29.09 - Undefeated World Boxing Union (WBU) Junior Welterweight Champion and current World Boxing Organization (WBO) No. 1 contender Ricky "Hitman" Hatton made his seventh title defense after Stephen Smith was disqualified in the second-round Saturday on "ShoBox: The New Generation." In the co-feature, Anthony Farnell wins a 12-round split decision victory over Ruben Groenewald to capture the World Boxing Union (WBU) Middleweight crown.
SHOWTIME aired the Sports Network-promoted fight card, the 26th in a series of "ShoBox" telecasts, at 5 p.m. ET/PT from Men Arena, Manchester, England.
Farnell (30-2, 20 KOs), of Manchester, England beat Ruben Groenewald in a 12-round crowd-pleasing rematch. Farnell captured the World Boxing Union (WBU) Middleweight title in front of his home crowd with a split decision victory. Judge Glen Seldon scored the bout 115-114, and judge Howard Goldberg scored the fight 116-112 and judge Besdes Bolyd scored the fight 113-115. Farnell captured the WBO Intercontinental 154-pound title on May 29, 1999 and has made eight successful defenses. Farnell lost by first-round TKO on a 154-pound bout to Takaloo on July 7, 2001.
Groenewald (18-3-3, 6 KOs), of Brakpan, South Africa, fought a good strong fight and just came short of defending his WBU Middleweight title for the first time. Losing by a split decision, Groenewald's nine-fight winning streak came to an end. Groenewald stunned a partisan crowd of more than 18,000 on June 1, 2002, when he earned a unanimous decision over hometown hero Farnell to capture the vacant WBU middleweight title. The 24-year-old has taken on his last eight opponents in the United Kingdom, including seven in England.
Hatton (30-0, 23 KOs), of Manchester, England, pulverized his opponent from the opening round. Hatton landed a barrage of punches in the first-round and knocked Smith to the canvas in the first round. Referee Mickey Vann stopped the fight and disqualified Stephen Smith after his trainer/father entered the ring only 0:28 seconds into the second round. Hatton retains his World Boxing Union (WBU) Junior Welterweight title, which he has successfully defended seven times. In his last bout on June 1, 2002, Hatton defended his WBU crown in a 12-round unanimous decision over Eamon Magee on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. In his 2001 debut on March 26, Hatton scored a fourth-round knockout over Tony Pep to gain the WBU Junior Welterweight crown.
Smith (31-2, 17 KOs), of Hammersmith, England, was not able to challenge Hatton and was dominated in the first-round. Smith was knocked to the canvas twice before his trainer/father, Darkie Smith, entered the ring and went after referee Mickey Vann, which resulted in Smith being disqualified. He was hit with an accidental elbow and received a cut on his right eye which caused Darkie Smith to jump into the ring. Smith gained the IBC junior welterweight title with a 12-round decision over Zoltan Kalocsai on April 10, 2001. Smith suffered his first loss when Bobbu Vanzie stopped the United Kingdom native in the ninth round to win the British Commonwealth lightweight crown on Feb. 21, 2000, in Bethnal Green, England.
"ShoBox: The New Generation" features up-and-coming prospects determined to make a mark and eventually fight for a world title. The best of the new generation of hungry, young boxers will have an opportunity to showcase their talent and heart as they battle each other in competitive fights in front of a national television audience. "ShoBox: The New Generation" is pure, basic boxing, reminiscent of the golden days of the sport.
SHOWTIME televises "ShoBox: The New Generation" at 5 p.m. ET/PT on Saturdays approximately every other week. The telecast will repeat the next day, Sunday, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and the following Saturday at 8 p.m. on SHOWTIME TOO.
Nick Charles called the action from ringside, with Steve Farhood serving as expert analyst. The executive producers of the telecast were Jay Larkin and Gordon Hall, with David Dinkins Jr. producing.
