Mitchell Outpoints Tackie, Lacy Devastates Oshana with Second-Round TKO

Photos © Tom Casino/Showtime

18.05 - In an International Boxing Federation (IBF) elimination bout to determine the top contender in its 140-pound division, former World Boxing Association (WBA) super lightweight champion Sharmba Mitchell proved he is the one by winning a lopsided 12-round decision over Ben Tackie Saturday on SHOWTIME. In the co-feature, undefeated Jeff Lacy retained his World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas and United States Boxing Association (USBA) super middleweight titles with a spectacular second-round TKO over ex-Illinois State 168-pound titleholder Anwar Oshana. The telecast aired at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT from City Center Pavilion. Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, in association with Budweiser, Circus Circus, the El Dorado, Harrah's and Silver Legacy Casino, promoted the event.

Mitchell (52-3, 30 KOs), of Takoma Park, Md., dictated the pace throughout and won handily by the scores of 119-108 twice and 118-109. The talented Mitchell, who entered the bout ranked No. 2 in the IBF, became the first boxer to knock down the rugged Tackie when he connected with a left hook to the face with 1:55 remaining in the 11th round. The victory was the third in a row on SHOWTIME and fifth overall for the sharp-punching southpaw boxer-puncher, who had to deal with a cut left eye for much of the bout and another cut on the top of his head. Mitchell, the new mandatory challenger for undisputed 140-pound world champion Kostya Tszyu, captured the WBA title with a 12-round decision over Khalid Rahilou on Oct. 10, 1998. He made four successful defenses before losing to Tszyu Feb. 3, 2001, on SHOWTIME. The defeat ended a six-and-one-half-year run in which Mitchell won 16 consecutive contests.

Tackie (24-4, 15 KOs), of Los Angeles, by way of Accra, Ghana, was making his first appearance before a paying audience in a year. He battled gamely and shook Mitchell on a couple of occasions, but it could not prevent the IBF No. 9 contender from losing his second consecutive fight. In his last outing, Tackie dropped a unanimous 12-round decision to Tszyu May 18, 2002, on SHOWTIME. That defeat ended a three-fight winning streak for the durable, hard-hitting slugger, whose best performance came when he rallied to register a 10th-round TKO over former IBF 130-pound titleholder Robert Garcia June 3, 2000, on SHOWTIME.

Lacy (14-0, 12 KOs), of Tampa, Fla., produced perhaps a career-best performance. With 30 seconds remaining in the opening round, he turned around what had been a competitive fight with a right hand to the chin. He continued to pummel Oshana with sharp combinations to the face for the remainder of the stanza, landing approximately 14 unanswered punches before the bell sounded. Lacy, who was making his seventh appearance on SHOWTIME and the initial defense of his WBC Continental and USBA 168-pound titles, hurt Oshana several more times early in the second round. He had thrown upwards of 30 unanswered punches, the vast majority of which that landed flush, before the referee stopped the match 1:49. A feared puncher, Lacy has fought a total of 43 rounds during a pro career that began on Feb. 2, 2001. He went 209-12 in the amateurs, won numerous competitions and made it to the second round of the 2000 Olympic Games.

Oshana (23-3, 13 KOs), of Chicago by way of Syria, had a two-fight winning streak end. Making his third start since resuming his career in April 2002 following a 39-month layoff, Oshana hung tough for the first 2½ minutes, but he never recovered after getting caught late in the first. A three-time Chicago Golden Gloves champion, Oshana turned pro on Oct. 13, 1994, and won his initial 20 fights.

The fight card will be replayed in its entirety on SHO2 Tuesday, May 20, at 11 p.m. ET/PT.

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

For information on upcoming SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and "ShoBox" The New Generation" telecasts, including complete fighter bios and records and much more, please go the SHOWTIME website at http:// SHO.com