SANTA YNEZ, CALIF. (June 10, 2011) – Lateef “Power” Kayode and Chris “The Hitman” Avalos each recorded impressive 10-round unanimous decision victories while Art “Lionheart” Hovhannisyan pulled off an equally impressive knockout upset against previously unbeaten Archie Ray Marquez on an exciting night of fights on ShoBox: The New Generation on SHOWTIME®.
The unbeaten cruiserweight Kayode (17-0, 14 KOs) proved too much for a game Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey (20-3, 14 KOs) Friday night at the Chumash Resort Casino. Kayode controlled the entire fight and sent Godfrey to the canvas a total of three times, eventually winning by scores of 98-90, 97-90, 98-89.
With Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach in his corner, Kayode has officially “graduated” from ShoBox, according to ShoBox color commentator and boxing expert Steve Farhood. “Kayode is what he is,” Farhood said. “Boxers are always going to give him trouble, but he graduated tonight. And now he can aim for bigger things than ShoBox, which is a compliment.”
Kayode, of Hollywood, Calif., by way of Lagos, Nigeria, knocked Godfrey to the floor in rounds one, five and nine with a devastating display of body shots and power punches to the head of Godfrey. “I thought we would finish (Godfrey) off earlier, but he took some good shots,” Roach said. “It’s OK we went the distance. (Kayode) needs rounds. Overall I thought it was a good performance.”
Added Kayode, who won for the fifth time at Chumash and the third time in a row: “We said we were going to cut off the ring and that’s what we did. People here know what I can do now. They’ve seen what I can do. Now it’s on to bigger things.”
In an all-action super bantamweight tilt, Avalos (19-1, 15 KOs) took down the previously-unbeaten Khabir Suleymanov (11-1, 5 KO’s) of Hollywood, Calif., by way of Chelybinsk, Russia. The three judges scored it 95-92, 96-91, and 97-90 while Farhood had it 98-91 for Avalos, of Lancaster, Calif., who fought an aggressive, come-forward fight scoring a knockdown in the first round and overcoming a point deduction in a wild third round for hitting Suleymanov when he was down.
“He came at me with exactly what I expected,” said Avalos, who bloodied Suleymanov’s nose. “But we stuck with our game plan and it worked. I hurt him with my straight right several times.”
What’s next for Avalos, who suffered his first loss on ShoBox last August? “Whoever wants it,” he said. “Whoever wants it.”
“He didn’t hurt me,” Suleymanov said afterward. “I feel fine.”
In a lightweight co-feature that opened the telecast, Hovhannisyan (14-0, 8 KOs) sent Marquez (11-1, 1 NC, 7 KOs) of Albuquerque, N.M., down in the first round just the like other winners on the night and again in rounds three and five. But it was a devastating left hook that sent Marquez to his first defeat at 1:03 of the sixth round.
“I was just very confident I would win this fight,” said Hovhannisyan, of Glendale, Calif. “He’s good and he has speed but I never thought I’d lose. He’s undefeated but so am I. I’m ready now for any fight. I’m ready for anyone.”
Added Farhood: “Hovhannisyan fought a very smart fight tonight. He sucked Marquez in and he drew him right into his web.”
Friday’s fights will be available On Demand beginning Monday, June 13 and ending Sunday, June 26.
Curt Meneffe called the ShoBox action from ringside with Farhood serving as expert analyst. Gordon Hall was the executive producer of ShoBox 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.
RESULTS FROM FRIDAY’S “SÓLO BOXEO TECATE” FROM ALBUQUERQUE
Albuquerque, NM (June 10, 2011) – Earlier tonight, Golden Boy Promotions, Don Chargin Productions and Fresquez Productions, presented a seven-fight event at the Route 66 Casino Hotel in Albuquerque, New Mexico. If you missed the live action or TeleFutura “Sólo Boxeo Tecate” broadcast, below is a summary of the results:
Holly Holm UD 10 Victoria Cisneros
Elco Garcia UD 8 Joaquin Zamora
Willie Villanueva SD 6 David Proa
Fidel Maldonado Jr TKO 4 Eddie Ramirez
Antonio Garcia UD 4 Martin Gonzales
Mark Salser UD 4 Joel Varqas
Next week the “Sólo Boxeo Tecate” broadcast will feature undefeated rising star Omar “Panterita” Figueroa of Weslaco, Texas in an eight-round lightweight main event against Puerto Rico’s Eric Cruz and Capitol Heights, Maryland’s Gary Russell Jr. against Antonio Meza of Mexicali in the eight-round co-feature. The TeleFutura broadcast begins at 11:30 pm ET/PT (10:30pm CT).
Holm vs. Mathis for ‘World Dominance’ Announced
Dec. 2 at Route 66 Casino Hotel in Albuquerque
ALBUQUERQUE, NM (June 11, 2011) – Right after she registered her 30th career victory last night, promoter Lenny Fresquez announced that Holly “The Preachers Daughter” Holm will take on Anne Sophie Mathis — the top two pound-for-pound female boxers in the world — December 2 for “World Dominance,” at the Route 66 Casino Hotel in Albuquerque.
Holm dominated all 10-rounds en route to unanimous decision (100-90 X 3) victory last night against aggressive Victoria Cisneros at Route 66 Casino Hotel.
Holm (30-1-3, 9 KOs) will try to regain her IBA Welterweight title and WBAN Championship Belt in the 10-round main event against Mathis (23-1, 20 KOs), the WBO European Welterweight Champion from France. Holm-Mathis, presented by Fresquez Productions, is a modern day match-up between the consummate boxer, southpaw Holm, and knockout specialist, Mathis, who will be fighting outside of Europe for the first time.
“This has all the makings of an instant classic, potentially one of the greatest fights in women’s boxing history,” Fresquez said. “Holly has exhausted all of her competitive options in the U.S., fighting just about every legitimate title challenger – 11 world champions – and now she wants to test herself against the best European fighter, Ann Sophie Mathis. It promises to be a memorable night for boxing fans all over the world, not just women’s boxing fans.”
Holm’s only loss was in 2004 and she’s won 23 of 24 fights since with one draw. A multiple world champion in three different divisions (light welterweight, welterweight and light middleweight), Holly has defeated all of the significant names in women’s boxing from the 140 through 154-pound classes, including Christy Martin, Mary Jo Sanders, Mia St. John, Jane Couch, Duda Yankovich and Chevelle Hallback (twice).
Mathis is riding a 22-fight win streak, dating back to 1995 when she lost in her second pro fight, and she’s a two-time world light welterweight champion. December 2nd will mark the fifth anniversary of her first world title victory, in which she stopped previously unbeaten Myriam Lamare (13-0) for the WBA crown as well as the vacant EBU championship. Ann Sophie’s victims also include Couch, Yankovich, Ana Pascal and Nathalie Toro.
For more information about “World Dominance: Holm vs. Mathis” go on line to www.FresquezProductions.com.