NOTE: WEIGHTS (May 13, 2010) – World Boxing Organization (WBO) Junior Middleweight champion Sergiy Dzinziruk measured 153 pounds and challenger Daniel Dawson tipped the scales at 154 pounds during Thursday’s weigh in at Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif. – Dzinziruk (35-0, 23 KOs), a superstar in Europe, will make his U.S. professional debut and the fifth defense of his 154-pound title against the once-beaten, Australian-born Dawson (34-1, 24 KOs) in the main event of Friday’s ShoBox: The New Generation live at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) on SHOWTIME®..
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The 34-year-old Dzinziruk, of Hamburg, Germany, is arguably the world’s top junior middleweight, but is largely unknown in the U.S. The southpaw, who is currently training in Los Angeles for his first world title defense in more than 17 months, was inactive in ’09 due to a contract dispute with his European former promoter.
Despite the inactivity, Dzinziruk is still drawing raves reviews and is the No. 1 ranked junior middleweight by many well-respected boxing websites, including ESPN.com and FightNews, ahead of 154-pound stars Alfredo Angulo, Antonio Margarito, Kermit Cintron, Cory Spinks and Yuri Foreman.
Dawson’s only loss came to then-unbeaten Daniel Geale for the International Boxing Organization (IBO) 154-pound belt in 2007. The 33-year-old Dawson is a late replacement for Sherzod Husanov, who couldn’t make it to the U.S. from Russia due to visa issues.
The telecast will originate from the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif., and will be promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC.
What the fighters had to say on Thursday:
SERGIY DZINZIRUK
“Normally, it’s not a good thing to change an opponent at the last minute. But, we had enough time to see Dawson’s tapes and study him, so we’re ready.
“We know what we need to do to beat him. We’ve watched enough to know what his weaknesses are.
“There’s going to be a feeling-out process in the beginning, but then I’ll adapt and do whatever it takes to win the fight.
“I’m a fighter, I’m a world champion. I want to impress the American fans, but I also want to win.
“The European style is a little bit different, but that doesn’t matter. I’m going to do everything I can to win this fight.”
“I was always in the gym, even during my layoff. I always had fights promised to me that never came through. So, I’vealways been in shape.”
DANIEL DAWSON
“This is the right time for me, it’s the perfect opportunity. I’ve been waiting to get in the ring to show people what I can do.
“It’s a world title fight; it’s going to be tough. It’s a good challenge.
“I saw him a good amount in the gym, so I know what I’m getting into. I’ve been ready to fight for a while.
“I’ve had a lot of fights cancelled lately, so I’m hungry to get in there.
“In my layoff, we’ve been anticipating fighting, so the layoff shouldn’t hurt me.
“I like fighting against southpaws; I like their style, so that won’t be a problem at all.
“They say style makes fights, and this will be a great style matchup.”
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VERNON PARIS
“This guy was a late change for me, but that doesn’t matter. I was in the gym and fighting on this card anyways.
“I don’t know much about this guy, that’s how I fight. I’ll do what I need to do in the ring. Whatever happens, happens.
“I’m on the straight and narrow, focused and mature. I’m focused on my career and keeping my perfect record. I’ve got to fight to provide for my daughter.
“I’ve been training at Wildcard (gym) with Amir Khan, so I’ve been in there with some good guys. I probably did 15 rounds with him.”
JUAN SANTIAGO
“I like our chances with this guy. I know him as a fighter and I think we’ve got a great chance against him.
“I know he’s (Vernon) a slick fighter, but he fought Corey Alarcon, a stablemate of mine. He’ll have his hands full with me.”
“I’m an aggressive fighter. I like to be the bullies in my fights.
“I’ve never been knocked down, knock on wood, but I don’t plan on it happening tomorrow night.
“I’ve fought a few southpaws so I don’t think his style will be a difference for me. I know he can switch it up in there, so I’ll be ready for everything.
Curt Menefee will call the action from ringside with the Steve Farhood and Antonio Tarver serving as expert analysts. The executive producer of ShoBox is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
For information on SHOWTIME Sports Programming, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please go the new SHOWTIME Sports website at http://www.sho.com/sports.
Six Questions With Sergiy Dzinziruk
NEW YORK (May 12, 2010) – America, meet European superstar Sergiy Dzinziruk, who will make his United States professional debut and the fifth defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Junior Middleweight title against once-beaten challenger Daniel Dawson on Friday, May 14, on ShoBox: The New Generation at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) live on SHOWTIME®. The telecast will originate from the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif., and will be promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC.
The 34-year-old Dzinziruk (35-0, 23 KOs) is arguably the world’s top junior middleweight, but is largely unknown in the U.S. The southpaw was inactive in 2009 due to a contract dispute with his European former promoter.
All eyes will be on Dzinziruk come Friday as he is the No. 1 ranked junior middleweight by many well-respected boxing websites, including ESPN.com and FightNews, ahead of 154-pound stars Alfredo Angulo, Antonio Margarito, Kermit Cintron, Cory Spinks and Yuri Foreman.
He recently signed a promotional contract with American promoters Artie Pelullo’s Banner Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions.
Question: Why did you decide to come to the United States?
Answer: “I’ve fought in other countries. I just want to show the American people what I’m all about. I fought here in the Olympics (1996 in Atlanta) and the Goodwill Games (1998 in New York) but as an amateur. I want people to know my name. I want people to recognize me when I walk down the street.”
Question: You haven’t fought in 18 months. Are you concerned about ring rust?
Answer: “Of course I’ve been out of the ring for 18 months but that only makes me hungrier. I’m also fighting in the States for the first time but it doesn’t matter where I fight: the U.S., England, Poland. A ring is a ring. I’m just ready to go in there and show everybody who Sergiy is.”
Question: You and Alfredo Angulo are both represented by Gary Shaw. How soon would you like to fight Angulo?
Answer: “I’d like to just get this first fight out of the way first. But, yes, I would like to fight him. I was at his last fight. He looked pretty good but I am not afraid of Angulo. There are a lot of interesting names in my division. Paul Williams, the interim champion Angulo, (Kermit) Cintron. I just have to be patient and I know I will meet the best in the division.”
Question: You are ranked very high in your division. Does that put added pressure on you, especially since a lot of people in the States aren’t familiar with you?
Answer: “Yes. Absolutely. I’m very aware of it, that the pressure is on. Everybody is looking at me and that’s why I am here in America and training hard. I’m ready to show the U.S. and SHOWTIME audience what a dominant fighter I am.”
Question: What do you know about SHOWTIME?
Answer: “SHOWTIME is a major network and does a great job with boxing and its different shows. I just feel so fortunate that my first fight in America is united with SHOWTIME and I’m hoping to show a great outcome and fight.”
Question: What do you like most about living in the States?
Answer: “The sparring partners are much better and the gyms are different than in Germany and England. I’ve been able to travel around and sightsee a little bit. But after this fight I will do a lot more. I’ll go to the beach and visit Las Vegas.”
Curt Menefee will call the action from ringside with Steve Farhood and Antonio Tarver serving as expert analysts. The executive producer of ShoBox is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
For information on SHOWTIME Sports Programming, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please go the new SHOWTIME Sports website at http://www.sho.com/sports.