NEW YORK (April 16, 2004) – In a fight he needed to win to re-establish himself in the heavyweight division, former World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas champion Jeremy “Half-Man, Half-Amazing’’ Williams scored an impressive eighth-round TKO over World Boxing Organization (WBO) No. 9 contender Attila “The Hun’’ Levin Thursday on SHOWTIME. In the “ShoBox: The New Generation’’ co-feature, International Boxing Federation (IBF) and WBO No. 4/WBC No. 9 and World Boxing Association (WBA) No. 15 contender Jameel McCline recorded a first-round TKO over Wayne Llewellyn. The doubleheader at Hammerstein Ballroom was promoted by Cedric Kushner Promotions and aired at 11 p.m. ET/PT. The telecast represented the 41st in the popular “ShoBox” series, which debuted on SHOWTIME in July 2001.
Williams (41-4-1, 36 KOs), of Sherman Oaks, Calif., by way of Fort Dodge, Idaho, and Long Beach, Calif., used his experience and ring savvy to dictate the pace and dominate Levin, who was cut around both eyes and unable to see clearly when the ring physician stopped the fight at 2:48 of the eighth round. Williams, who was cut around the left eye, was ahead by the scores of 69-63 and 68-64 twice after seven completed rounds.
Unbeaten in his last seven outings (6-0-1), the former world-ranked contender at both heavyweight and light heavyweight took the fight to Levin from the outset and landed the vast majority of the telling shots. Williams captured the WBC Continental Americas heavyweight crown with a 12th-round TKO over Garing Lane on Dec. 7, 1993. On March 19, 1996, Williams recorded the fastest knockout in California history when he floored Arthur “Stormy” Weathers at 0:10 of the first round. Prior to turning pro at age 20 on Oct. 14, 1992, Williams won countless amateur titles, defeated all but four of his 172 opponents, and made it to the finals of the 1992 Olympic trials as a light heavyweight.
Levin (29-2, 23 KOs), of Pembroke Pines, Fla., by way of Stockholm, Sweden, had a 15-fight winning streak end. The promising, well-conditioned youngster tried to utilize his huge advantages in height and reach and box, but he did not have the firepower to keep the veteran Williams from getting inside.
McCline (31-3-3, 198 KOs), of Port Jefferson, N.Y., knocked down Llewellyn three times before the bout was halted at 2:46 of the opening session. Doing what he had to do against a determined, albeit overmatched opponent, McCline stormed out of his corner after the opening bell and dropped Llewellyn almost immediately with a flurry of punches. Moments later, he knocked down Llewellyn with a chopping right hand. The match was stopped after Llewellyn went down again from a combination. The victory was the third in a row for McCline, who was coming off of a dramatic 10th-round TKO over previously undefeated Cedric Boswell on “ShoBox” Oct. 3, 2003.
“SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION” APRIL 15, 2004, ON SHOWTIME
Llewellyn (27-5, 20 KOs), of Beckenham, England, by way of Greenwich, England, had a five-fight winning streak end. The southpaw came to win, but was mostly overwhelmed.
“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 producer of the telecast was Gordon Hall, with Richard Gaughan producing.
For information on “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