16.01.04 – In the opening telecast of the year on “ShoBox: The New Generation,” undefeated Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith captured the vacant USBA/WBC Continental Americas and NABO welterweight titles with a unanimous 12-round decision over former two-time world champion Randall Bailey Thursday on SHOWTIME. In the co-feature, Jose Antonio Ojeda registered a third-round knockout over Arturo Barraza. The Ojeda-Barraza match replaced a middleweight scrap between Ian Gardner and Julio Cesar De La Cruz. Their scheduled 10-round bout was scratched early Thursday when De La Cruz failed his medical examination. The doubleheader at Chumash Casino Resort was promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, and aired at 11 p.m. ET/PT. The telecast was the 37th in the popular “ShoBox” series. “ShoBox,” which began its third season Thursday, debuted on July 21, 2001.
Smith (14-0, 7 KOs), of Las Vegas, triumphed by the scores of 117-110, 116-111 ad 114-113. Busier throughout, he scored the bout’s lone knockdown when he clipped Bailey with a right hand in the second round. Smith, who went 12 rounds for the first time in his promising career, was making his third “ShoBox” appearance in less than one year. The 25-year-old is trying to become the first boxer born in Las Vegas to capture a world title.
Bailey (27-4, 26 KOs), of Miami, hurt Smith a few times with his vaunted right hand, but could not follow up. Bailey, who lost for the second time in three starts, won the World Boxing Organization (WBO) 140-pound title by scoring an opening-round knockout over Carlos “Bolillo” Gonzalez on May 15, 1999. He won the World Boxing Association (WBA) 140-pound belt with a third-round KO over Demetrio Ceballos on Feb. 2, 2002.
Ojeda (7-3, 5 KOs), of Santa Maria, Calif., won a good-action fight when the referee, upon the request of Barraza’s cornermen, halted matters at the conclusion of the third round. Ojeda, who increasingly dominated as the bout went on, turned pro in 2000. He was inactive in 2001-2002, but went 3-1 last year. Two of the victories came in upsets against highly regarded opponents.
Barraza (4-2, 2 KOs), of Oxnard, Ca., was making his six-round debut. He came to win, but wound up getting overpowered. Barraza’s only other loss came on a split four-round decision in 2002. He had won two straight before losing to Ojeda.
“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.
Nick Charles called Thursday’s action from ringside, with Steve Farhood serving as expert analyst. The executive producers of the telecast were 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, related stories and more, please go the SHOWTIME website at http:www.sho.com/boxing.