15.01.04 – Photo: TOM CASINO/SHOWTIME* – “ShoBox: The New Generation,” which debuted on SHOWTIME in July 2001, will open its third season tomorrow, Jan. 15, when undefeated Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith takes on former two-time world champion Randall Bailey for the vacant United States Boxing Association (USBA)/World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas and North American Boxing Organization (NABO) welterweight titles. In the co-feature, southpaw Ian Gardner will battle hard-punching Julio Cesar De La Cruz in a 10-round middleweight bout. SHOWTIME will televise the Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, promoted doubleheader live at 11 p.m. ET/PT* from Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif. The telecast represents the 37th in the popular “ShoBox” series.
ISHE SMITH (13-0, 7 KOs): “I do not look at this as a step-up in class for me at all. It is just another fight. I am hungry. This is a dream fight because we are fighting for three belts. My dream was always just to win one belt, so this is more than just having a dream come true. It has been a long road, and I truly feel blessed. I have seen tapes of Bailey and know he has a good right hand, but watching tapes are overrated. That’s is why I just watch them once or twice. I will come up with a good game plan. I know what I do best better than anybody. Let Bailey adapt to me. I do not think he can.”
RANDALL BAILEY (27-3, 26 KOs): “Any fighter who gets in with me risks the chance of getting knocked out, so I look at this as a great opportunity. Style-wise, Smith is perfect for me. He likes to fight and gets hit a lot. I doubt he has felt the kind of power he will on Thursday. I did not fight my fight against (then WBO champion DeMarcus) Corley, but I have had a great training camp and worked very hard. I have only had one fight since Corley, but I think the time off did me good. I feel rested and really refreshed.”
IAN GARDNER (15-1, 7 KOS): “Both De La Cruz and I fight out of the same area, but I had not really heard of him until we signed to fight. I know he is very aggressive, but I like guys who come at me. This is going to be a terrific fight. I still feel I am undefeated. That loss on my record was not really a loss. I am looking forward to putting on a show. It is exciting to be fighting on SHOWTIME and I would like to thank all involved for making it possible. I am very anxious, I cannot wait for Thursday to be here.”
*Photo: TOM CASINO/SHOWTIME: Randall Bailey (left), Ian Gardner and Ishe Smith pose after Wednesday’s weigh-in at Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif. Smith weighed 147 pounds and Bailey 146 for their important 12-round fight Thursday on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT). Garden weighed 157 pounds for his key 10-round middleweight bout with Julio De La Cruz, who will weigh-in Thursday morning.