September 14, 2023 – Undefeated Panamanian prospect Rafael Pedroza and San Antonio’s own Ramon Cardenas both made weight on Thursday, a day ahead of their 10-round super bantamweight main event showdown on SHOBOX: The New Generation tomorrow night, Friday, September 15 live on SHOWTIME at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT from Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas.
The exciting tripleheader includes fighters with a combined record of 88-2-2 and 54 knockouts all stepping up in competition. The co-main event will feature hard-hitting undefeated Argentine Mirco Cuello who returns to the U.S. for the first time since 2020 to battle undefeated Los Angeles native Rudy Garcia. Rounding out the card, undefeated KO artist Freudis Rojas, who made his SHOWTIME debut in July, meets once-beaten Californian Saul Bustos in an eight-round welterweight bout to open the telecast.
The card is promoted by Sampson Boxing. The card is co-promoted by Paco Presents Boxing.
FINAL WEIGHTS
Super Bantamweight Bout – 10 Rounds
Rafael Pedroza – 122 pounds
Ramon Cardenas – 121.8 pounds
Featherweight Bout – 10 Rounds
Mirco Cuello – 125.2 pounds
Rudy Garcia – 125.3 pounds
Welterweight Bout – 8 Rounds
Freudis Rojas – 146.8 pounds
Saul Bustos – 146.7 pounds
FINAL QUOTES
RAFAEL PEDROZA
“I know that Ramon Cardenas is a really tough fighter and I know he has a lot of skills but I trained really hard for this fight. I had a super camp, and it’s a must-win for me. I had great preparations and each fight out I mature mentally and physically. This will be another challenge to overcome but I feel ready for it.
“I know I have to win the respect of the public. I want to be known as a showman and as someone who knows how to perform so that people want to see me again and I’m able to come back to the United States to fight again because people ask for it. I really want to stand out and get noticed with this performance.
“As for my game-plan, I know I can adjust to whatever my opponent does. I don’t want the judges to play a role in this fight. I really want to finish early. But I will adjust. If I have to box or if I have to brawl will depend on what my opponent does. But I know I will be able to take my opponent out of his game-plan. I’m taller and have the longer reach. My opponent is shorter.
“One of my influences growing up in Panama was definitely Roberto Duran. He’s inspirational and he’s helped many people get off drugs and their delinquencies. They see him as a path to a better life. He influences a lot of people. We have met and he’s certainly given me advice. He tells me to go in there and take care of business and to stay disciplined and to train every day.
“I can’t really say if Cardenas will be my toughest opponent. He’s a good fighter and he can punch but let’s see what happens when we meet in the ring.”
RAMON CARDENAS
“I’ve fought like nine times here in San Antonio, but mostly smaller shows. This is the biggest one for me, and a main event.
“I can’t really say if I’m the favorite or the underdog. Everything that he brings, I’ve already seen it. To be honest, I have watched 10 seconds of him. I think he has a good jab, but I don’t watch film because I don’t see the point of it. I let my coaches handle that.
“I have Adam Lopez in my corner. He’s a local legend and fought the most times on SHOBOX [eight times]. I learned a lot from watching him when I was younger.
“I have 22 wins and 11 KOs. You would say that’s not a big KO ratio, but I have some pop and that’s what all the fans will see on Friday night.”
MIRCO CUELLO
“All Argentinian fighters are aggressive and I’m not an exception. My boxing style is aggressive, and I can fight on the inside and the outside.
“I know Rudy Garica is very active. I know he has a good left hand. I am ready for him.
“I have fought all over the world – Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Panama, Mexico, and the United States. And also the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. I feel like that has given me the experience and has allowed me to step up the level of competition and opponents that I have faced.
“My last fights in the U.S. were my first two pro fights in South Carolina in 2020. I just feel like I’m so much more focused now, and more relaxed, more professional.
“It’s a dream to be here and fighting on SHOWTIME. As a kid I was always watching guys like Marcos Maidana on SHOWTIME. This is a true dream come true.”
RUDY GARCIA
“I like fighting fighters who are aggressive and it always brings the best out of me. I feel like I’m both a boxer and a puncher. I can bring it both ways. I can work well inside, and also try to be a real technical boxer. Sometimes you just get in that fight mode and you want to give the fans what they want.
“I can fight on the ropes or I can put pressure on. I love putting pressure in a smart way. I’m not one of those fighters that likes to get hit.
“I don’t see too much from my opponent. He has a lot of rounds in the amateurs and we have just been concentrating on being disciplined in camp and sticking to the game plan.
“I think I can outlast him and go the distance. I’m certainly in the best shape for it.
“I idolize guys like Juan Manuel Marquez. It’s his counter-punching. He was aggressive and technically sound.
“One thing a lot of people don’t know about me is that I’m a history buff. I’d like to become a history teacher. I was going to college, but I stopped to concentrate on boxing. It’s my goal to get back into it later, or maybe get into law enforcement.”
FREUDIS ROJAS
“We’ve been working a lot on the inside and sparring with people that way. I’ve been working on not being a one-dimensional fighter and someone who people can figure out. If I have to fight backwards, I’ll fight backwards. If I have to fight with lateral movement, I’ll fight with lateral movement. If I have to stay in there and box, I’ll stay in there and box. If I have to stay in there and bang with him, I will.
“If a knockout happens, it happens. But I have to stick to my game plan. I’ve been working with a lot of pressure fighters and we’re ready. I think people will see a different Freddy. Everyone is so used to seeing me box and move, box and move. But I’m going to stay in there and mix it up with him.
“We’ll see what kind of fight he brings. We have some tricks ready for him. I have to be ready to fight a boxer who’s going to stand in there.
“I couldn’t care less about the knockout streak and stuff like that. I’m not known to be a knockout artist.
“Fighting on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP was amazing [beating Diego Sanchez by TKO7 in July]. I was just so happy and I caught myself between rounds looking up at the screen and saying, ‘Damn, I’m really here.’ You know, as a kid you dream of being on that stage, but you never expect it will happen. I was so happy from the press conference to the end of the fight. I just had so much fun.
“I’m excited to face a guy with a famous coach like Freddie Roach. I mean, he’s Manny Pacquiao’s coach. He has an amazing coach in his corner.”
SAUL BUSTOS
“Rojas has the height and will try and use that to his advantage, but I’m not fearful of him. I know he’s undefeated and has a lot of knockouts, but I feel like I’m ready to rise to the challenge. I respect him for giving me this opportunity. I’m excited to showcase my skill set.
“I’ve been sparring taller guys, like 6-foot-2, and 154 pounders. I’m not really too worried about his size.
“I started working with Freddie Roach in August of 2021, but this will be my first fight with him in my corner because he wasn’t available for the others.
“I can’t say a lot about Rojas’ power, but I would say his power looks a little padded to me. In a way I don’t think it’s real, but I’ll soon find out.
“I’m more of a boxer. I wouldn’t say I’m a brawler. But I do like to bring the action.”
# # #
International Boxing Hall of Famer Barry Tompkins calls the blow-by-blow action for SHOBOX with fellow Hall of Famer Steve Farhood joining the team remotely as the unofficial scorer. Former world champion Raul Marquez and veteran combat sports reporter and MORNING KOMBAT co-host Brian Campbell will serve as ringside expert analysts. The executive producer of SHOBOX: The New Generation is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
# # #
For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, #ShoBox, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports
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 90 fighters who have appeared on SHOBOX and advanced to garner world titles includes: Errol Spence Jr., Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury, 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, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.
