03.08.06 – Photo: Mary Ann Owen / For SHOWTIME – In a pair of 10-round bouts, Anthony Hanshaw will face Esteban Camou and LaFarrell Bunting will meet Jose Luis Herrera in opening-round matches of the “ShoBox” super middleweight tournament Friday, Aug. 4, on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast) from The Sports Center of Las Vegas. Bunting-Herrera will open the telecast, followed by Hanshaw-Camou. The winners will advance to face each other in the semi-finals on Oct. 6. The other semi-final that evening will match a pair of unbeatens, Jean Paul Mendy and Henry Buchanan..
ANTHONY HANSHAW (19-0, 13 KOs)
“I am not worried about any fighter in this tournament. I do not think anybody at 168 pounds can beat me. I am in tip-top shape.”
“We have been working on defense and I am ready to go. We sparred more than 70 rounds with guys like Rico Hoye.”
(Regarding layoff from July 2002 – April 2004): “The layoff was good for me. I am more focused and in better condition now. I needed the rest. Now, I am back and ready. I just did not have any interest in fighting at that time. Then, I saw guys like Jermain Taylor on television, and I thought that that could be me. So, I decided to come back to boxing.”
(Regarding sparring with Winky Wright): “The first few days I could hardly hit him, so I had to step up with the jab to back him up.”
ESTEBAN CAMOU (18-1, 15 KOs)
“I chase my opponent from the first bell. I throw power punches and am very aggressive. I like to fight in close. The left hook is my best punch.”
“I have always wanted to fight in the United States, but I needed to be ready first. After 19 fights in Mexico, I am ready.”
(Regarding loss to Yory Boy Campas): “I was sick two days before the Campas fight and I got cut in the second round, so I was not able to execute my game plan. I want to challenge him to a rematch.”
“After I retire, I would like to own my own business and become a television sportscaster.”
LAFARREL BUNTING (15-1-1, 15 KOs)
“When I watched the Arturo Gatti fight recently, they mentioned a super middleweight tournament. Then, I got a call last Monday to come to Las Vegas and fight.”
“I have not had a hard fight yet. I have not been tested.”
“This is a great opportunity for me. I took the fight instead of going on a fishing trip with my grandfather.”
“I am a boxer-puncher and I have power in both hands. I like to throw the left hook, body shots and the right uppercut. What I throw depends on what my opponent gives me.”
JOSE LUIS HERRERA (14-1, 14 KOs)
“I am going to win this super middleweight tournament. It is a done deal.”
“I do not think the fight against Bunting will last too long. I will take a few rounds to figure my opponent out before I take him out.”
“I was brought to Argentina to lose to Jorge Castro. They underestimated me and paid for it.”
“My loss was due to inexperience. I got cut and the referee stopped the fight because I was bleeding. I was just trying to wipe the blood away.”