INDIO, Calif. (June 27, 2012) – Five of the six fighters who will compete on a special world championship edition of ShoBox: The New Generation this Saturday, June 30, live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. participated in an open workout Wednesday at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino Special Events Center.
In Saturday’s ShoBox main event, IBF Junior Middleweight World Champion Cornelius Bundrage (31-4, 18 KO’s), of Detroit, Mich., will defend his title against former Undisputed Welterweight World Champion and current IBF No. 1 rated junior middleweight contender, Cory Spinks (39-6, 11 KO’s), of St. Louis, Mo.
The co-feature will match 2011 Prospect of the Year, unbeaten Gary Russell Jr. (19-0, 11 KO’s), of Capitol Heights, Md., against Christopher Perez (23-2, 14 KO’s), of Culiacan, Mexico, in a 10-round featherweight bout.
The tripleheader will begin with a 10-round junior middleweight match between former international amateur standout and top rated 154-pound contender Erislandy Lara (16-1-1, 11 KO’s), of Houston, Texas, by way of Guantanamo, Cuba, against former world title challenger Freddy Hernandez (30-2, 20 KO’s), of Lynwood, Calif., by way of Mexico City.
Tickets, priced at $25, $35 and $55, are on sale at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
Here’s what the fighters said Wednesday:
CORNELIUS “K9” BUNDRAGE
“I’m telling people to tune in. I’ve been promoting this fight, so I’m quite sure a lot of people will be watching. I think it’s going to be a great performance. I’m going to go out there and give it my all.
“I didn’t expect I would fight Cory Spinks like that the first time. I expect to fight him differently this time, but I might just go out there and bulldog him again.
“Cory Spinks is not the champ anymore. I’m the champ now.
“I’m more experienced now. In my last fight I defended my belt against the guy I lost my first fight to (Sechew Powell) and went 12 rounds.”
CORY SPINKS
“Spinks is Spinks again. Spinks wasn’t Spinks the last time we fought. The first time, I didn’t train properly. I was sick. I had no mechanics. I don’t care who you are, if you aren’t right mentally and physically, you’re not going to be able to do anything.
“I want to fight for titles. It doesn’t matter who it is. K-9 is still there on top, so he’s got to get it.
“Fans are going to see the total package on Saturday. I’m ready. I’ve been blessed with a gift. I didn’t have to learn how to box. I always could and I could fight anyway I wanted. I can sit down with you, I can box with you. I will do anything I have to [in order] to win this fight.”
GARY RUSSELL JR.
“There has definitely been more growth. I’m always learning. I’m more mature mentally and physically.
“I think it’s good to fight someone with confidence. I don’t want to compete against someone who thinks he’s going to lose. I want to fight against a guy who thinks he can win.
“He’s used to guys pressing the action, so I’m not going to press the action. I’ll use my power and speed.
“I’m a versatile fighter. I’m definitely not one-dimensional.
“I’m always anxious to get in the ring. I love the ring. I’m always in the gym…always ready and in shape.”
CHRISTOPHER PEREZ
“No doubt there have been a lot of upsets in boxing over the last few months. I’m hoping that I can be the next.
“On Saturday night, boxing fans will know who I am. I know Russell has fast hands, but I have my game plan to be victorious.”
ERISLANDY LARA
“If I go out there and do what I did to Ronald Hearns (KO 1), no one is going to want to fight me.
“Freddy Hernandez is a very good fighter. I’m prepared for anything he’s going to bring, but he needs to be worried about what I plan to bring.
“I’m not frustrated that fighters avoid me. I just have to keep working hard and taking care of the fighters my promoter puts in front of me. The big fights will come sooner or later. These guys can run but they can’t hide.”
Bundrage vs. Spinks, a 12 round fight for Bundrage’s IBF Junior Middleweight World Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. and the first fight begins at 4:00 p.m. The ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader, which will also feature rising featherweight star Gary Russell Jr. facing contender Christopher Perez and top rated junior middleweight contender Erislandy Lara squaring off against former world title challenger Freddy Hernandez, will air live on SHOWTIME at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The broadcast will also feature highlights of the eight-round fight between rising star Antonio Orozco and Albert Cruz Jr.
Hokmi Defends WBF World Title In Morocco!
French Super Flyweight Nadya Hokmi is a living example that persistence pays off! A setback is just another opportunity for a comeback, and after five failed attempts at World Championships, some of which could easily have gone her way, she finally succeeded when she won the World Boxing Federation Women’s World title in June 2010 with a unanimous decision over American Elena Reid.
After a lengthy lay-off, Hokmi, 18-6-1 (8), is set to defend her WBF World title on June 7 in Marrakech, Morocco when she takes on Argentinean Marisa Johanna Portillo, 11-5-2 (2).
Prior to the triumph against Reid, Hokmi had lost close world title bouts twice to Bettina Csabi in Hungary, to Anita Christensen in Denmark, and twice to Susi Kentikian in Germany. All losses were on points, against opponents with a combined 101-0 (!!) record, and all were away from home.
On top of that, Hokmi also drew with undefeated Italian Simona Galassi (in Italy of course) for the European title in 2007. Most people thought Hokmi won that fight clearly, and called it an outrageous hometown decision, so it is safe to say that she has not been used to having everything her way.
After the second loss to Kentikian, in December 2007, Hokmi has won eight straight bouts. In 2009 she captured her first professional title, the French national Bantamweight crown, and in 2010 she registered a nice victory over current WBF World Bantamweight ruler Renata Szebeledi in a non-title encounter.
Later that year she was finally rewarded for her persistence with the world title-victory over Reid. It was a long time coming, and if there was ever a deserving world champion it must be Nadya Hokmi. And at almost 35 years of age, she is still willing and able to take on all comers.
Twenty-four year old challenger Marisa Johanna Portillo will be looking to take a page out of the Nadya Hokmi-book of perseverance. Despite having lost five of eighteen bouts, she proved that she belongs among the world’s elite when she lost a world title challenge in Mexico last year, to Ana Maria Torres, on points after a game effort, and prior to that she had dropped a decision to current World Super Bantamweight champion Yesica Patricia Marcos.
This past March she returned with a victory over fellow Argentinean Marta Soledad Juncos in Santa Fe, an opponent nowhere near the level of Hokmi. Never the less, Portillo will have high hopes that she can continue the good form she has shown the last couple of years and pull off the upset.
And she only has to look at the champion’s record to see that losing in the past doesn’t mean you can’t win in the future!
www.worldboxingfederation.net
Boxing Show July 6th
Fight fans are guaranteed value-for-money when Britain’s top small-hall promoter stages his biggest-ever show. Mickey Helliet has regularly sold out shows this year and reports tickets have been selling fast for his bumper 15-fight bill at The Coronet in Elephant and Castle on Friday, July 6th.
Helliet has matched 10 unbeaten boxers – including highly-touted Ahmet Patterson.
Patterson, a former England amateur international, makes the step up to six-round level against Kevin McCauley and crowd-pleasers Lloyd Ellett, Charlie Rice, Craig Whyatt and Elliott Matthews are among Helliet’s red-hot prospects heading for title contention.
Watford middleweight Matthews was a top amateur and goes into next week’s fight boosted by back-to-back first round knock outs.
Vinny Woolford is another fighter recently signed by Helliet with dynamite in his fists.
His one-punch wipe out Tyler Goodjohn was a contender for knockout-of-the-year and the Ramsgate welterweight re launches his career on Helliet’s latest ‘No Retreat No Surrender’ fight night at The Coronet.
Islington teenager Charlie Rice has thrilled fans with an all-action style that has taken him to two straight wins in the light-welterweight division – and big punches will be thrown when a pair of heavyweight hitters launch their professional careers.
West London-based Adam Brearley makes his paid debut – and so does Marek Onda, from Slovakia.
Millwall fan Johnny Garton, known as ‘The Pexican’ for his non-stop aggression, aims to extend his unbeaten record on the show and fighting fisherman Warren Fenn plans to reel in his third straight win to climb the middleweight rankings.
The event will also feature an auction to raise funds towards funeral costs for ex-Helliet fighter Lewis Pinto who tragically took his own life earlier this month. Pinto’s unbeaten stable mate Lee Owen will be on the bill.
Further information is available from 07843-636920.