16.05 - Former World Boxing Association (WBA) super lightweight champion and current International Boxing Federation (IBF) No. 2 contender, Sharmba Mitchell, faces IBF No. 9 contender Ben Tackie on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Saturday, May 17. The winner of the IBF elimination bout will claim the No. 1 spot in the 140-pound rankings. In the co-feature, unbeaten Jeff Lacy will defend his World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas and United States Boxing Association (USBA) super middleweight titles against former Illinois State 168-pound titleholder Anwar Oshana. SHOWTIME will televise the 12-round bouts at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT from the City Center Pavilion in Reno, Nevada.
SHARMBA MITCHELL (51-3, 30 KOs):
“I am looking forward to Saturday and getting back to a position where I feel I should have been a long time ago. But you have to crawl before you can walk, and right now I am crawling. I will be walking again when all is said and done. I know this is going to be a great fight. I never really felt I lost my title because I was beaten. I feel my title was taken away from me because of the injury. So, in my heart I still feel like I am the world champion. I just want the chance to prove it. I know Kostya Tszyu feels that way, which is why I have to continue to go through the process. No one has ever helped me. I have always had to fight for what I have. The media makes a big deal that I finally won a fight by knockout in my last fight, but to me a win is a win. It is not about knockouts. It is about winning. And I know how to win.’’
BEN TACKIE (24-3, 15 KOs):
“I have not fought in a year but that is only because fights have fallen out on me because my opponent has pulled out. I want to thank everyone involved for the opportunity to fight for the No. 1, mandatory position. Mitchell is a good fighter. We are both good fighters. He likes to move a lot, but I have been in training since my last fight and am in great shape. You will see that Saturday night.’’
JEFF LACY (13-0, 11 KOs):
“Oshana has a good record and he likes to come forward and apply pressure, which should make for a great fight. My main concern is staying out of the way of his head because he tends to lead with it a lot. I am happy the way my career is going and content to take my time and learn. Knowing I can go 10 or 12 rounds means a lot because until you do it you never know if you can. Oshana has fought good fighters, like Omar Sheika, so I think this is a step up for me. No way I look past him. I am ready to do my thing.’’
ANWAR OSHANA (23-2, 13 KOs):
“I do not know a thing about Lacy except he was a 2000 Olympian, has a good left hook and supposedly has power, but I am not worried. I am excited and ready to fight and go 12 rounds, toe-to-toe. I do not dance. I do not go backward. I do not duck anybody. I am in great shape. This fight may steal the show.’’
