Hard-hitting World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 11 154-pound contender James Kirkland (20-0, 17 KOs) hopes to continue his ascension to the top of the junior middleweight division when he takes on the dangerous Allen Conyers (11-2, nine KOs) Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, on ShoBox: The New Generation (live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT delayed on the west coast)..
In the co-feature, undefeated prospect Alfredo Angulo (10-0, seven KOs) will battle Archak Ter Meliksetian (16-5, 13 KOs). Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, will present the doubleheader from Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif.
Kirkland, of Austin, Texas, has knocked out 17 of his 20 opponents and is a legitimate contender at 154 pounds. Another convincing win could put him in consideration for a world title shot.
“This is another huge opportunity for me and a tough fight,” said Kirkland, who will make his fourth consecutive ShoBox appearance in 2007. “Conyers is a really dangerous opponent, so it should be an entertaining fight. I am ready to show the country that I am the real deal.”
In his last fight, the 23-year-old Kirkland dropped Mohamad Said three times en route to a scintillating second-round knockout. Kirkland scored two knockdowns in the first stanza before a beautiful, perfectly timed three-punch combination to the chin ended matters at 2:32 of the second.
“I showed people what I am capable of in my last fight on SHOWTIME,” said the dangerous southpaw. “On November 30, I plan to bring the same punching power.
Kirkland has been impressive in all of his appearances on the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME program. In his ShoBox debut, Kirkland used the courageous Billy Lyell as a human punching bag en route to scoring an eighth-round knockout on Feb 2, 2007, at Chumash. Four months later in his second appearance, Kirkland, who fights with Mike Tyson-esque ferocity, defeated Ossie Duran via 10-round decision at Chumash.
Now, Kirkland wants to follow in the footsteps of the 22 former ShoBox fighters who have gone on to become world champions.
“I know that I have to perform on ShoBox to get my chance to fight on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING,” said Kirkland, who will take on his 10th opponent in the past 19 months. “This is what Nonito Donaire did. If I perform well, I will get my big shot.”
Kirkland cannot look past Conyers, a hard-punching brawler who has knocked out each of his last three opponents within two rounds.
Conyers, of Bronx, N.Y., is the New York State welterweight champion. He captured the crown with a first-round TKO over six-foot-two-inch southpaw Russell Jordan on Nov. 3, 2006.
In his last fight, on Feb. 16, 2007, on ShoBox, the five-foot-11-inch Conyers demolished the previously undefeated Derek Ennis with a second-round TKO from Miami. Nov. 30 will represent Conyers’ fifth start since returning to the ring in February 2006 following an 18-month layoff.
“I have had some time off, and I am hungry for another victory,” Conyers said. “It is going to be a good fight because Kirkland and I are both hard punchers. The fans are in for a treat.”
An aggressive, offensive-minded sort, Conyers turned pro at age 25 in January 2002, and is managed by Gil Reyes and trained by Luis Olmo.
In the co-feature, the 25-year-old, Mexican-born Angulo will take on the 29-year-old Armenian-born Ter Meliksetian.
Angulo is a three-year pro who is a stablemate of WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Chad Dawson. The undefeated prospect at 154 pounds is a former amateur star and a 2004 Olympic representative for Mexico.
Prior to his last start Sept. 7, 2007, on ShoBox when he squared off against Emmanuel Gonzalez, Angulo prepared by sparring with Ricky Hatton, Carlos Baldomir, Antonio Margarito, Roy Jones, Jr. and Fernando Vargas. The hard work against some of the most respected boxers in history paid off when Angulo disposed of Gonzalez in less than five minutes.
Midway through the second round, Angulo floored his counterpart with a right hand to the jaw. Moments later, Angulo landed a punishing combination that sent Gonzalez to the canvas for the second time, causing the referee to stop the bout at 1:56 of the second.
Angulo said that his experience sparring against the current or former world champions helped him in his SHOWTIME debut and prepared him for his next bout.
“I learned a lot from fighting those guys and continue to learn one day at a time,” Angulo said. “Sparring with proven champions puts me at a huge advantage. I am ready.”
Ter Meliksetian hopes to get back on track following a recent loss. The last time he fought on ShoBox, in a highly anticipated bout against then undefeated Sechew Powell on Nov. 4, 2005, Ter Meliksetian came in as a once-beaten IBF No. 12 contender. Although he lost the fight in a 10-round unanimous decision, Ter Meliksetian showed he could hit hard and has speed, he has continued to take on tough competition.
The Paterson, N.J., resident is excited to make his ShoBox return, and looks to get back into form with a win over Angulo.
“I need a win on November 30 to prove that I am back,” Ter Meliksetian said.
Play-by-play announcer Nick Charles and expert analyst/boxing historian Steve Farhood will call the action from ringside. The executive producer of ShoBox is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
For information on Showtime Sports Programming, including exclusive video, photos and news links on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and EliteXC mixed martial arts telecasts, please go www.SHO.com/sports.
About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talented fighters matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise crowd-pleasing and competitive fights while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. The growing list of fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes Leonard Dorin, Scott Harrison, Juan Diaz, Jeff Lacy, Ricky Hatton, Joan Guzman, Juan Urango, David Diaz and Robert Guerrero. Kelly Pavlik became the 20th fighter who has fought on ShoBox to win a world title with his victory over Jermain Taylor on Sept. 29, 2007.