It's Showtime For Sharmba! Mitchell v Vilches For Vacant IBF No.2 Contender Position Jan 25

31.12 - Former WBA super lightweight champion SHARMBA MITCHELL (photo: Tom Casino/Showtime) returns for his second consecutive appearance in as many months on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing, when he faces the "Pride of the Pampas," Argentine fireball CARLOS WILFREDO VILCHES, Saturday, January 25, at Bally's Atlantic City Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, in association with Budweiser, the SHOWTIME telecast will begin at 10 P.M. EST/10 P.M. PST.

Mitchell and Vilches, with a combined professional record of 87-5-2 (53 KOs), and a winning percentage exceeding 92.5%, will meet in a 12-round junior welterweight elimination bout for the vacant IBF No. 2 contender position.

The stakes are high, with the winner moving a step closer toward landing a title shot with the undisputed 140-pound world champion Kostya Tszyu.

"Sharmba is already world-rated No. 2 by the WBA and a victory over Vilches will further solidify his position in getting a rematch against Tszyu," said Gary Shaw. "If Sharmba wins, he will also be the IBF's No. 2 contender, and no one will be able to claim that vacant mandatory challenger position without fighting Sharmba first. Sharmba took 13 months off after fighting Tszyu to rehabilitate his knee, but he has come back the right way. Vilches will be his fourth fight in 10 months and his second consecutive world-rated contender. Sharmba is a consummate professional. He is patient and he is stepping up his opposition on an incremental basis. I have no worries that Sharmba will be more than ready for his rematch against Tszyu."

Mitchell, 50-3 (29 KOs), from Takoma Park, MD, returns with co-trainer Buddy McGirt fresh from his dominating 10-round decision victory over former IBF jr. welterweight champion Vince Phillips, November 9, in a battle or former world champions and current Top-10 contenders.

Mitchell captured the WBA super lightweight title in 1998, defeating defending champion Khalid Rahilou in France, via a dominating unanimous decision. Mitchell held the title for over two years, successfully defending it four times, before losing it in a unification bout against WBC champion Tszyu last year. Mitchell more than held his own against Tszyu, who literally threw or wrestled Mitchell down several times throughout the fight, resulting in a partial tear of the lateral collateral ligament in Mitchell's left knee as well as a hamstring injury. Mitchell's trainer, Marvin Sims told referee Joe Cortez that Mitchell could not continue.

"I was fighting on one leg for most of the fight," said Mitchell. "When I returned to my corner after the seventh round, my left knee was numb. That's when Marvin called the fight. I know I would have beaten him if he had not injured my leg. I want a rematch. I want to prove who the better man really is."

Since having the ligament surgically repaired, Mitchell has won 10-round unanimous decisions over Bernard Harris and Frank Houghtaling this year in addition to his recent victory over Phillips.

Vilches, 37-2-2 (24 KOs), like Mitchell, is no stranger to big fights. His resume boasts Argentine National and South American junior welterweight titles. Vilches made his U.S. debut last March on ShoBox, where he knocked out Scott DePompe, 22-2, in the seventh round. He returned to the U.S. in July, where his three-year, 17-bout unbeaten streak came to an end against top contender Emanuel Augustus. Vilches, ahead on two judges cards 68-65 and 68-66, was consistently outworking Augustus to build up his lead, but the ringside physician stopped the fight in the eighth round because of a cut over Vilches' left eye. Last year, Vilches captured the Argentine title, winning a 12-round decision over Omar Weis, the man who demoted Hector Camacho, Jr. from the unbeaten ranks. He followed that with a fourth-round TKO of former world title challenger and South American champion Wilson Galli, 30-6.

"I want to win very badly," said Vilches from his training camp in Argentina. "Not only will it put me in a better position for a world title fight, but it will also get me a step closer to a rematch with Emanuel Augustus. That fight should never have been stopped. I was winning it and I would have beaten him. Hopefully I will get my revenge."

Augustus is currently rated No. 4 by the IBF.

Tickets to the seven-bout Mitchell-Vilches card are priced at $50 and are available at Bally's Atlantic City Show Reservation Desk, located in the hotel lobby, or by calling TicketMaster at (800) 736-1420. Tickets are also available on line at www.ticketmaster.com. Doors open at 6 p.m. The first bout is scheduled for approximately 6:30 p.m. All bouts subject to change.