SLOAN, IOWA – November 14, 2019 – Uruguayan knockout artist Amilcar Vidal (9-0, 8 KOs) and El Paso’s Zach Prieto (9-0, 7 KOs) are both predicting an all-action affair in their upcoming eight-round middleweight bout.

The two power punchers will collide this Friday, November 15, in the opening bout of a ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader (10:30 p.m. ET/PT) from the WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa.

In the 10-round main event, undefeated Erik Vega (16-0, 9 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico, will face 2016 Olympian and decorated amateur Alberto Palmetta (12-1, 8 KOs) of Argentina; and hard-hitting Marcos Escudero (10-0, 9 KOs), also of Argentina, will take on Houston’s Joseph George (9-0, 6 KOs) in the 10-round light heavyweight co-feature.

The event is promoted by Sampson Boxing in association with Paco Presents. Tickets, starting at $10, are on sale now and available at www.WinnaVegas.com.

23-year-old Vidal, from Montevideo, spent his training camp working primarily with older brother Richard Vidal and up-and-coming head coach Freddy Fundora at Fundora’s private gym in Coachella, Calif.

Vidal, who will be fighting for the first time in the U.S., said working with his team and sparring with undefeated welterweight contender Sebastian Fundora gave him the perfect preparations for his big opportunity. “I had great sparring and a perfect camp,” said Vidal. “This is a very important fight for my career and my growth as a professional fighter. It’s a chance for me to demonstrate I can compete at this level. I feel more motivated than ever fighting in the U.S.”

Vidal has only gone the distance once in his young career. In his most recent fight, he scored a dominant unanimous decision over Argentina’s Nicolas Luques Palacios for the WBC Latino Middleweight Championship in May. The South American slugger says he’s eager to start another extended knockout streak against Prieto.

“I’m always looking for the knockout and I will be Friday night. Prieto is a strong guy, but I trust my team and my training to carry me through to the devastating win. I always knew all my hard work would pay off. I’m not sure exactly how it will go in the ring, but I can adapt to any style and get them out of there. This is my dream come true and I will make the most of it.”

27-year-old Prieto says having the proper time to train with former fighter and renowned trainer Louis Burke at the Las Cruces, New Mexico PAL has made him more prepared for this fight than any he’s ever been in.

Training in Las Cruces has also put him in frequent contact with former world champion and hometown hero Austin Trout, who has been sharing advice with the young prospect.

“Camp went great,” said Prieto. “I’ve never had an opportunity to see film and come up with a strategy for an opponent before. We were able to work on a couple things we want to execute. Austin talked to me about a lot of things too, like about fundamentals, how to keep your composure and how to walk in without reaching. He also showed me how to stay active with the jab and assess distance and told me to stay calm and focused under the bright lights. I have a great team behind me.”

The son of a retired El Paso police officer, Prieto says that many of his hometown fans will be having watch parties when he steps in the ring Friday night. While he won’t commit to a prediction in the fight, he says his aggression and pressure will eventually wilt the Uruguayan.

“Vidal has got some reach and knows how to use it, but I’ve fought guys taller than him before in the amateurs and even in the pros. I’m comfortable with taller opponents. This sport puts you in dangerous places and tests you. That’s what I love about it. I’m going in there ready for whatever comes and hopefully I land the right punches to set the guy back. I just want to pick my targets and see how much damage I can cause. I’m ready.”

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About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 81 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.

CONTACTS:
SHOWTIME Sports: (212) 708-1339
Steve Pratt, BZA PR for SHOWTIME: (310) 408-4555
Andre Courtemanche, Sampson Boxing: (954) 302-2462
About Sampson Boxing

Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America. Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, ESPN+, DAZN, VS., FOX, Fox Sports and several international networks. For more information, visit sampsonboxing.com.

Alberto Palmetta stopped previously undefeated Erik Vega in the 10th and final round of their welterweight bout at The WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa.

It was a nip and tuck fight until Palmetta clipped Vega with a right hook in the final round. Palmetta was all over Vega and landed 11 unanswered blows until referee Mark Nelson stopped the fight at 1:03.

Palmetta, 146 lbs of Argentina is 13-1 with nine knockouts. Vega, 146 1/2 lbs of Tijuana, MEX is 16-1.

Joseph George took a 10-round split-decision over Marcos Escudero in a battle of undefeated light heavyweights.

George won two cards 97-93 and 97-94 while Escudero won a card 96-94.

Escudero landed 177 of 911 punches; George landed 161 of 545.

George, 173 1/2 lbs of Houston is now 10-0. Escudero, 174 1/2 lbs of Argentina is 10-1.

Amilcar Vidal Jr. stopped Zach Prieto in round one of their scheduled eight-round middleweight bout.

In the opening frame, Vidal dropped Prieto with a heavy left. Prieto was hurt, and Amilcar jumped on him with a relentless flurry and ending the fight with a hard right that sent Prieto to the deck just as referee Mark Nelson was stopping the fight at 2:59.

Vidal, 160 1/2 lbs of Montevedo, UR is 10-0 with nine knockouts. Prieto, 160 lbs of El Paso, TX is 9-1.

It was billed to be a toe-to-toe action fight, and it lived up to it as Miguel Berchelt beatdown a game Miguel Roman to retain the WBC Super Featherweight title via 9th round stoppage at The Don Haskins Cinvention Center in El Paso, Texas.

The two landed heavy punches over the 1st part of the fight that saw several phone booth exchanges, with Brerchelt getting the better of the action.

In round six, Berchelt finally cracked Roman as he landed a hard right hand that sent Roman to the canvas.  Seconds later it was a quick left-right combination that sent Roman down for a 2nd time.

Berchelt continued to pound away on Roman.  The fight could have been stopped several times if not for Roman showing a tremendous heart and landing a right hand to keep him in the fight.

Roman finally broke for good in round nine as he was dropped by a barrage of punches.  Seconds later, it was another nasty head combination that had referee Jon Schorle stop the bout at 2:58.

Berchelt, 129.6 lbs of Merida,  MEX is 35-1 with 31 knockouts.  Roman, 129.6 lbs of Ciudad Juarez, MEX is 60-13.

“This was the toughest of my four world title defenses,” Berchelt said. “I give my respect to Mickey as an opponent. The key was my body work. He kept getting up and fighting with all of his heart. He’s a valiant Mexican warrior.”

Said Roman: “I feel fine. I gave it 100 percent. I’ll be back.”

Three-time world title challenger Miguel Marriaga stopped Jose Estrella in round four of their scheduled 10-round featherweight bout.

In round three, Marriaga landed a perfect left to the face that sent Estrella to the canvas.  In round four, it was a hard left to the body that sent Estrella riving in pain on the canvas for the 1-count at 2:43.

Marriaga, 126.5 lbs of Cartagena, COL is 27-3 with 23 knockouts.  Estrella, 126 1/4 lbs of Tijuana. MEX is 20-15-1.

“He was a very tough and strong opponent,” Marriaga said. “I know he trained hard for this fight, but I trained harder. In the end, my experience was key in getting the victory. The plan was to attack the body and that’s exactly what I did. I knocked him out with a huge left hook to the body.

“I know that I have what it takes to become a world champion. I want to challenge for another world title!”

Robson Conceicao won an eight-round unanimous decision over Joey Laviolette in a super featherweight bout.

Conceicao, 130 1/4 lbs of Bahia, BRA won by scores of 80-72 on all cards, and is now 10-0.  Laviolette, 129.5 lbs of Sackville, CAN is 9-2.

Conceicao said: “This is my second bout fighting eight rounds and I felt great. I always train hard and I am always in great physical condition. I feel like I’m prepared to go the 12-round distance. I want to face the best. I’m ready to battle against the champions of the junior lightweight division. I want Tevin Farmer, Miguel Berchelt, Alberto Machado, or Gervonta Davis. I don’t care who it is. I want a title!”

Saul Rodriguez remained undefeated with a 2nd round stoppage over Claudio Tapia in a scheduled 10-round lightweight bout.

In round one, Rodriguez landed a left to the body that put Tapia on a knee.  Tapia’s left eye began to swell really badly.  In round two, it was a left hook that sent Tapia to canvas.  Seconds later a right hand ended things when Rodriguez scored a 3rd knockdown at 1:57.

Rodriguez, 135 3/4 lbs of Riverside, CA is 22-0-1 with 16 knockouts.  Tapia, 137 lbs of Ciudad Mendoza, ARG is 28-19-4.

Rodriguez said: “I was anxious and excited to get back in there after such a long time out of the ring. It was a long time coming, but I did what I had to do and got the job done.”

Nicklaus Flaz took an exciting eight-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Sagadat Rakhmankul in a welterweight bout.

In round four, Flaz landed a hard right that sent Rakhmankul to the canvas.  Rakhmankul came back in round five to land some crushing shots that rocked Flaz all over the ring, and even open a cut over Flaz’s right eye.

The two pounded it out in the last round with Flaz hammerimg Rakhmankul and almost scoring a knockdown.

Flaz, 147 1/2 lbs of Vaga Alta, PR won by scores of 78-73, 77073 and 76-75 and is now 6-1.  Rakhmankul, 147.25 lbs of Oxnard, CA is 3-1.

Janibek Alimkhanuly took a eight-round split decision over Vaughn Alexander in a super middleweight bout.

Alimkhanunly, 163 1/4 lbs of Almaty, KAZ is 4-0.  Alexander, 162.25 lbs of St. Louis, MO 12-2.

Zach Prieto needed just 45 seconds to dispose of Michael Andrews in their scheduled four round middleweight bout.

Prieto, 158 lbs of El Paso, TX is 4-0 with three knockouts.  Andrews, 157 lbs of Pontiac, MI is 1-3.