at a private gym in his hometown of Aiken, S.C.

 

“You know me, I really didn’t want to do this,’’ Williams said. “But finally after three or four years of George practically begging me to try and do it, this opportunity came along and I decided to give it a shot.

 

“Everything is about timing.  I started thinking about it, George kept asking me and messing with me about it, one thing led to another, and I finally said I’d take a stab at it.
Williams, who is enjoying his new job description, admits there are some pre-fight jitters.

 

“I’m scared all over again, like this is my first fight.  Now, I have to think about everything that Mr. Pete was thinking about when I was fighting.  I have to try and teach Justin what I knew how to do.

 

“George and I accomplished a lot.  He made me a world champion; before that, no one knew who he or I was.  We were just a couple of guys from Aiken, S.C.  We gave fans fights to remember.

 

“I was the fighter the press labeled as ‘Most feared in boxing.’  But that’s over for me now.  I’m jumping into a whole new thing.  It’s been an adjustment but I’m glad I’m doing it.’’

 

In his role as a trainer, Williams’ mindset has changed drastically from his fighting days.  “Look, I always feel good,’’ he said.  “What’s happened has happened.  It is what it is.  This is my first time stepping back into the world.  I love boxing.

 

“What I don’t want to see is a fighter getting hurt.  This is a hard sport.  I know when I was in there I was always going for broke.  But I want Justin, all fighters actually, to come out of the ring the same way they came in.  Win or lose, I don’t want to see anybody get hurt.’’

 

On DeLoach, Williams said, “He’s a good fighter and now he’s in the spotlight.  I want to do my best in the training world to get him at his peak.  I hope he does his best.  I’d love to one-up George with Justin.’’

 

Becoming the best takes strenuous work on a daily basis, and Williams was no stranger to putting in the hours.

 

“I never took a shortcut,’’ he said.  “You take shortcuts, you know what’ll happen.  I took the long road home when I was fighting and fans, fighters, everybody knew what to expect when I stepped in the ring.

 

“Justin isn’t like this, but one thing I know is that fighters think they’re slick.  Well, you can’t pull anything over me.  I’ve been there, seen it all.’’

 

And, as always, he’ll have George Peterson by his side.

 

“I’m just helping Paul,’’ said Peterson, who will serve as Williams’ assistant trainer. “So far, he’s doing great.”

 

It will be the ShoBox and 2016 debuts — and toughest fight to date — for both DeLoach and Cook.

 

DeLoach was a top amateur, competing in the USA Boxing National Championships in 2012.  He won a National Silver Golden Gloves title when he was 13.

 

The 22-year-old DeLoach, of Augusta, Ga., has won three in a row since suffering his lone loss to Cesar Villa on Feb. 6, 2015.  That was before he started training with Williams.

 

“This has been a total blessing, and I say that every day,” DeLoach said.  “Thank God.  He’s the one who brought the two of us together, that’s the main thing.  Paul loves it, just to be back.  I think he was scared at first, his reputation was at stake and so was mine.

 

“But he’s been so helpful – just in the mental side of things. I was already a good boxer but he’s taken me to another level mentally. He’s been pushing me, criticizing me, giving me instructions and picking my brain.”

 

DeLoach and Williams grew up just 30 minutes down the road from each other.

 

“Me and Paul, we’ve known each other our whole lives,’’ DeLoach said. “I’m from Augusta, Ga., and he was right across in Aiken.  We knew each other when I was coming up as an amateur.  He came to my last pro fight that was in San Antonio.  When I saw him, I got so excited.  We started to talk and I said something like, ‘Hey, Paul, wouldn’t it be cool if we got together?’

 

“Once I came home, we started working together and he’s been training me since.  I think we’re going on about three months now.  It’s an unbelievable feeling to be able to work with one of my favorite fighters.”

 

In his last outing, DeLoach won a shutout four-round decision overSantos Benavides last Dec. 12. DeLoach, a pro since March 2013, fought six times that year and four times each in 2014 and 2015.

 

“I’m really looking forward to fighting for the first time for him,” DeLoach said.  “I’ve gone crazy waiting for my break and an opportunity like this to fight on SHOWTIME.  I know it’s not easy fighting in your opponent’s backyard, but with Paul, George Peterson and me and my skills, we are confident it will be a good fight.’’

 

Cook, 25, is from Seneca, Mo., which is located about 20 minutes from Buffalo Run Casino where he has fought six times. A top amateur, he won six Golden Gloves titles, a Junior Golden Gloves National title, a Heartland title and four regional Silver Gloves titles.  He is popular at Buffalo Run and will be making his premium network television debut against easily his most dangerous assignment as a pro. Cook’s brother, Jesse, a welterweight with a record of 15-1-1, will box on the non-televised portion of the event.

 

Dillon Cook turned pro in August 2012, fought twice that year, seven times in 2013, four times in 2014 and three times last year. Five of his last seven took place at Buffalo Run, including two out of three in 2015. He’s coming off a lopsided eight-round decision overRahman Yusubov last Nov. 14.

 

“I couldn’t be more excited about making my ShoBox debut, right at home, at the Buffalo Run Casino,” Cook said.  “This is a huge opportunity for me, and I plan on putting on a spectacular showing, for all my fans there that night and everyone watching on TV.”

 

In the ShoBox main event, unbeaten super lightweight knockout artist and emerging rising star, Regis “Rougarou” Prograis (16-0, 13 KOs), Houston by way of New Orleans, will meet experienced Aaron “The Jewel” Herrera (29-4-1, 18 KOs), of Valladolid, Mexico, in a 10-round match.

 

Four undefeated fighters will clash in the two other eight-rounders on the telecast: Hard-hitting Ivan “The Beast” Baranchyk (9-0, 8 KOs), of Brooklyn, N.Y., faces Nicholas “King Beamen” Givhan(16-0-1, 10 KOs), of Kalamazoo, Mich., in a super lightweight scrap and Ukrainian Ivan “The Volk” Golub (10-0, 8 KOs, 5-0 in World Series of Boxing), of Brooklyn, N.Y., meets Marlon Aguas (9-0, 6 KOs), of Quito, Ecuador, in a welterweight match.

 

Tickets for the event promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Tony Holden Productions are priced at $45, $55 and $75 and are available for purchase at buffalorun.com and at stubwire.com.

 

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside withSteve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall withRich 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 65 fighters who have appeared onShoBox 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.

boxing, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

UNBEATEN SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT REGIS PROGRAIS FACES VETERAN AARON HERRERA IN MAIN EVENT OF A SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATIONTRIPLEHEADER ON FRIDAY, MARCH 25

Leave a comment

 

Four Undefeated Boxers Clash in Co-Features: Ivan Baranchyk
Meets Nicholas Givhan, Ivan Golub Faces Marlon Aguas From Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla.

 

Live on SHOWTIME® At 10:30 p.m. ET/PT

Tickets on Sale Now

 

NEW YORK (March 7, 2016) – Unbeaten super lightweight knockout artist and emerging rising star, Regis “Rougarou” Prograis (16-0, 13 KOs) will meet experienced Aaron “The Jewel” Herrera (29-4-1, 18 KOs) in the 10-round main event of a ShoBox: The New Generationtripleheader on Friday, March 25, live on SHOWTIME (10:30 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla.

 

Four undefeated fighters will clash in eight-rounders in co-feature bouts: Hard-hitting Ivan “The Beast” Baranchyk (9-0, 8 KOs), of Brooklyn, N.Y., faces upset-minded Nicholas “King Beamen” Givhan (16-0-1, 10 KOs), of Kalamazoo, Mich., in a super lightweight scrap and Ukrainian Ivan “The Volk” Golub (10-0, 8 KOs, 5-0 in World Series of Boxing), of Brooklyn, N.Y., meets Marlon Aguas (9-0, 6 KOs), of Quito, Ecuador, in a welterweight match.

 

All but Prograis and Baranchyk will be making their inaugural ShoBoxappearances. Click HERE for Prograis and Baranchyk’s Photos – Credit: SHOWTIME.

 

Tickets for the event promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Tony Holden Productions are priced at $45, $55 and $75 and are available for purchase at buffalorun.com and at stubwire.com.

 

The 5-foot-9, 27-year-old Prograis, originally from New Orleans, La., but currently residing in Houston, Texas, is an aggressive-minded southpaw who’s making his 2016 debut and third start on ShoBox. Before turning pro in April 2012 he competed in the 2012 United States Olympic Boxing Trials.

 

In his ShoBox debut on Aug, 17, 2015, he registered an impressive,eight-round decision over previously undefeated Amos Cowart.Prograis, who had won eight straight by knockout going into the Cowart clash, resumed his KO-winning streak with a ninth-round knockout over Abel Ramos last Dec. 11 on SHOWTIME.

 

“I can’t wait to fight on March 25. I’m ready to put on another great show for the fans and demonstrate how I continue to improve as a fighter,” said Prograis, who was 16 when he turned to boxing after relocating to Houston because of Hurricane Katrina. “I know I have a tough opponent, but I’m ready to go out and perform.

“Aaron Herrera is a rugged veteran and I know there will be some fireworks. I am thankful to my promoter, DiBella Entertainment, and to the network, SHOWTIME, for the opportunity to display my skills and talent.”

 

Regarding his nickname, Prograis said, “My manager and my dad were just trying to come up with nicknames. Basically, everybody was just shooting out names and they shot out that one – ‘Rougarou’. At first, I didn’t like it, but it stuck with me. A rougarou is like a Louisiana-type swamp monster or werewolf.”

 

Herrera, 27, of Valladolid, Mexico, a winner of 16 in a row at the outset of a pro career that began in August 2008, has fought some noteworthy opposition. This will be his second fight in U.S. soil. In his stateside debut, Herrera dropped a 10-round decision to undefeated prospect Pedro Campa last Dec. 12.

 

Besides experience, Herrera has solid skills, movement and hails from a strong family boxing background (his father and grandfather boxed). He’s at his best when he keeps his foes off-balance and can surely outbox them. This will be the 17th consecutive time he’ll be matched against a boxer with a winning record.

 

“I’m very excited at the opportunity to showcase my talent on theShoBox series,’’ Herrera said. “I’ve watched a few fights of Regis on YouTube. He’s a good fighter, but I am a better one. I feel fighting in Mexico has given me the upper hand. Mexican fighters are tough. I have fought better opposition and I’m the more experienced fighter.

 

“I’ve been looking for an opportunity like this. I need a good breakout fight for the fans to see me in action. I am a proud Mexican fighter and on March 25 the fans will see how real Mexicans fight like, and Prograis will know who Aaron Herrera is. Viva Mexico!”

 

The highly regarded Baranchyk is making his second eight-round start and second in a row on ShoBox. An offensive-minded fighting machine, he registered a 2:28, first-round knockout over Shadi Shawareb in his most recent start last Dec. 11 on ShoBox.

 

Baranchyk, of Minsk, Byelorussia, is a former European amateur standout who turned pro in June 2014 and relocated to the United States just a few months after. The 5-foot-7, 23-year-old has won all eight of his U.S. outings, seven by way of knockout, five in the first round.

 

“I am thrilled to make my second consecutive appearance on ShoBox,” Baranchyk said. “I know that my next opponent will be a test for me, but I will score another exciting victory for the fans.’’

 

His opponent, Givhan, turned pro in August 2012, won his first 15 scraps, boxed a four-round split draw with Freddy Durand on Aug. 22, 2015, and is coming from a majority decision over Juan Santiago lastNov. 13.

The 5-foot-7, 29-year-old fought 14 times in Michigan and one time each in West Virginia, Mississippi and Kentucky. The ultra-confident Givhan is taking a step up in class in Baranchyk, but he’s certainly not in awe of his assignment and is eagerly anticipating the opportunity.

 

“I am getting my mind ready for war,’’ said Givhan, whose nickname, “King Beamen,” is a reference to Jamie Foxx’s character from the movie “Any Given Sunday.”

 

“Training is going great both mentally and physically. I belong on theShoBox series because they showcase great talent and, false modesty aside, I have great boxing talent. I will feel at home fighting on SHOWTIME and I take this as a great honor to fight on their network.

 

“My opponent has not fought anyone of my caliber. I know he’s been talking trash, but it won’t matter in the end. He has not had an opponent who can outthink, outshine and outbox him. I am that guy, I am that fighter. The cliché is true: to be the best you’ve got to fight and beat the best. We are both undefeated and this is the kind of a fight that separates the good fighters from the great ones.’’

 

Golub, a six-foot, 27 year-old southpaw, turned pro in November 2012. At the outset of his career, he went 5-0 in the WSOB. He’s gone 10-0 since, winning eight by knockout, including his last four in a row. Golub has recorded five first-round stoppages, including a two-knockdown,2:41, opening-round TKO over Juan Rodriguez in his most recent effort last Jan. 16 at Barclays Center.

 

“It is an honor for me to make my national television debut,” Golub said. “Many champions got their start on ShoBox and I am determined to add my name to that illustrious list. My path toward a world title begins onMarch 25 when I hand Marlon Aguas his first defeat.”

 

Aguas is making his U.S. and 2016 debut after fighting seven times in Quito, Ecuador and twice in Mexico. A pro since March 2013, he won his initial eight starts and is coming off a first-round knockout over Edwin Gamboa last Nov. 7.

 

“I’m very excited and grateful to show the world a small country like Ecuador produces amazing fighters,’’ Aguas said. “Boxing is my life and I plan on making a statement in my U.S. debut.”

 

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside withSteve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall withRich 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 65 fighters who have appeared onShoBox 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.