Christian Mbilli won a 10-round unanimous decision over a game Sergiy Derevyancheko in a super middleweight bout at the Videotron Centre in Quebec Centre in Quebec City, Canada
In round three, Derevyanchenko injured his left bicep. The Ukrainian became a one-handed a fighter as he could only throw the hand. He fought valiantly, but Mbilli was able to constantly and consistently land thudding shots in combination, swelling both of Derevyanchenko’s eyes in the process. Derevyanchenko did as well as he could, but the amount of the damage that was accumulated should have forced a corner stoppage, but Derevyanchenko fought on in round 10, but took unneeded punishment
Mbilli landed 215 of 696 punches. Derevyanchenko was 135 of 453.
Mbilli, 167.4 lbs of Montreal, CAN won by scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 and is now 28-0. Derevyanchenko, 167.1 lbs of Mykoslav, UKR is 15-6.
Mbilli said, “I had some problems with my left hand, and I was not able to bring it up. I had to throw punches. It was difficult, but I had to do my best.
“He’s a warrior. He was in a difficult position, but he fought back. I’m going to go back home and look at the fight again.
“Right now, I’m ready for big fights. I want to be a world champion. I know that to be the best, I have to beat the best. I don’t want to say any names, but everybody knows who’s number one. I want the fight with number one.”
Derevyanchenko said, “My legs were good. I only had one arm. I needed to move. When I stayed, he punched in combinations.
“He’s a good boxer, a strong boxer. But if I had two hands, I think it would be another situation.”
Vianello Stops Mahmudov In 8 Due to Closed Eye
Guido Viaello scored the biggest win of his career as he stopped Arslanbek Makhmudob in round eight of their 10-round heavyweight bout.
In round three, Makhmudov began to swell and bleed from around his left eye from repeated hard punches from Vianello. The left eye of Makhmudov was completely shut in round four.. In round five, Vianello began to bleed from around his left eye.
In round six, Makhmudov was docked a point for hitting behind the head. In round seven, Vianello landed a right hand that clearly made the glove of Makhmudov touch the canvas which should have been called a knockdown, but the referee missed the call. The fight was stopped just after the eighth round bell rang due to the left eye of Makhmudov being completely shut.
Vianello, 245.8 lbs of Rome, ITA is 13-2-1 with 11 knockouts. Makhmudov, 260 lbs of Montreal is 19-2.
Vianello said, “I am a contender now. I am ready for the world level, and I proved that tonight.
“I thought I beat Efe Ajagba, and I came into this fight with a lot of confidence. I was in the best shape of my career, and that showed tonight. I dominated him and then knocked him out.
“I just had to stay composed. There was a knockdown that wasn’t called, but I knew if I stuck to my strategy, I would get the knockout.”
Osleys Iglesias remained undefeated with a second round stoppage over former world title challenger Sena Agbeko in a 10-round super middleweight bout.
In round one, Iglesias dropped Agbeko for the first time in his career with a right hook. Later in the round, Iglesias continued to pound away on Agbeko and the fight was stopped at 1:16.
Iglesias, 169.3 lbs of Havana, CUB is 12-0 with 11 knockouts. Agbeko, 168.7 lbs of Accra, GHA is 28-4.
Abdullah Mason remained undefeated with a second round stoppage of Mike Ohan Jr. in an eight-round lightweight bout.
In round one, Mason dropped Ohan with a left uppercut. In round two, Mason landed a perfect left hand that put Ohan down in the corner and the fight was stopped by Ohan’s trainer Mark DeLuca at 40 seconds.
Mason, 136 lbs of Cleveland is 15-0 with 13 knockouts. Ohan, 136.7 lbs of Holbrook, MA is now 19-3.
“Right now, it’s back to the gym. We’re going to take a little time off and be right back. I’ve got another fight coming up at the end of this year, probably sometime in November. We’re going to get that finalized soon,” Mason said. “We executed the game plan how we wanted to. I set the initiative a little bit early because I saw that he wasn’t coming forward. I think he might’ve been surprised with how clean the shots were landing.”
Lelia Beaudoin won a 10-round unanimous decision over Lizbeth Crespo in a junior lightweight bout.
Beaudoin, 129.7 lbs of Levis, CAN won by scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 and is now 12-1. Crespo, 129.2 lbs of Tarata, BOL is 15-8.
Wilkens Mathieu remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Facundo Nicolas Galovar in a light heavyweight bout.
Mathieu, 178 lbs of Quebec City, CAN won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 10-0. Galovar, 180.9 lbs of Tucumain, ARG is 15-12-2.
Jahi Tucker won an eight-round unanimous decision over Santiago Fernandez in a middleweight bout.
Ticker, 160 lbs of Deer Park, NY won by scores of 8-72 on all cards and is now 12-1-1. Fernandez, 159.1 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 8-2-1.
Thomas Chabot remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Matias Ezequiel Guenemil in a junior lightweight bout.
Chabot, 128.6 lbs Thetdord, Miines, CAN won by scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73 and is now 11-0. Guenmill, 128.6 lbs of General DanielCorri, ARG is 10-4-1.
Dzmitry Asanau remained undefeated with a eight-round unanimous decision over Akexis Camejo in a lightweight bout.
In round three, Asanau began to bleed from around his left eye.
Asanau, 136.3 lbs of Molodechino, BEL won by scores of 80-72 on all cards and is now 8-0. Camejo, 136.4 lbs of Sante Fe, ARG is 8-4-2.
LIVE FIGHTS: David Morrell Jr. vs. Sena Agbeko: Prelims | SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING COUNTDOWN
VIDEO: David Morrell Jr. vs. Sena Agbeko: Weigh-In | SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
UPSET-MINDED SENA AGBEKO: “THEY DON’T KNOW I’M A WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING!”
MINNEAPOLIS – December 15, 2023 – Hard-hitting super middleweight contender Sena Agbeko has set out to earn the “African Rocky” moniker as the upset-minded Ghanaian enters his showdown against WBA Super Middleweight Champion David Morrell Jr. tomorrow night in Minneapolis in the final SHOWTIME main event.
Agbeko has previously fought on the network twice, losing to Vladimir Shishkin in February 2021, a setback in his stateside journey, before beating the previously unbeaten Isaiah Steen on the network in October 2022, a career-changing victory that catapulted him toward Saturday’s title opportunity.
“I fought to get this fight back, because I deserved it,” said Agbeko, who had originally been scheduled to face Morrell in April before a ruling from the commission in Las Vegas. “I’ve already accomplished a lot, and tomorrow night I have the stage to prove that I’m the best. It’s perfect timing that my journey has culminated with the last SHOWTIME main event, and I’m going to make sure it’s a memorable night.
“Morrell’s team thinks that I’m just sheep going to the slaughter house, but what they don’t know is that I’m a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
Dmitriy Salita, who has promoted shows on SHOWTIME and fought on the network himself during his fighting days, spoke to the importance of this opportunity for Agbeko and his belief that the fighter will take advantage when he steps into the ring tonight.
“It’s a bittersweet moment for me both as a promoter and a fan of the sport of boxing,” said Salita, the President of Salita Promotions. “I’m very excited and grateful to deliver this world title fight opportunity for Sena Agbeko, who’s been the underdog and overcome many challenges in the ring and outside to reach this moment. He has developed on SHOBOX and now graduated to a world title fight against one of the best in the division. He is ready and motivated to fight the fight of his life on Saturday night.
“To top it off, it’s the last SHOWTIME boxing event in its rich 37 year history. As a young kid I used to rush home from Starret City Boxing Club to watch boxing on SHOWTIME. And now years later our fighter Sena Agbeko is fighting in the main event on its final broadcast. It is bittersweet indeed.”
The final SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will begin tonight at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, with Morrell vs. Agbeko topping a three-fight card.
# # #
ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS
Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including SHOWTIME, HBO, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, ESPN+ and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.
Check the Salita Promotions YOUTUBE CHANNEL for regular updates of the modern world’s greatest fighters, contenders and prospects in action.
VIDEO: David Morrell Jr. vs. Sena Agbeko: Final Press Conference | SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
DAVID MORRELL JR. VS. SENA AGBEKO FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
MINNEAPOLIS – December 14, 2023 – Undefeated WBA Super Middleweight Champion and Minneapolis fan-favorite David Morrell Jr. and knockout artist Sena Agbeko went face-to-face Thursday at the final press conference before they meet in the SHOWTIME main event this Saturday, December 16 from The Armory in Minneapolis in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
The press conference also featured exciting contenders Chris “Primetime” Colbert and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela, who meet in a 12-round WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator as they rematch in the co-main event, plus all-action former world champions Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and Andre Berto, who square off in a 10-round welterweight rematch in the telecast opener at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
The telecast had previously been scheduled to include WBC Flyweight World Champion Julio Cesar Martinez facing unbeaten Angelino Cordova, however that fight has now been postponed after Martinez experienced visa issues trying to enter the country.
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at The Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster.
Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday:
DAVID MORRELL JR.
“When you disrespect me, you’re gonna suffer. When you talk like that to my face, now it’s time for the punishment. I’m going to knock his ass out in the sixth or seventh round this Saturday night. My Christmas present for him is gonna be a knockout.”
“This is a great opportunity to headline the last fight on SHOWTIME. I was ready for him in April and I’m ready for him now. I’ll show him and anyone who doubts me.
“it’s going to be worse for him now. I’m better now than if we had fought in April. I’m taking him right out now.
“I’m really just focused on Agbeko. My body and my mental are 100%. I’m not thinking about David Benavidez right now. I’ll come for him after Agbeko. I’m taking this guy out first.
“I feel great to have this opportunity. My family is coming here to watch me for the first time. This is my time and this is my moment. I want everything.
“Having my family here doesn’t put pressure on me. It takes the pressure away. It’s going to make me feel great and clear my head, since I don’t need to worry about how they are doing in Cuba anymore. Once I’m inside the ring, my focus will be fully on Agbeko.”
SENA AGBEKO
“I’ve always had the mindset that I want to be the top guy at super middleweight. I want to face the best. That’s what I’ve wanted since the beginning.
“I can’t hate a man who’s on the same mission as me. We both want to be world champion. We were supposed to fight in April, and I believe that someone went to great lengths to stop the fight from happening then.
“I wanted this fight because of what I know about myself. There’s so much that I’ve done that people have chosen to ignore. I just wanted a chance. I’ve just needed the stage to prove it.
“I fought to get this fight back, because I deserved it. I’m grateful to the universe, and to David and his team for accepting the fight.
“I truly believe that his team thinks I’m a sheep coming to the slaughter house. But they don’t know that I’m a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
“This will be the culmination of everything I’ve ever dreamed of. It’s been a long 12 years. I’ve trained the whole time like I’m fighting for a world title. To win this fight Saturday night will mean everything to me. I want to add my name to a long line of Ghanaian champions.”
CHRIS COLBERT
“I’m not forced to do anything. I’m my own boss. This was the option that I chose. I’m tired of hearing him talk. I’ve always wanted to prove myself.
“He’s a sore loser, but he comes to fight. He’s gonna come to fight. I want to prove to the world and to his fans that he didn’t win. I’m gonna come dominate. I want him to take his loss like a man.
“It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish. He dropped me in the first 30 seconds and he didn’t’ finish me. It says a lot about him as a fighter. He had 2:30 to finish me in the first round.
“He got tired. I landed so many jabs. Saturday night I’m gonna make him stop crying about this. I’m ready.”
JOSE VALENZUELA
“I learned I have to keep my foot on the gas. It was pretty clear to everyone that I won. He said that I was a bum, but it looked like he was getting jumped in there. Everything happens for a reason and I’m happy to be back.
“I made the adjustments that I had to make. Saturday I’m knocking him out. I had a tremendous training camp.
“I’m gonna knock this clown out. It’s over for him. I can see in his eyes that he’s scared. He said he had different plans after the first fight. But he had to come back here to face me.”
ROBERT GUERRERO
“These fists are hungry and I gotta feed them. It’s been a long time coming. Things change, but like my dad always told me, ‘the older the bull, the stiffer the horn.’ We’re ready to go.
“The last time we fought, I was really a 135-pounder fighting at 147. I’ve grown into the weight now. It’s gonna be a lot different match now.
“We were both in Las Vegas out there running and doing our camps. I’m ready and I’m excited to do it again. When you run at that elevation in Las Vegas, there’s nothing like it.
“If you know Robert Guerrero, you know I come for war. We come no matter what. It’s just what we do. We’re warriors.”
ANDRE BERTO
“Anybody who follows me, they know I stay in shape. This is a fight that I felt like I always needed to get back. Same thing with Victor Ortiz. I shouldn’t have even stepped into the ring against Guerrero when we first fought. I’m on a revenge tour now before I leave this game.
Robert is a great fighter of course, and he did what he did. But I’m hungry for this one. I still think about situations from that fight back then. I’m hungry to get this one back. We had a hell of a training camp and we’re gonna get it.
“I wasn’t in the right space mentally or physically when we first thought. I only gained four pounds after the weigh-in. Even then he barely beat me. I’m not taking anything from Robert, because he’s a beast.
“Now, even at this age, I’m feeling like a beast right now. I’m focused right now. I didn’t pull any punches in camp. I had young studs pushing me every day. I feel good and I feel fresh.”
# # #
ABOUT MORRELL VS. AGBEKO
Morrell vs. Agbeko will see undefeated WBA Super Middleweight Champion and Minneapolis fan-favorite David Morrell Jr. battle knockout artist Sena Agbeko headlining action live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, December 16 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Armory in Minneapolis.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and feature exciting contenders Chris “Primetime” Colbert and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela in a 12-round WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator as they rematch in the co-main event, and all-action former world champions Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and Andre Berto squaring off in a 10-round welterweight rematch in the telecast opener.
JULIO CESAR MARTINEZ VS. ANGELINO CORDOVA BOUT POSTPONED; TO BE RESCHEDULED FOR NEXT YEAR
MINNEAPOLIS – December 14, 2023 – The previously scheduled matchup between WBC Flyweight World Champion Julio Cesar Martinez and unbeaten Angelino Cordova has been postponed. Martinez experienced visa issues trying to enter the country, forcing the bout to be rescheduled for next year.
The fight had been set to appear on the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast this Saturday night headlined by undefeated WBA Super Middleweight Champion and Minneapolis fan-favorite David Morrell Jr. battling knockout artist Sena Agbeko from The Armory in Minneapolis and presented by Premier Boxing Champions. The telecast will continue as a tripleheader.
Exciting contenders Chris “Primetime” Colbert and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela will meet in a 12-round WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator as they rematch in the co-main event, while all-action former world champions Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and Andre Berto square off in a 10-round welterweight rematch in the telecast opener.
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster.
THREE-FIGHT SHOWTIME BOXING® COUNTDOWN SHOW SET FOR THIS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16 TOPPED BY FORMER WORLD CHAMPION ALBERTO PUELLO BATTLING FELLOW UNBEATEN ECTOR MADERA
MINNEAPOLIS – December 13, 2023 – Former world champion Alberto Puello will return to take on fellow unbeaten Ector Madera in an eight-round super lightweight showdown as they headline the SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN show this Saturday, December 16 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Armory in Minneapolis.
Action live on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page will also feature middleweights Kyrone Davis and Cruse Stewart in an eight-round attraction, plus light heavyweight contender Lawrence King duels Alex Theran in a six-round fight. The streaming presentation will be hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show hosts Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell.
These fights precede a four-fight SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast headlined by undefeated WBA Super Middleweight Champion and Minneapolis fan-favorite David Morrell Jr. battling knockout artist Sena Agbeko and beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster.
Puello (21-0, 10 KOs) will return to action for the first time since August 2022 when he captured the WBA Super Lightweight World Championship with a victory over Batyr Akhmedov. A native of San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic, Puello now resides and trains in Las Vegas. Pueloo first shot up the rankings in July 2019, when he bested the previously unbeaten Jonathan Alonso via unanimous decision to capture an interim title. He will return to The Armory in Minneapolis for the second time, after previously scoring a unanimous decision over hometown favorite Veshawn Owens in December 2021. He will face Bakersfield, California’s Madera (11-0, 6 KOs), who now resides in Stockton and who will step up in competition to challenge the former champion Puello. The 27-year-old has fought professionally since 2016, and has put together a pair of three-fight knockout streaks so far. He last fought in 2022, scoring victories over Timothy Parks in August and Alejandro Frias Rodriguez in December.
The 29-year-old Davis (17-3-1, 6 KOs) will look to pick up a second victory in 2023 after previously dominating Cristian Fabian Rios in January to earn a unanimous decision. That victory came after a run that saw Davis battle two-time champion Anthony Dirrell to a draw in February 2021, before stepping in as a late replacement two fights later to drop a hard-fought contest against super middleweight superstar David Benavidez. An amateur standout representing Wilmington, Delaware, Davis trains in Philadelphia under the tutelage of top trainer Stephen “Breadman” Edwards. He duels the Maple Grove, Minnesota resident Stewart (8-2, 6 KOs) who will look to bounce back from a pair of defeats to unbeaten rising contender Elijah Garcia and then-unbeaten Hakim Lopez in 2022. The 34-year-old turned pro in 2018 before reeling off eight-straight victories.
A native of San Bernardino, California, King (13-1, 11 KOs) is a frequent sparring partner of undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez and enters this fight on a nine-bout winning streak. Since a narrow decision defeat in his fifth pro fight, the 27-year-old has stopped eight of his last nine opponents. King has already earned two victories in 2023, including most recently stopping veteran contender Marco Reyes after six rounds in June. He will be opposed by Colombia’s Theran (23-12, 15 KOs), who now trains in Lynn, Massachusetts. The 33-year-old turned pro in 2011 and has fought a slew of contenders including Anthony Yarde, Yunieski Gonzalez and Radivoje Kalajdzic.
Highlighting the non-televised undercard is talented junior middleweight contender Joey Spencer in a six-round bout against Argentina’s Marcelo Bzowski.
The non-televised undercard will also see exciting rising prospect Michael Angeletti (9-0, 7 KOs) step in for an eight-round super bantamweight bout against Mexico’s Angel Contreras (13-7-2, 7 KOs), unbeaten super middleweight Shawn McCalman (14-0, 7 KOs) facing Cristian Olivas (22-9, 19 KOs) in an eight-round duel and unbeaten super lightweight prospect Jose Chollet (2-0, 2 KOs)battling Lyle McFarlane (2-2, 1 KO)in a four-round matchup.
Rounding out the card is a pair of Mayweather Promotions rising prospects as unbeaten super middleweight John Easter steps in for a four-round fight against South Carolina’s Javier Frazier, while lightweight Charles Harris Jr. squares off against Minneapolis’ Marlin Sims in a six-round battle.
# # #
ABOUT MORRELL VS. AGBEKO
Morrell vs. Agbeko will see undefeated WBA Super Middleweight Champion and Minneapolis fan-favorite David Morrell Jr. battle knockout artist Sena Agbeko headlining action live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, December 16 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Armory in Minneapolis.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and feature exciting contenders Chris “Primetime” Colbert and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela in a 12-round WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator as they rematch in the co-main event. Plus, WBC Flyweight World Champion Julio Cesar Martinez defends his world title against unbeaten contender Angelino Cordova and all-action former world champions Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and Andre Berto square off in a 10-round welterweight rematch in the telecast opener.
WBA SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION AND MINNEAPOLIS FAN-FAVORITE DAVID MORRELL JR. BATTLES KNOCKOUT ARTIST SENA AGBEKO IN SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® MAIN EVENT SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16 FROM THE ARMORY IN MINNEAPOLIS TOPPING PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS EVENT
MINNEAPOLIS.- December 8, 2023 – Undefeated WBA Super Middleweight Champion and Minneapolis fan-favorite David Morrell Jr. will battle knockout artist Sena Agbeko headlining action live on SHOWTIME® on Saturday, December 16 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Armory in Minneapolis.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will feature exciting contenders Chris “Primetime” Colbert and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela in a 12-round WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator as they rematch in the co-main event, and WBC Flyweight World Champion Julio Cesar Martinez defends his world title against unbeaten contender Angelino Cordova. Plus, in a special attraction telecast opener, all-action former world champions Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and Andre Berto will square off in a 10-round welterweight rematch. The show will be the final boxing telecast from SHOWTIME SPORTS® after 37 years.
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster.
“David Morrell has built a truly dedicated fanbase in Minneapolis and will look to show his legions of fans, and fans around the world, why he’s undeniably one of the most dangerous super middleweights in the sport,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “It’ll be bombs away in the main event because Sena Agbeko comes to end fights early and will look to inflict damage for as long as the fight lasts. With three more highly competitive fights on the SHOWTIME undercard, fight fans will be in for another loaded night of action on December 16.”
A Cuban-native who came to Minneapolis to begin his pro career in 2019, Morrell (9-0, 8 KOs) has quickly shown off the talents that made him a standout in Cuba’s storied amateur scene. The 25-year-old recently scored a violent first-round knockout of Olympic Bronze medalist Yamaguchi Falcao in their April clash. He captured an interim title by dominating then-unbeaten Lennox Allen in August 2020 in just his third pro fight. Morell, who trains in Texas with renowned coach Ronnie Shields, added two dominant knockout victories in 2022 as he stopped Kalvin Henderson in June before a 12th-round TKO of the previously unbeaten Aidos Yerbossynuly in November. December 16 will mark Morrell’s sixth appearance at The Armory, and his fourth headlining slot.
“It’s a great honor to be fighting in the main event on SHOWTIME’s final show, especially in Minneapolis at The Armory where I call home,” said Morrell. “I’m going to bring my best effort forward and give the fans a spectacular performance worthy of this occasion. I specifically asked for the Sena Agbeko fight because he was saying I was avoiding him. Now that the fight is on, I’m going to punish him. I’m dedicating this fight to my family and all the fans that will be watching this event.”
Originally from Ghana and now fighting out of Nashville, Tennessee, Agbeko (28-2, 22 KOs) enters this fight having won his last five contests and 13 of his last 14. The 31-year-old won three times in 2022, including earning a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Isaiah Steen last October on SHOBOX: The New Generation®. The only blemish on Agbeko’s record since 2014 is a decision loss in 2021 against top 168-pound contender Vladimir Shishkin. Most recently, Agbeko stopped Bruno Leonardo Romay in two rounds in October.
“This fight against Morrell is career defining for me as it will determine where I stand in the super middleweight hierarchy of boxing,” said Agbeko. “With 30 fights under my belt, it’s now or never, and more than anything, it’s an opportunity to be etched in the history books, so it is absolutely important to me that I win. I’m very happy to have this opportunity to fight for the WBA belt on SHOWTIME where I’ve fought throughout my career. My objective is to win and end the year on a very high note and also use it as a catalyst to even greater fights next year against the very best in the division. Fight fans should definitely expect a thriller to end the year.”
Representing his native Brooklyn, N.Y., Colbert (17-1, 6 KOs) bounced back from a first-round knockdown in the first fight against Valenzuela to emerge victorious with a 95-94 score on all three cards, a decision disputed by Valenzuela and others. The 27-year-old will hope to repeat the victory and establish himself as a top contender at 135 pounds. Colbert entered the first fight off a hard-fought defeat to former super featherweight world champion Hector Luis Garcia in February 2022. After a decorated amateur career, Colbert turned pro in 2015 and took out three undefeated fighters in his first eight bouts. Since then, he took care of a slew of former champions and contenders including Jezzrel Corrales, Jaime Arboleda and Tugstsogt Nyambayar to establish himself as a potential future world champion.
“I’m happy to be back to quiet this sucker once and for all,” said Colbert. “I’m going to show him that there are levels to this boxing game. See you on December 16.”
The 24-year-old Valenzuela (12-2, 8 KOs) appeared to have Colbert hurt and nearly out after the first round knockdown in their first fight. He will look to finish the job if presented the opportunity in the rematch. Born in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, Valenzuela would have earned a big bounce back victory had he finished Colbert, following a September 2022 defeat to Edwin De Los Santos. Valenzuela, who turned pro in 2018, was sensational prior to that loss, including a first-round knockout of former world champion Francisco Vargas in April 2022 and a five-bout knockout streak before earning his first 10-round decision in a victory over Deiner Berrio in September 2021.
“Training camp is going great so far and I’m preparing really hard for this fight,” said Valenzuela. “I’ve improved a lot. I’m very excited to come back, put it all on display and settle the score when we get into the ring on December 16.”
Trained by the renowned Eddy Reynoso, Martinez (20-2, 15 KOs) first captured his flyweight world title with a ninth-round stoppage of Cristofer Rosales in his stateside debut in December 2019. The 28-year-old has gone on to defend the title five times, besting previously unbeaten opponents Jay Harris and Samuel Carmona, while most recently stopping Ronal Batista in May. A native of Mexico City, Martinez’s only blemish since a split-decision loss in his pro debut was a decision loss to future Hall of Famer Roman Gonzalez in March 2022.
“I’m very excited to return to the ring and I’m having a great training camp to prepare for this fight,” said Martinez. “My goal is to unify titles in this division next year, and I know that I have to beat Cordova to reach that goal. I’m fully focused on him right now, because I can’t get the biggest fights without being impressive on December 16. I’m planning to deliver a spectacular performance.”
The 28-year-old Cordova (18-0-1, 12 KOs) earned a career-best victory in his last outing, as he bested former world champion Angel Acosta on his way to a 10-round unanimous decision victory in April. A native of Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela, Cordova has yet to taste defeat since debuting in 2017, with a draw in just his fourth fight as the only blemish. He made his U.S. debut in June 2022, defeating Axel Aragon Vega by decision before the triumph over Acosta.
“I’m blessed to have this great opportunity to fight for the WBC world title,” said Cordova. “I want to thank Miguel Cotto and the rest of my team for their support. It’s a dream come true. I have worked very hard for this fight on December 16 and I’m ready to show my skills and become the new WBC Flyweight World Champion.”
Guerrero (37-6-1, 20 KOs) is a three-time world champion who has won world titles at featherweight and super featherweight, and has fought a stacked lineup of elite fighters, including Floyd Mayweather, during a superb career. The Gilroy, California native most recently defeated former champion Victor Ortiz in August 2021, running his current winning streak up to four. His 2012 triumph over Berto saw him drop his opponent in rounds one and two on his way to earning the interim WBC welterweight title. That win led directly to the Mayweather fight, as Guerrero would eventually go on to challenge other great welterweights of the era including Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia.
“I won my first world title on SHOBOX, so it’s an honor to be fighting on the last SHOWTIME Boxing event,” said Guerrero. “I’m ready to give the fans another great performance. Everyone knows that when I step into the ring, it’s going to be all action. Berto and I already went to war once, and now we’re gonna meet again. At the end of the day, the fans are gonna win.”
A long-time mainstay of the sport who’s delivered memorable moments, fights and knockouts again and again, Winter Haven, Florida’s Berto (32-5, 24 KOs) returns for revenge against Guerrero, who edged him out via decision in their all-action 2012 brawl. A 2004 Olympian representing Haiti, Berto twice held a 147-pound world championship, first winning the WBC belt with a 2008 stoppage of Miguel Angel Rodriguez. He would go on to defend the title five times, and reclaimed his status by winning the IBF title over Jan Zaveck in 2011. Berto owns victories over Victor Ortiz, Devon Alexander, Josesito Lopez and has challenged Floyd Mayweather and Shawn Porter in a career that has seen Berto engage in numerous Fight of the Year bouts.
“I’m excited to be performing again and to help close out a legendary chapter of SHOWTIME boxing,” said Berto. “This rematch with Robert Guerrero has been looming in my spirit for years. It’s a fight that I always wanted to get back before I left this game. I’m the type of man who loves to right his wrongs, the same way that I did with Victor Ortiz. I’ve had a hell of a camp and I’m looking forward to putting on a hell of a performance on December 16.”
GERVONTA DAVIS VS. RYAN GARCIA BLOCKBUSTER EVENT ADDS THREE INTRIGUING PAY-PER-VIEW UNDERCARD BOUTS ON SATURDAY, APRIL 22
LAS VEGAS – April 3, 2023 – Three intriguing pay-per-view matchups featuring knockout artists and rising stars will precede three-division world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis’ 12-round super fight with hard-hitting sensation “King” Ryan Garcia in a SHOWTIME PPV production on Saturday, April 22 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The pay-per-view telecast will begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features Cuban star and WBA Super Middleweight Champion David Morrell Jr. battling Ghana’s Sena Agbeko in the co-main event. The action will also see an eagerly anticipated rematch between super middleweight sluggers Gabriel Rosado and Bektemir Melikuziev in a 10-round showdown.Kicking off the telecast will be hard-hitting 19-year-old middleweight Elijah Garcia facing rugged Kevin Salgado of Mexico in a 10-round showdown.
Davis vs. Garcia is promoted by GTD Promotions, TGB Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions. The telecast is being produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV and will be available across pay-per-view providers including DAZN PPV.
Tickets for the live event are on sale now and are available through www.axs.com.
A Cuban-native who came to Minneapolis to begin his pro career in 2019, Morrell (8-0, 7 KOs) has quickly shown off the talents that made him a standout in Cuba’s storied amateur scene . The 25-year-old captured an interim title by dominating then-unbeaten Lennox Allen in August 2020 in just his third pro fight. Morell, who trains in Texas with renowned coach Ronnie Shields, added two dominant knockout victories in 2022 as he stopped Kalvin Henderson in June before a 12th-round TKO of the previously unbeaten Aidos Yerbossynuly in November.
“I’m very excited to be the co-main event of this incredible night for boxing,” said Morrell. “’Tank’ Davis is one of the sport’s biggest superstars and my aspiration is to one day be on the Mount Rushmore of boxing next to him. On April 22 I’m going to dispatch my opponent in sensational fashion. And after this fight I want the ‘Mexican Monster’ David Benavidez, but first I have to get past a tough and very capable opponent in Agbeko. I intend to take care of my business on April 22 and then look forward to taking on David Benavidez in a fight that the fans want to see.”
Originally from Ghana and now fighting out of Nashville, Tennessee, Agbeko (27-2, 21 KOs) enters this fight having won his last four contests and 12 of his last 13. The 31-year-old won three times in 2022, including most recently earning a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Isaiah Steen last October on SHOBOX: The New Generation®. The only blemish on Agbeko’s record since 2014 is a decision loss in 2021 against top 168-pound contender Vladimir Shishkin.
“I’m very thankful to my entire team for this incredible opportunity to fight for the title,” said Agbeko. “This is a stern test against one of the best super middleweights in the world in the co-main event of the biggest fight of the year. This is an opportunity that I relish greatly and is exactly how I envisioned winning the belt. I’ve had a long journey to get to this point, but I’ve always trained like a guy with a target on my back. I want to win the belt and be the fighter that everyone is going after. I have a great team behind me and I can’t wait to properly introduce myself to the boxing world on April 22.”
Having faced a deep and extensive list of champions and top fighters throughout his career, the always exciting Rosado (26-16, 15 KOs) will look to repeat his 2021 highlight-reel KO against Melikuziev in one of the year’s biggest surprises when they meet on April 22. The Philadelphia native has gone toe-to-toe with current and former champions Jermell Charlo, Gennadiy Golovkin, Peter Quillin, David Lemieux, Joshua Clottey, Daniel Jacobs and Jaime Munguia in a pro career that dates back to 2006.
“It was tough having the fight against ‘Zurdo’ canceled, but now it’s me versus Bek on the biggest fight card of the year,” said Rosado. “I’m focused and ready to put Bek back in check. I look forward to being part of a historical fight card, and I plan on dominating ‘The Bully’ once again!”
The 26-year-old Melikuziev (11-1, 9 KOs) heads into April 22 seeking revenge from his 2021 defeat to Rosado and to extend his winning streak to five. Originally hailing from Uzbekistan and now residing in Indio, California, Melikuziev turned pro in 2019 after an impressive amateur career that included gold medals in the 2015 and 2017 Asian Championships. Melikuziev had knocked out six of his first seven pro opponents before running into Rosado’s right hand.
“This is the fight I wanted and the most important fight for me today,” said Melikuziev. “This is the fight to right the wrong. I am so lucky to make it on the biggest card of the year. I want to thank my team, my promoter, and of course, Rosado, for giving me this opportunity.”
Fighting out of Phoenix, Arizona, Garcia (14-0, 12 KOs) earned a career-best victory in March, blasting out the previously unbeaten Amilcar Vidal in the fourth-round on SHOWTIME® to announce his presence at 160-pounds. The 19-year-old had previously put together a four-win 2022 campaign capped by a second round KO of Cruse Stewart that streamed live on the SHOWTIME SPORTS® YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing® Facebook page. The precocious Garcia has moved fast since turning pro in 2020 and has knocked out six of his last seven opponents.
“I’m thrilled to be part of this major pay-per-view event and I’m excited for the opportunity,” said Garcia. “After my last fight, I’ve been in the gym waiting for the time to showcase my skills yet again. I’m planning on putting on a great performance against Salgado on April 22. The main event is a great fight and ‘Tank’ is a beast, and Ryan is undefeated and talented and will be a tough test. But make sure you don’t miss my fight, because it’s going to be a Mexican war for all of the fans.”
A native of Mexico City, Salgado (15-1-1, 10 KOs) is the younger brother of former super featherweight champion Juan Carlos Salgado and now fights out of San Antonio, Texas. The 25-year-old turned pro in late 2016 and delivered knockouts in six of his first nine outings. After scoring three-straight knockouts between September 2019 and February 2021, Salgado returned to the ring in October 2021 to defeat Ricardo Banuelos Cernas by unanimous decision before fighting Bryant Perrella to a split-draw in his U.S. debut in April. Salgado bounced back from a September 2022 defeat to Joey Spencer by knocking out Gilberto Flores in the first round of their December 2022 clash.
“I know that I’m facing a good opponent, but I’m ready to surprise the boxing world,” said Salgado. “This is a great opportunity for me. I’m grateful to be in this position and I’m coming to take full advantage of it. I’m feeling strong in training camp and I’ll be ready to test Garcia and see where he stacks up.”
Sena Agbeko won a 10-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Isaiah Steen in a super middleweight bout at Ballys Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Agbeko landed 75 of 308 punches. Steen was 73 of 365.
Agbeko, 167.2 lbs of Accra, GHA won by scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94 and is now 27-2. Steen, 166.2 lbs of Cleveland, OH is 16-1.
Taylor Decisions Harrington
Marquis Taylor won an eight-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Marlon Harrington in a super welterweight fight.
Taylor landed 156 of 520 punches. Harrington landed 54 of 341.
Taylor, 154 lbs of Galena Park, TX won by scores of 80-72 and 79-73 twice and is now 13-1-2. Harrington, 153.6 lbs of Detroit, MI is 8-1.
Johnson Decisions Garcia
Moses Johnson took an entertaining eight-round majority decision over Elvis Garcia in a heavyweight bout.
Johnson lanaded 190 of 568 punches; Garcia was 209 of 528.
Johnson, 259 lbs of Huntington, NY won by scores of 77-75 twice and 76-76 and is now 9-0-1. Garcia, 232.8 lbs of Xalisco Nayarit, MEX is 12-1.
ISAIAH STEEN VS. SENA AGBEKO OFFICIAL WEIGHTS FOR SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION® TOMORROW LIVE ON SHOWTIME®
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – October 20, 2022 – Cleveland’s fast-rising blue-chip prospect Isaiah Steen (16-0, 12 KOs) and dangerous power-puncher Sena Agbeko (26-2, 21 KOs), representing Nashville, Tenn., both made weight at Thursday’s official weigh-in a day ahead of their 10-round super middleweight main event on SHOBOX: The New Generation tomorrow night, Friday, October 21 live on SHOWTIME as the prospect developmental series returns to Bally’s Atlantic City Casino & Resort, the site of the first SHOBOX® 21 years ago, for the second time in two months.
In the co-feature, perennial spoiler and SHOBOX alum Marquis Taylor (12-1-2, 1 KO), from Houston, Texas, takes on undefeated Detroit native Marlon Harrington (8-0, 7 KOs) in an eight-round super welterweight attraction. Plus, undefeated heavyweight prospects Elvis Garcia (12-0, 9 KOs) and Moses Johnson (8-0-1, 7 KOs), from Huntington, N.Y., square off in an intriguing eight-round bout that opens the telecast.
Hall of Famer Barry Tompkins calls the action from ringside with veteran combat sports reporter and MORNING KOMBAT host Brian Campbell and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts with Hall of Famer Steve Farhood remotely performing unofficial scoring duties. The executive producer of SHOBOX: The New Generation is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
The event is promoted by Salita Promotions.
FINAL WEIGHTS
Super Middleweight 10-Round Bout
Isaiah Steen – 166.2 lbs.
Sena Agbeko – 167.2 lbs.
Referee: Charles Fitch; Judges: Mark Consentino (N.J.), Anthony Lundy (N.J.), Joseph Pasquale (N.J.)
Super Welterweight Eight-Round Bout
Marquis Taylor – 154 lbs.
Marlon Harrington – 153.6 lbs.
Referee: Ricardo Vera; Judges: Jacklyn Atkins (N.J), Tony Lundy (N.J.), Joseph Pasquale (N.J.)
Heavyweight Eight-Round Bout
Elvis Garcia – 232.8 lbs.
Moses Johnson – 259 lbs.
Referee: Charles Fitch; Judges: Jacklyn Atkins (N.J.), Mark Consentino (N.J.), Joseph Pasquale (N.J.)
“This is one of my biggest fights. My layoff was just due to a lot of fights and shows not happening and opponents backing out but I was always in the gym getting ready for the opportunity.
“I’m going to out-box him and use my speed. I know he’s a power-puncher but I’m going to shock the world.
“My last fight on SHOBOX I was out-boxing Kalvin Henderson in the beginning of the fight, and I was trying to take him out. It didn’t go according to the game plan. I changed the game plan and used my jab to get the victory.
“I was at the fight when Kalvin Henderson challenged David Morrell in June [on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®]. That was supposed to be me in there against Morrell. I should have faced him.
“Sparring with [my half-brother] Charles Conwell has been great. He’s really pushed me and shown me a lot of inside game stuff, so I’m well prepared for this fight on the inside. I’m well prepared for this fight. Nothing worries me about him but he should be worried about me for this fight.”
Sena Agbeko
“I’m one of the best super middleweights in the world. I just need the stage to prove it. I know a little bit about him. After I beat my last opponent, apparently Steen wanted to fight me. As fate would have it, his opponent fell through and he reached out and I said, ‘Let’s get it on.’ I imagine that Isaiah is right around the same level as my last opponent. I know he’s a young, hungry fighter but I believe I’m hungrier. This is an opportunity for me and I’m ready to take it.
“For me, every fight at this point is an opportunity to prove that I’m world championship material. My goal is to get a big opportunity against a big-name fighter, to get the win and to keep pushing forward. Isaiah Steen wasn’t expected but I had been training all along so when I got the call, I was excited. I immediately said yes.
“I thought I did pretty well against Vladimir Shishkin… That fight taught me that defense alone doesn’t win fights. You have to also be able to inflict serious damage so I’ve definitely done my homework and I’m ready to reintroduce myself.
“Isaiah has a little bit of everything. He can box when he wants to and he can be an aggressive brawler when he wants to be. For me, my biggest advantage is the experience level. I feel like he hasn’t really fought that many high caliber opponents. I’ve been around a long time. I’ve been through the mill but I don’t think he’s been through the mill. When we get to the late rounds, we’ll see how he responds. I’m prepared for whatever.
“I think that most media when they talk about my power, they make it like I’m some devastating power and I hit hard. But I believe what really works for me is slowly breaking down my opponents through the rounds and then eventually I take them out of there. I don’t think I have that one-punch Mike Tyson power. I don’t have any of that. I believe it’s more breaking down my opponents down round by round and then eventually getting them out of there. I’m not the guy that looks for one-punch knockouts.
“I would love a world championship opportunity and at the moment Canelo has all the belts so I know I have to work my way up. I already have some names in mind but I’m not looking ahead of Steen. The goal is to get past him and then I’ll lay out my plan for the world to see.”
Marquis Taylor
“The draw with Paul Kroll on SHOBOX still doesn’t sit right with me but I’m still grateful for the opportunity and the exposure. More people know who Marquis Taylor is, so still a positive came of that. I learned that I have to get stronger than what I was in February. I learned that when I’m in a position to hurt my opponent, I have to go for it. I hurt Kroll a couple of times. I did go back to the gym and worked on my jab, strength and conditioning, and this time when my opponent is in danger, I’m looking for a better outcome.
“I’m looking to be in the conversation with all the top 10 guys at 154 pounds. I’m trying to get any of them in the ring. It’s just a matter of getting an opportunity to show everyone the level I’m actually on. I’ve been working a lot on head movement and bending my knees more, using my legs when I throw my shots, just sitting down more on my punches but still having good defense.
“COVID was a very confusing time for everyone but one thing I tried to do was find a way to train every day. I didn’t just sit and wait around. I did a lot of running, a lot of shadowboxing. I even changed the way I was eating because I was trying to stay at 147 pounds. I wanted to be like Thomas Hearns where I won a title at 147 pounds and then at 160 and 175. I really wanted to stay at 147. I even gave up beef and chicken and turkey and became a pescatarian. But those two years hurt me because when I tried to make 147 again, it just couldn’t be done.
“I was a bit of a different fighter when I emerged from the pandemic but these last few months, I’ve been getting back to myself, becoming more aggressive, sitting down on my shots, working on the sharpness of my punches. You can expect my punches to be way sharper and to have more of an effect. You can say I’m training for a knockout. I’m not a Tyson or a Deontay Wilder but I’ve been working on my technique and strength, and I want every fight to be better than the last.”
Marlon Harrington
“I’m expecting this to be a very good fight. I’m not looking to go the distance. I’m just going to go in there and implement my game plan. I’m trying to get him out of there. I’m coming in ready and I’m coming in to fight.
“I feel like I have one-punch power, concussive power, the kind of power where I can definitely end the fight with one punch.
“I’ve been cutting hair since I was 12. I have a nice clientele at home. That’s what I do. I’m a barber. Besides being a father and a fighter, I work at a barbershop. It’s my main source of income. I cut hair six days a week, with one day of rest so I can chill with my children.
“I like to play around with being a southpaw a lot once I get into a rhythm, but I’m mainly orthodox. When do I change to southpaw? I’m just in there creating, just having fun in there. I don’t know what I’m actually going to do until I do it. When it comes to turning southpaw, I just turn and let my hands go. So I think it tricks the opponent, especially if I get a guy hurt. It’s a different look, that’s the advantage it gives me.
“When I was getting people out there early, you don’t really learn anything. Going more rounds, I’ve actually learned a lot more. I learned I had to bite down and to relax. That’s the biggest thing, to not get over-anxious and exert more energy than I need to. Going those extra rounds actually helps.
“Before I got into boxing, I was doing bar fighting and street fighting. But in boxing, you’re actually fighting someone who knows how to fight versus some bum who’s been smoking and drinking and has a chip on their shoulder. I was the guy in the neighborhood who people would just call me and I’d just pull up and put the gloves on and fight, like street-fighting. I went to a boxing gym because I wanted to see if I could learn the fundamentals of fighting and that’s when I fell in with it and started taking it more seriously. I took a couple losses in street fighting but it built character.
“I first realized I had power when I was 17 when I knocked out someone for the first time and he was out cold. That’s when I knew I had real power. I’m looking to take my career as far as my body will take me. I’m looking to make a name. I’m here and I’m not looking to lay down for anyone. Am I looking for the KO? I’m punching to hurt you, so if you come at me, that’s what I’m going to do.
“Either the referee is going to stop it or I’ll stop it. I imagine my opponent has the same attitude. I know he comes to fight. He looks legit. This is the fight I need.”
Elvis Garcia
“I get my work ethic from my dad, who moved our family to Oregon when I was a kid. He picked strawberries and cherries in the fields. I started doing that when I was 13.
“I came to boxing later and started in MMA. I wanted to improve my striking so I thought I’d try boxing. I really started it to lose weight, and I just kept progressing and got a little more motivated and kept taking the opportunities as they came to me. I thought maybe I could be the first Mexican heavyweight world champion, but Andy Ruiz took that first.
“I have a newborn baby now and it’s changed everything, just my mindset and how I approach things. I feel more pressure and know that I’m doing it more than just for me. I want to do everything for her and provide for my family and give them a different lifestyle. I don’t want them to struggle.
“Right now, my footwork is my best attribute. I can work the angles a lot better than I used to. The jiu jitsu I did as a kid really helped me with my flexibility but for my footwork the wrestling really helped me. My best punch is my right hand – my overhand right.
“My brother is the one who has always pushed me and always believed in me. He said I always had the talent, I just had to believe in it.
“I sparred with a lot of top guys like Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua. He once called me his ‘secret weapon’ because I was always applying the pressure.”
Moses Johnson
“I believe I’m going to be the heavyweight world champion. I’m around one of the best teams in boxing. I’m around great up-and-coming fighters and guys like B-Hop (Bernard Hopkins) and Chris Colbert. I’m training with these guys every day. My coaches don’t train me as a heavyweight. They make me push it out every session.
“It’s boxing for me 100 percent. I did work with kids who have disabilities. But now I just train and just fight.
“I’ve sparred with guys like Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller, Otto Wallin, all the top competition. I haven’t sparred yet with Tyson Fury or Wilder or Joe Joyce, but a lot of the top guys.
“I need to work on everything to get to that next level. To be at the top you have to work on everything. You have to have a good jab, you have to have good counter punching, you have to have good movement. And not just one technique. Unless you are Wilder and you have that right hand. But if that doesn’t work you have to have good boxing skills. You have to know how to coFunter and how to jab and how to position yourself to throw certain punches.
“I know nothing about Elvis. The way we train, we’re prepared for whatever. It doesn’t matter if they are a boxer or a brawler. We train so that we are ready for anything and everything in the ring.
“Boxing is my life. I love fighting and I think about it all the time. I’m always watching boxing videos and always reading up on it. I’m just so into it. If you’re going to do something you have to be all in. You can’t be half in.”
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 86 fighters who have appeared on SHOBOX and advanced to garner world titles includes: Errol Spence Jr., 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 and more.
UPDATED SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION® CARD FEATURES EXPLOSIVE PROSPECT ISAIAH STEEN FACING BIG-PUNCHING SENA AGBEKO FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21 LIVE ON SHOWTIME®
NEW YORK – October 7, 2022 – Fast-rising blue-chip prospect Isaiah Steen will get a chance to slingshot himself up the super middleweight rankings when he takes on dangerous power-puncher Sena Agbeko on Friday, October 21 live on SHOWTIME at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT in the latest edition of SHOBOX: The New Generation. The telecast features four undefeated prospects and six fighters with a combined record of 87-3-2 and returns to Bally’s Atlantic City Casino and Resort, site of the first SHOBOX® 21 years ago, for the second time in two months.
The heavy-handed Agbeko (26-2, 21 KOs) steps in to face Steen (16-0, 12 KOs) in the 10-round main event at 168 pounds after light heavyweight prospect Ali Izmailov withdrew from his main event with Radivoje “Hot Rod” Kalajdzic for health reasons. Both Steen and Agbeko are SHOBOX alumni, making their contest a classic crossroads matchup of prospects to determine who’s a contender and who has to work to get back into position in the division.
“Steen vs. Agbeko is an exciting main event and the winner of the fight will be a bona fide world title contender in the super middleweight division,” said promoter Dmitriy Salita. “This is an amazing matchup on a talent-stacked card featuring nothing but pick ‘em fights.”
The co-feature will match Sean Hemphill (14-0, 8 KOs) against David Stevens (11-0, 8 KOs) in an intriguing eight-round super middleweight contest between undefeated American prospects. Opening the broadcast will be perennial spoiler and SHOBOX alum Marquis Taylor (12-1-2, 1 KO) taking on undefeated Marlon Harrington (8-0, 7 KOs) in an eight-round super welterweight attraction. Included in the telecast will be highlights of an intriguing eight-round clash between undefeated heavyweight prospects Moses Johnson (8-0-1, 7 KOs) and four-time Oregon Golden Gloves champion Elvis Garcia (12-0, 9 KOs).
The chiseled Agbeko represents the most accomplished opponent of Steen’s career, having gone the distance against undefeated contender and highly decorated amateur Vladimir Shishkin in February 2021 on SHOBOX. Agbeko has since won three straight matches, all by stoppages. Most recently he TKO’d then 22-1-1 Winfred Harris Jr. this past July to earn this shot. Originally from Accra, Ghana, home to many top Ghanaian boxers, such as two-division champion Azuman Nelson, Agbeko now calls Nashville, Tenn., home.
“I’m so excited for this opportunity. This is what I train for, to fight on the biggest stages,” Agbeko said. “I know he’s young and he’s hungry and has also been previously featured on the SHOBOX series but it’s not going to be easy for him. It’s going to be a battle of wills and may the better man win.”
Steen returns to SHOBOX after recording the biggest win of his career against the previously undefeated Kalvin Henderson on July 2021 on SHOBOX (Highlights HERE). An aggressive, come-forward fighter who likes to dig to the body, Steen is the half-brother of super welterweight contender and former U.S. Olympian Charles Conwell. The two shared the same card in August 2020 when Steen of Cleveland, Ohio showed off his power with a first-round TKO of tough Kenneth Council. That was the seventh time Steen stopped his opponent in the first round. Like his half-brother, the 6-2 Steen was a decorated amateur, going 85-15 in the unpaid ranks before he turned pro in 2016. Born in Detroit, Mich., Steen started boxing when he was seven.
“I’m grateful for this amazing opportunity,” Steen said, “and looking forward to facing a great opponent in Agbeko and showcasing my skills.”
Tickets for the event promoted by Salita Promotions are on sale now priced at $40, $100 and $150 and can be purchased at TicketWeb.com.
Hall of Famer Barry Tompkins calls the action from ringside with veteran combat sports reporter and MORNING KOMBAT host Brian Campbell and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts with Hall of Famer Steve Farhood remotely performing unofficial scoring duties.
SHOBOX: The New Generation is executive produced by Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
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 86 fighters who have appeared on SHOBOX and advanced to garner world titles includes: Errol Spence Jr., 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 and more.
Sena Agbeko Defeats Winfred Harris Jr. To Become WBC USNBC Champion
SIOUX CITY, IA (July 22, 2022) – Super Middleweight Sena “The African Assassin” Agbeko (24-2, 19 KOs) showed once again why he is one of the hardest punchers in the Super Middleweight Division when he stopped a tough Winfred Harris Jr. in the 9th round to capture the WBC USNBC Title Fight at a sold-out Sioux City Convention Center in Iowa. Winfred had never been dropped or stopped in his career up to that point. With that victory, Agbeko moves on to 26-2, (21 KOs) and is calling out some of the biggest names in the Super Middleweight Division including David Benavidez.
The seven-bout card was promoted by 15th Round Promotions.
Harris came out working behind his jab and surprised everyone when he took the fight to Agbeko who is normally the aggressor. Both fighters landed shots throughout the fight. Agbeko used great footwork to circle back and away from Harris and peppered him with well-placed body jabs and body shots to drain some energy from Harris. In the 9th, sensing some fatigue, Agbeko turned up the pressure and rocked Harris with multiple vicious shots to the head. He eventually put him down with a big right hook. Harris beat the count and on wobbly feet, continued to fight with courage, absorbing more punishment, eventually forcing veteran ref Mark Nelson to step in and call an end to the fight.
The featured bout saw local prospect turned pro Deonte “Sleep” Walker make quick work of his opponent Job Hamilton in their Welterweight debuts. Walker dropped Hamilton 35 seconds into round 1 with a thunderous left hand that connected on Hamilton’s neck. Hamilton beat the count and tried valiantly to hit back, but would get dropped 2 more times before Mark Nelson stepped in to stop the fight halfway through the first round.
Drako Rodriguez (formerly in the UFC), advanced his boxing record to 3-0 when he stopped Randy Steinke who trained and coached at The MMA Lab. Both fighters showed good, technical boxing, but Drako’s power was quickly the difference maker.
Traevon Kroger of Sioux Falls won via unanimous decision in a shutout and moved his record to 2-0 when he soundly defeated Hwa Suk Oh. Kroger’s length and height troubled Oh throughout the fight and every time he made his way in, Kroger made him pay with well placed uppercuts. Though 46 years old and a debut, Oh showed he had a lot of heart and durability with his performance.
Jonathan Torres won via Majority Decision defeating Luis Marquez. Though 0-2 and 1-2 respectively, both fighters put on a high paced, crowd-pleasing fight proving they’ve been working in the gym a lot. This was a hotly contested fight with a lot of action and big shots landed. Jonathan Torres tired in the 4th, but did enough to get the first win of his career.
Joshua Clark (5-0) defeated Ricky Field Jr in a second round KO. It would be Ricky’s debut in boxing, and he stepped in on short notice to replace a fighter who dropped off last minute, but these two had met in MMA before and felt they had unfinished business. Clark was too fast and powerful.
In one of the most exciting fights of the night, Brett Welling and Alex Citrowske slugged it out in what was ruled a majority decision draw in a Light Heavyweight brawl. Both fighters landed huge shots and brought themselves on the brink of exhaustion, leaving it all in the ring, in a wildly entertaining clash that could have gone either way.
15th Round Promotions
Sena Agbeko and Apollo Thompson Clash April 23rd in Iowa
SIOUX CITY, IA (April 23, 2022) – It’s official, Sena “The African Assassin” Agbeko (24-2, 19 KOs) and former WBO Inter-Continental Champion Apollo “Kidd” Thompson (19-4, 7 KOs) will square off in a historic fight on April 23, 2022, from the Abu Bekr Temple in Sioux City, Iowa. Agbeko vs Thompson, at 8-rounds Super Middleweight bout, will air live on FiteTV available at:
While still in Ghana, Sena earned titles as Ghanian’s World Middleweight Championship and West African Super Middleweight Championship and with 19 devastating KOs, he is sure to cause havoc and pain for anyone in the division.
Apollo “Kidd” Thompson had an extensive amateur career. His final record was 89-22 and along the way, he won New Jersey Golden Gloves six times. Thompson fought for a world title vs Liam Smith and was ahead on the cards till he got caught in the 7th round. Notable wins against fighters like Brandon Adams and Stanyslav Skorokhod have made him a real threat to worry about as he returns to the ring after a four-year hiatus.
“The decision to get into boxing was influenced by a lot of factors,” said Agbeko. “First, I always played sports in school, I played basketball, handball, ran cross country and later did field events like discuss and shot putt but the collegiate level in Ghana doesn’t offer sports and I felt like I needed to keep going with my sports ambitions. I had two options, soccer, or boxing so I went with boxing. Another factor was the influence of the great Azumah Nelson, one of the greatest fighters from Africa. I remember as kids, our parents would wake up at 3 or 4am in Ghana to catch his fights. It was inspiring and I wanted to do the things he did too. The final thing was watching the Ghana boxing team at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. I was inspired and wanted to win a medal for my country by competing. Though that was never realized, it definitely set me on by boxing path as I began training in the fall of 2008.”
“I actually believe that I’m a greatest boxer,” said Thompson. “If you don’t believe that you are the greatest boxer you shouldn’t be in this game. Once you start doubting yourself you have already lost. My plan is to become the best-that’s it. Once I achieve my goal then I’ll be impressed with myself. Then I’ll feel that I actually accomplishing something as far as right now I’m just stepping up in the brackets.”
The Co-Main event will feature Heavyweight sensation Istvan “The Hammer” Bernath (9-0, 7KOs). As an amateur, he won a silver medal in the super-heavyweight division at the 2008 EU Championships and at the 2009 EU Championships. Bernath will be tested against a wily veteran with knockout power of his own when he goes up against Milton Nunez (37-28-1, 32KOs).
Another notable fight on the card is Efrain Morales (7-1, 3KOs) vs Brent “Mr. Hollywood” Oren (4-8, 1KO).
A stacked undercard features many competitive bouts. Local fighter Traevon “Kid Cobra” Kroger will be making his debut vs Michael Mendez. Austin Pederson and Corey McIntosh have some local “beef” to squash. Come see it live or order it on FiteTV!
Agbeko tops Vera in Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro, TN (December 12, 2018) – Super middleweight rising star Sena “African Assassin” Agbeko scored a career best victory when he topped longtime contender Brian Vera, 26-14 (16 KO’s) Saturday, December 8.
The TriStar Boxing promoted event was Murfreesboro, TN’s first pro boxing card in more than 20 years and took place at the Mid-TN Expo.
Agbeko took a big step up in competition against Austin, TX’s Brian Vera. Vera, who has wins over Andy Lee, Sergiy Dzinziruk and Sergio Mora among others, looked to overwhelm Agbeko but the Nashville transplant wouldn’t be taken off his game.
Agbeko, who is originally from Ghana, worked behind a solid jab and straight right hand while displaying excellent movement to mostly keep Vera out of range. The gutsy Vera had a few moments of success but Agbeko weathered the storm and won convincingly.
Scores were 79-73 on all three scorecards.
“It feels good to have gotten this win, said Agbeko,” who is now 22-1 with 18 wins by knockout. “This was my first real step up and I’m looking forward to an even bigger challenge in my next fight. The goal is to keep moving up in the rankings and get in position for a title shot.”
Matt Young of TriStar Boxing Promotions was pleased with Agbeko’s performance and the return of boxing to Murfreesboro.
“Sena fought an excellent fight,” said Young, who works as a local firefighter and grew up in Murfreesboro. “We’re hoping to have him fight a ten rounder in his next fight against a respectable opponent. I owe a special thanks to all the fans that came out Saturday night and everybody that played a part in making this card happen. It was a dream of mine to promote a show in my hometown and we hope to return in the future.”
TriStar Boxing’s next show is taking place in 2019 and official particulars will be announced shortly. For more information on TriStar Boxing, please visit tristarboxing.com or facebook.com/tristarboxing.
UNDERCARD RESULTS:
Lightweights – Austin “The Dream” Dulay KO1 Corey Edwards
Heavyweights – Rydell “Super” Mayes KO1 Demetrius Shaw
Heavyweights – Dylan Courson KO1 Demonte Cherry
Heavyweights – Khalil Smoot UD4 Michael Davis
Sena Agbeko-Bryan Vera Headlines “Beatdown in the Boro” December 8
Nashville, TN (October 16, 2018) – Tri-Star Boxing Promotions will host Murfreesboro, TN’s first pro boxing card in more than a quarter century when they present “Beatdown in the Boro” Saturday, December 8 at The Mid-TN Expo Center.
Doors open at 6 pm and tickets for “Beatdown in the Boro” will be on sale shortly at Tristarboxing.com.
Headlining is an intriguing eight round super middleweight showdown between Nashville’s Sena “African Assassin” Agbeko and longtime contender Bryan Vera of Austin, TX.
Originally from Accra, Ghana, the heavy-handed Agbeko’s outstanding professional record is 21-1 with 18 wins by knockout. In March, Agbeko outpointed Lawrence Blakey in Nashville and made it known he was eager to take on tougher opposition. Since defeating Blakey, Agbeko’s spent time training with many of the world’s top fighters in Las Vegas.
Recognized as one of the toughest and most exciting fighters on the planet, Vera’s never backed down from a challenge. His professional ledger is 26-13 with 16 wins by knockout and he’s been on boxing’s biggest stage multiple times. Vera has two wins against former world champion Sergio Mora along with knockout victories over former titlists Sergiy Dzinziruk and Andy Lee.
The tough Texan also shared the squared circle with James Kirkland, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (twice), Willie Monroe Jr., Matt Korobov and Rocky Fielding among others. At 36, Vera looks to knock off Agbeko and have another run at the top.
“This is going to be the biggest fight for a local boxer in quite some time and it’s truly an honor to host the first fight card in more than a quarter century in my hometown,” said Matt Young, a Murfreesboro native and founder of Tri-Star Boxing. “Sena told us adamantly that he wants to step up the competition and Bryan Vera is the kind of opponent he was looking for. We’re expecting to see the best Sena Agbeko to date but he’s still in for a tough fight.”
Murfreesboro’s Rydell “Super” Mayes, 1-0 (1 KO), will face an opponent to be named in a four round heavyweight contest. A standout football player at Riverdale high school, Mayes scored an impressive knockout in his pro debut July 28.
Lightweight Austin “The Dream” Dulay looks to get back to his winning ways following his first career defeat when he faces an opponent to be named. Born and raised in Nashville, Dulay has an excellent 11-1 record with 8 victories by KO.
Popular Nashville native Eduardo “Chachi” Aguilar meets 15 fight veteran Carl Currie of Robbins, IL over four rounds. The two met July 28 and fought to a thrilling draw.
Unbeaten Memphis, TN based junior middleweight Mike Cook, 9-0 (4 KO’s), and heavyweight Dylan Courson, 2-1 (2 KO’s), of Rome, GA are slated to appear in separate bouts against opponents TBD.
Additional undercard fights will be announced shortly.
For more information, please visit Tristarboxing.com or Facebook.com/Tristarboxing.
