Mitchell Scores Fourth-Round TKO Over Vilches , Corrales Returns With Fifth-Round TKO Over Davis

All Photos: Tom Casino/Showtime

The Telecast Will Be Replayed In Its Entirety On SHO2 On Tuesday, January 28, At 11 PM ET/PT

26.01 - Former World Boxing Association (WBA) super lightweight champion Sharmba Mitchell moved a step closer to getting a shot at a world title by registering a hard-fought, impressive fourth-round TKO over Carlos Vilches Saturday on SHOWTIME. The telecast, which aired highlights of comebacking former International Boxing Federation (IBF) 130-pound champion Diego Corrales' sensational fifth-round TKO over Mike Davis, aired at 10 PM ET/PT from Bally's Atlantic City in Atlantic City, N.J. Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, promoted the fight card.

Mitchell (51-3, 30 KOs), of Takoma Park, Md., dropped Vilches three times in the IBF elimination bout for the vacant No. 2 spot in the 140-pound rankings. Recording his first victory inside the distance since February 1998, Mitchell floored Vilches once in the opening round and twice in the fourth. Moments after knocking down Vilches the last time, the bout was stopped. The IBF No. 6 contender going in, Mitchell was making his first start since taking a 10-round decision over Vince Phillips in a battle of ex-world champions on SHOWTIME Nov. 2, 2002, in Oklahoma City, Okla.

The Maryland native, who is actively pursuing a rematch with undisputed 140-pound world champion Kostya Tszyu, captured the WBA title with a 12-round decision over Khalid Rahilou on Oct. 10, 1998. The southpaw boxer-puncher made four successful defenses prior to losing to Tszyu in a 140-pound world title unification bout Feb. 3, 2001, on SHOWTIME. The seventh-round TKO loss to Tszyu ended a six-and-one-half-year run in which Mitchell won 16 consecutive fights. Since the setback, Mitchell has won four in a row. Before turning pro in September 1988, Mitchell compiled an outstanding 153-7 amateur record.

Vilches (37-3-2, 24 KOs), of Mendoza, Argentina, tried to make a fight of it in the second and third rounds and had some success, but despite a determined effort he was no match for Mitchell at the finish. The Argentine 140-pound champion, who entered the match ranked No. 10 in the IBF, was fighting for the first time since he successfully defended his belt with a 10-round unanimous decision over Cesar Leiva on Dec. 14, 2002. Vilches saw a 17-bout winning streak come to an end on July 19, 2002, when underdog Emanuel Burton scored an eighth-round TKO in Toppenish, Wash.

The 26-year-old Argentinean was making his second appearance on SHOWTIME. In his debut, Vilches registered a seventh-round TKO over Scott De Pompe on March 16, 2002, in Bushkill, Penn. After starting out his career by going 20-0-2, Vilches suffered his first loss when he was stopped in the second round by Raul Balbi on Nov. 28, 1998, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In his most noteworthy victory, Vilches recorded a 12-round split decision over Omar Weis to capture the Argentina 140-pound crown on April 7, 2001, in Santa Rosa, Argentina. Vilches, who turned pro on Sept. 13, 1996, is a former South American and ABMH junior welterweight champion.

Corrales (34-1, 28 KOs), of Sacramento, floored Davis (23-14, 9 KOs), of Indianapolis, in the first and third rounds while totally dominating his first start in two years. The referee stopped the one-sided affair at 1:57 of the fifth.

The fight card will be replayed in its entirety on SHO2 Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 11 p.m. ET/PT.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING's Steve Albert and former world champion Bobby Czyz called the action from ringside with Steve Farhood serving as roving reporter. The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecast was Jay Larkin, with Ray Smaltz producing and Bob Dunphy directing.