SHOWTIME Championship Boxing Presents Tripleheader From Houston

NEW YORK (May 29, 2003) – Three of boxing’s most highly regarded young boxers – Rocky Juarez, Francisco “Panchito” Bojado and Juan Diaz – hope to continue their winning ways when they face their respective opponents in separate bouts on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Saturday, July 19, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Juarez, 23, the 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist, will take on tough Dominican Antonio Chelo Diaz, while 20-year-old Bojado, who scored early-round knockouts in his first nine bouts, will battle National Boxing Association (NBA) Lightweight Champion Lemuel Nelson. In addition, the youngest boxer ever to appear on SHOWTIME, Diaz, 19, will challenge a fighter to be named. SHOWTIME will televise the Main Events, Inc.-promoted fight card from Reliant Park in Houston.

Juarez (16-0, 12 KOs), of the north side of Houston, has won seven out of his past eight bouts inside of the distance. In his last outing, the undefeated Texan scored a sixth-round TKO over Frank Archuleta on May 3, 2003, in Las Vegas. The technically proficient youngster made his seventh SHOWTIME appearance on Feb. 1, 2003, and registered a ninth-round TKO over former United States Boxing Association (USBA) 122-pound champion Jason Pires in Uncasville, Conn. During an outstanding amateur career, Juarez compiled a 145-17 record. A controversial decision in the championship bout cost the United States Olympian a gold medal.

Diaz (24-3, 11 KOs), of New York by way of Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic, captured the New York state featherweight title in his ninth pro start with a 10-round decision over Jose Rodriguez on April 25, 1997. Following his first career setback in October 1997, Diaz went 10-0 over the next three years to earn a world title shot against Istvan “Koko” Kovacs for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight title on Jan. 27, 2001. Diaz rebounded from a 12th-round TKO to Kovacs to defeat Max Gomez on April 20, 2001, in Atlantic City, N.J. In his lone 2002 start, Diaz recorded a 10-round majority decision over Rogers Mtagwa May 25, 2002, on SHOWTIME. The New York resident, who will make his third SHOWTIME appearance in his past four outings, registered a 10-round unanimous decision in his sole 2003 bout on April 4 in Bushkill, Pa.

Bojado (12-1, 11 KOs), of Los Angeles by way of Guadalajara, Mexico, will make his 10th SHOWTIME appearance (including highlights) in 13 pro bouts. The hard-hitting brawler has rebounded from his only loss to record three consecutive wins, including a sixth-round knockout over William Adamyan on May 10, 2003, in Temecula, Calif. Bojado opened the 2002 campaign on Feb. 16 by suffering a 10-round unanimous decision loss to veteran Juan Carlos Rubio on SHOWTIME. Since turning pro on Jan. 13, 2001, Bojado, who has fought just 48 rounds in 11 fights, has registered five first-round knockouts, three second-round KOs and one third-round knockout. Bojado captured his first pro title, the WBC junior welterweight youth crown, on Oct. 13, 2001, with a second-round KO over Eleazar Contreras on SHOWTIME. The youngest member of the 2000 Mexican Olympic team compiled an outstanding record of 168-15 with 85 knockouts in the amateurs.

Nelson (25-6-1, 13 KOs), of Pensacola, Fla., captured the vacant NBA lightweight crown with a seventh-round TKO over Johnny West on Sept. 7, 2002, in Portland, Ore. After turning pro at age 20, the Florida native knocked out his first six opponents, including four in the opening round. Nelson captured his first pro title, the International Boxing Council (IBC) International lightweight championship, in his 15th bout with a 12-round decision over Brian Adams on Jan. 9, 1999, in Pensacola, Fla. Following three successful title defenses, Nelson made his lone world title appearance on June 10, 2000, and got stopped by WBO Junior Lightweight Champion Acelino Freitas in Detroit. The 27-year-old veteran has compiled a 5-1-1 record in his last seven bouts.

Diaz (19-0, 9 KOs), of Houston, rallied from a sixth-round knockdown in his last start to register a 10-round unanimous decision over Eleazar Contreras on May 10, 2003, in Temecula. Diaz became the youngest boxer (17 years old) to fight on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING when he made his network debut on Jan. 13, 2001, and won a six-round decision over Brad Jensen. In his second SHOWTIME appearance on Sept. 1, 2001, Diaz survived a brutal second-round knockdown at the hands of Ubaldo Hernandez, as well as a badly cut right eye to win his initial eight-round start via unanimous decision. The native Texan turned pro at age 16 on June 23, 2000, and scored a first-round TKO over Rafael Ortiz. Too young to box professionally in the U.S., the crowd-pleasing teenager fought his initial three bouts in Mexico. In his last SHOWTIME appearance, Diaz stopped John Bailey in the seventh round on Feb. 1, 2003, from Uncasville.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING’s Steve Albert and Al Bernstein will call the action from ringside with Jim Gray serving as roving reporter. The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecast is Jay Larkin, with David Dinkins Jr. producing and Bob Dunphy directing.

For information on upcoming SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts, including complete fighter bios and records, please go the SHOWTIME website at http://sho.com/ .