Undefeated Welterweight Contender David Barnes vs.British Masters Light Middleweight Champion Jimmy Vincent

British Lightweight Champion Bobby Vanzie vs. Unbeaten Lightweight Contender Graham Earl

Thursday, July 17, 2003, at 11 PM ET/PT*

04.07 – The popular boxing series “ShoBox: The New Generation” will return to England on Thursday, July 17, when undefeated welterweight David Barnes battles British Masters Light Middleweight Champion Jimmy Vincent for the vacant British welterweight title at Goresbrook Leisure Centre in London, England. In the co-feature, British Lightweight Champion Bobby Vanzie will defend his title for the third time when he takes on unbeaten Graham Earl. SHOWTIME will televise both bouts, presented by Frank Warren’s Sports Network, at 11 p.m. ET/PT. The telecast represents the 33rd in a series of “ShoBox” telecasts that began on July 21, 2001.

Barnes (12-0, 7 KOs), of Manchester, England, will make his second London appearance and third 2003 outing. Barnes, who scored a second-round TKO over Trevor Smith in his professional debut on July 7, 2001, knocked out six of his initial seven opponents within three rounds. In his most recent contest on April 5, 2003, Barnes registered an eight-round shutout over Victor Fessetchko in Manchester. Referee Howard Foster scored the bout 80-72. Since entering the pro ranks, Barnes has fought exclusively in England, including seven times in his hometown of Manchester.

Vincent (21-16-2, 9 KOs), of Barnet, England, captured the vacant British Masters light middleweight title with a 10-round decision over Jason Williams on Oct. 31, 2001, from Birmingham, England. Less than two months later on Dec. 10, 2001, Vincent successfully defended his crown by tallying a 10-round decision over Ojay Abrahams in Birmingham. The battle-tested veteran made his professional debut at age 18 on Oct. 19, 1987, and registered a six-round decision against Roy Williams. Following his 1988 campaign, Vincent took nearly four years off from boxing prior to returning to the ring on Sept. 9, 1992. After another layoff from March 1993 to August 1996, Vincent has remained active and fought 20 times. Currently riding a five-fight winning streak, Vincent scored an eight-round TKO over David Walker in a British welterweight elimination bout on Dec. 21, 2002, at Goresbrook Leisure Centre.

Vanzie (24-2-1, 13 KOs), of Bradford, England, won the British lightweight crown with a 10-round TKO over Wayne Rigby on Oct. 17, 1998. The hard-hitting Englishman added the British Commonwealth title to his resume two fights later with a controversial 10-round TKO over Athanus Nzau on May 28, 1999. After making four successful defenses of his British Commonwealth title, Vanzie surrendered the belt to James Armah in a 12-round decision on Feb. 3, 2001. In his two British lightweight title defenses, Vanzie rallied from two opening-round knockdowns to stop Steve Murray in the seventh round on May 5, 2001, and finished off Anthony Maynard in 70 seconds on Oct. 8, 2001.

Earl (18-0, 10 KOs), of Luton, England, opened the 2003 campaign by scoring a second-round TKO over Murray in a British lightweight elimination bout on Feb. 15. Boxing exclusively in the London area, Earl has established himself as one of Britain’s rising stars. In his pro debut, the “Earl of Luton” stopped Mark O’Callaghan in the second round on Sept. 2, 1997, from Southwark, England. After winning his first nine fights, Earl easily passed his first difficult test when he scored a first-round TKO against top contender Ivo Golakov (12-1 going in) on March 4, 2000. In just 18 pro outings, Earl has knocked out more than one-third of his opponents (seven) within two rounds. After defeating Murray, the undefeated lightweight tallied an eight-round shutout in his last outing on May 24, 2003, over Nikolai Eremeev from Bethnal Green, England.

“ShoBox: The New Generation” features up-and-coming prospects determined to make a mark and eventually fight for a chance at 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 11 p.m. ET/PT on Thursdays every other week.

Nick Charles will call the action from ringside, with Steve Farhood serving as expert analyst. The executive producers of the telecast are Jay Larkin and Gordon Hall, with Richard Gaughan producing.

For information on upcoming “ShoBox: The New Generation” and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts, including complete fighter bios, records and related stories, please go the SHOWTIME website at http://www.sho.com/boxing.