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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 (July 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: The New Generation 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. ET/PT, undefeated consensus Top-10-ranked super bantamweight Vladimir Tikhonov (15-0, 9 KOs), of Russia, will face Texas slugger Jesse Angel Hernandez (8-1, 6 KOs) in an eight-round matchup of fellow southpaws.
Note: The ShoBox telecast will now begin at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT immediately following the premiere of Episode 1 of ALL ACCESS: Mayweather vs. McGregor. The start time was previously announced as 10 p.m. ET/PT.
Tickets for the event promoted by Salita Promotions are on sale now and priced at $350, $250, $125 and $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: The New Generation. 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 August 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, including the 2013 National PAL Bronze Medalist (141 lbs.), the 2013 National Golden Gloves Final Eight (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 the WBA and No. 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 onAugust 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 August 4.”
Dmitriy Salita, head of Salita Promotions, said, “Both fights are between top contenders with real aspirations for world titles soon. This is what ShoBox is all about, the best fighting the best. August 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.”
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 69 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, 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. and more.
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Rolando Chinea Upsets Previously Unbeaten Kenneth Sims Jr.
Glenn Dezurn and Adam Lopez Fight To a Split Draw
Joshua Greer Jr. TKOs Leroy Davila After Round 5
Catch The Replay Monday, July 17 At 10 p.m. ET/PT On SHOWTIME EXTREME®
Click HERE To Download Photos; Credit Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME
MIAMI, Okla. (July 15, 2017) – Ivan Baranchyk went the distance with Keenan Smith in front of Baranchyk’s adopted hometown in the main event of a quadrupleheader featuring eight returning fighters on Friday’s ShoBox: The New Generationfrom Buffalo Run Casino & Resort.
In a battle of undefeated fighters, the hard-hitting Baranchyk (15-0, 10 KOs) took advantage of a one-point holding deduction against Sims in the fifth round to earn the decision in his fifth appearance on the ShoBox series and six consecutive fight out of Miami.
“I’m happy to be fighting back home in Miami, I love to fight here,” said Baranchyk, who was happy with his win but displeased with his overall performance. “I came out too hard and tried too hard to knock Smith out. I really wanted to knock him out which is why my punches were wild.”
Smith (11-1, 5 KOs) sealed his fate when he was deducted a point by officials after excessive holding throughout the first half of the fight. He became the 166th fighter to lose his undefeated record on the ShoBox series.
“They weren’t playing fair,” Smith said. “Anything that I did, the referee was on me. I was hitting him with clean body shots, and he kept telling me to keep them up, and then he took a point for holding. I don’t know what fight [the judges] were watching.”
The fight was a hard-hitting and physical affair from the beginning. Baranchyk came out swinging, landing just 21% of his jabs and 29% of total punches, edging out Smith who landed just 22% of his total punches.
“I came out too hard and tried to knock him out, which is why my punches were wild,” said Baranchyk.
In the co-feature, Rolando Chinea upset previously unbeaten former national amateur champion Kenneth Sims Jr. in a close majority decision.
“I was most confident after the second round of the fight, when I noticed he was sticking his tongue out and making certain gestures that showed he was tired,” Chinea said. “If I had to grade myself I would rate my overall performance as a B… I have a lot to improve on and my job here is never finished.”
Like Smith, Sims (12-1, 4 KOs) suffered the first loss of his career, becoming the 165th fighter to lose his undefeated record on the ShoBox series.
In the wild final round, the pair combined for 291 punches and 85 connects, but Chinea’s surge earned him the majority decision win.
“My body just didn’t respond tonight,” Sims said. “I am done at 140 pounds. I just did not feel right from the opening bell. I am going to 147 pounds.”
In the sixth round, Chinea took control and was the busier fighter against a fading Sims. While both fighters exchanged numerous punches in the seventh and closed the fight out with a flurry of activity, Sims clearly struggled at 140 pounds.
In the wild final round, the pair combined for 291 punches and 85 connects, but Chinea’s surge earned him the majority decision win.
In the second fight of the night, Glenn Dezurn (9-0-1, 6 KOs) stepped up to the 121-pound super bantamweight division to go the distance with ShoBox veteran Adam Lopez (16-1-2, 8 KOs) in an action-packed eight-round slugfest that ended in a split draw. Both fighters were visibly disappointed by the judge’s decision.
“I thought I did enough to win,” said the still-undefeated Dezurn, who spars with his wife, women’s pro fighter Franchon Crews. “I’m just fortunate for this opportunity and hope [Lopez] and I can come back strong and fight again someday.”
The first round was a round of give-and-take where both Dezurn and Lopez landed and sustained an impressive amount of body punches. It was Lopez who originally appeared more subdued, foregoing the counterpunch as Dezurn worked the jab.
By the fifth round it was clear Dezurn was losing steam when Lopez began to break him down and force him against the ropes. Lopez went on to dominate the sixth and seventh rounds, when Dezurn, clearly out-fought, looked tired and began to lean over.
“After the first round, I dominated the action,” said Lopez, who has now fought on ShoBox a record-tying six times. Maybe [Dezurn] won the seventh, but I whipped him. I should have won the fight, this was a redemption for me. Once I got used to his speed, I feel I won rounds six to two. The whole fight, his back was against the ropes and I beat up his body.”
Trained by the famed Coach Barry Hunter, the still-undefeated Dezurn made a valiant comeback in the final round, where he came back to life.
“I thought it was fair,” Hunter said. “We came on in the middle rounds, and Glenn won the seventh and eighth to get us the draw. It all came down to the stretch and I thought we did enough to win those rounds.”
In the opening bout of the telecast, former knockdown-of-the-year candidate Joshua Greer Jr. (14-1-1, 6 KOs) stopped Leroy Davila (5-2, 3 KOs) after five rounds, when Davila’s corner called the fight at the conclusion of the fifth.
“The game plan was to box and hit hard, and that’s what I did,” said Greer, who earned a memorable knockout against James Gordon Smith in his last ShoBox appearance. “I had to put on a good show. I will fight whoever has the belts. I want to fight for a world title.”
The 23-year old Greer landed a number of aggressive combinations that had Davila against the ropes from the onset. While Davila appeared to come alive in the second round, the 29-year old southpaw became stationary and had trouble recovering from a shot to the face that had him bleeding out of the left side of his nose and struggling for the second half of the fourth and the fifth. His corner called the fight just after the bell sounded, ending the fifth round.
The event was co-promoted by GH3 Promotions and Holden Productions.
Friday’s quadrupleheader will replay on Monday, July 17 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available on SHOWTIME on DEMAND® and SHOWTIME ANYTIME®.
Barry Tompkins called the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer was Gordon Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
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For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, and @GCPBoxing or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports.
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