SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (Feb. 3, 2007) – Undefeated junior middleweight James “Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland and unbeaten junior welterweight Timothy “Desert Storm’’ Bradley each answered an important question during their decisive victories Friday on “ShoBox: The New Generation ”: Southpaw Kirkland (18-0, 16 KOs) showed he could go past four rounds; Bradley (18-0, 10 KOs) proved he may have a future in television after all..
Making his seventh start in nine months, Kirkland, of Austin, Tex., thoroughly dominated a courageous Billy Lyell, of Warren, Ohio, en route to winning by eighth-round TKO in the main event of a doubleheader that aired on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast). It was promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, from Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif. .
Kirkland, who fights with a Tysonesque ferocity, had Lyle battered, bruised and beaten by the time the referee wisely halted the one-sided matters 34 seconds into the eighth round. You don’t come much braver than Lyell, but he had no answer for the determined, relentless, non-stop punching 22-year-old Kirkland, who registered his 10th consecutive victory inside the distance.
Lyell (14-4, 2 KOs) won’t lie down for anybody and he did not hit the deck in this one. His game plan of extending Kirkland and taking him into the later rounds worked, too. The problem was, Kirkland never tired and was nearly as strong at the finish as he was at the outset.
“The guy was strong, but it was fun getting the rounds in,” Kirkland said. “I am happy with this win. I was surprised he hung in as long as he did, but he was tough as nails. His strategy was good, but I knew I could get the rounds. This was a good, tough test for me and can only help me down the road.’’
Lyell did not dispute the stoppage. “I can’t argue with the call. I was taking a lot of punches,’’ he said. “I felt it was stopped a little early and I was never seriously hurt, but I can’t blame the ref. Give Kirkland credit. He does not hit all that hard, but he is tough and very, very slick.’’
Bradley, of Palm Springs, Calif., was criticized for his performance in his “ShoBox” debut in December 2006. Although he defeated veteran Jaime Rangel, he seemed tight, almost nervous. Perhaps it was stage fright, or merely a bad case of opening night jitters.
But the 23-year-old Bradley sure looked the part of a legitimate prime time star Friday. He performed with poise and appeared totally relaxed. Counter-punching beautifully, he scored three knockdowns in the initial four rounds and coasted home by the scores of 80-69, 79-70 and 78-71.
“I think I may have silenced some of my critics,” said the World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 10 contender, who floored Garnica with right hands one time in the second and two times in the fourth. “I felt totally good in there. It’s a good win. I can’t wait to get back in the gym and go to work.’’
Garnica (22-7, 12 KOs), 32, of Guadalajara, had never been off his feet in his career. He was coming off a hotly disputed 10-round decision loss to world-ranked Juan Lazcano and had defeated former world champion Carlos Maussa in his effort before that. He started off well enough against Bradley, but he was never the same after getting cut over the right eye from an unintentional head butt late in the first round.
“This is very disappointing,’’ Garnica said. “The cut changed the whole complexion of the fight for me. Bradley is a tough kid who hits hard, but he isn’t as strong as Lazcano or Maussa. I was just getting warmed up when I got cut. From that point I was afraid to exchange with him. I was afraid I might get cut on my other eye.’’
Nick Charles and Steve Farhood called the action from ringside. The executive producer of “ShoBox” is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing.
Friday’s bouts will re-air this week as follows:
DAY CHANNEL
Saturday, Feb. 3, at Midnight ET/PT SHOTOO
Monday, Feb. 5, at 10 p.m. ET/PT SHO EXTREME
Tuesday, Feb. 6, at Midnight ET/PT SHO EXTREME
Thursday, Feb. 8, at 11 p.m. ET/PT SHOTOO
The next “ShoBox” telecast is Friday, Feb. 16 (SHOWTIME, 11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). In the main event at Miami, Okla, Gary Stark (18-0, 8 KOs) faces Mike Oliver (17-0-, 7 KO’s) in a 12-rounder for the United States Boxing Association (USBA) 122-pound title. Derek Ennis (10-0-1, 7 KOs) opposes Allen Coyners (10-2, 8 KOs) in an eight-round junior middleweight bout in the co-feature.
Today, Feb. 3, is “Super Saturday” on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). In a battle of unbeatens, World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight champion Tomasz Adamek defends against No. 2 contender Chad Dawson, while Jesus Chavez will risk his International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight crown against IBF Interim 135-pound titleholder Julio Diaz in a world championship doubleheader from Kissimmee, Fla.
For more information on “ShoBox: The New Generation” and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts, including complete fighter bios, records, related stories and more, please go to the SHOWTIME website at http://www.sho.com/boxing.