Vernon Forrest, Antonio Tarver, Danny Santiago and Nonito Donaire strike a pose for the media at Gallagher’s Steak House in New York at the final press conference before Saturday’s world championship fights.  Photo: Tom Casino/Showtime

Antonio DeMarco (left) weighed in at 136 pounds, while Nick Casal tipped the scales at 135 1/2 pounds Thursday. Hard-hitting lightweights DeMarco (15-1-1, 12 KOs) and Casal (16-1-1, 1 NC, 12 KOs) will clash in the 10-round main event of “ShoBox: The New Generation’’ Friday on Showtime (11 p.m. ET/PT)

NEW YORK – Showtime once again will bring the action to fight fans as America’s No. 1 boxing network pits two can’t-miss lightweight prospects, Antonio DeMarco and Nick “Hands of Gold” Casal, in a 10-round lightweight battle Friday, Sept. 7, on “ShoBox: The New Generation” (Showtime, 11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).

Opening the telecast are the flashy and undefeated junior middleweights, Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo (9-0, six KOs) of Mexicali, Mexico, and Emmanuel Gonzalez (9-0, four KOs) of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.  Both fighters will put their unblemished records on the line in an eight-round scrap that will be a rematch of a 2002 amateur match-up. Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, will present the doubleheader from the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif.

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Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Lightweights DeMarco and Casal Set to Clash on Showtime

NEW YORK – Showtime once again will bring the action to fight fans as America’s No. 1 boxing network pits two can’t-miss lightweight prospects, Antonio DeMarco and Nick “Hands of Gold” Casal, in a 10-round lightweight battle Friday, Sept. 7, on “ShoBox: The New Generation” (Showtime, 11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).

Opening the telecast are the flashy and undefeated junior middleweights, Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo (9-0, six KOs) of Mexicali, Mexico, and Emmanuel Gonzalez (9-0, four KOs) of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.  Both fighters will put their unblemished records on the line in an eight-round scrap that will be a rematch of a 2002 amateur match-up. Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, will present the doubleheader from the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif.

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Sunday, September 02, 2007

Zuniga Upsets Oganov; Kirkland Stops Said

TACOMA – In exactly the type of well-matched, hotly contested fight that exemplifies what “ShoBox: The New Generation” is all about, Fulgencio Zuniga (20-2-1, 17 KOs) registered a convincing ninth-round TKO over previously undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) No. 8 contender Victor Oganov (26-1, 26 KOs) in a one-sided war for the vacant International Boxing Organization (IBO) super middleweight championship Saturday on Showtime.

In the co-feature of a tremendous “ShoBox” fight card, highly regarded unbeaten WBO No. 10-ranked 154-pound contender James Kirkland (20-0, 17 KOs) demolished Mohammad Said (22-6-1, 14 KOs), dropping him three times en route to a scintillating second-round knockout.

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Saturday, September 01, 2007

Oganov-Zuniga, Kirkland-Said Quotes

Victor Oganov (26-0, 26 KOs), of Syktyvkar, Russia, will look to continue his dominance when he battles former world title challenger Fulgencio Zuniga (19-2-1, 16 KOs), of Padilla, Columbia, for the vacant International Boxing Organization (IBO) super middleweight championship on Saturday, Sept. 1, in a special edition of ShoBox: The New Generation (Showtime, 10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

In the co-feature, hard-hitting WBO No. 10 junior middleweight contender James Kirkland (19-0, 16 KOs), of Austin, Tex., will continue to make his case for world title contention when he takes on Mohammad Said (22-5-1, 14 KOs), of Secaucus, N.J., by way of Brazil.

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Friday, June 22, 2007

Baldomir and Forrest Collide for Interim Belt July 28 on HBO’s Boxing After Dark

Former world champions and current top-rated contenders Vernon Forrest and Carlos Baldomir collide for the World Boxing Council interim super welterweight title, Saturday, July 28.  Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, in association with Brian Halquist Productions, the Forrest-Baldomir title tilt will be broadcast live from the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington, on HBO Boxing After Dark, beginning at 10:15 P.M. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast.)

“With 81 victories between them, these two warriors know a little something about winning,” said Gary Shaw.  “Not only have they been world champions, they became world champions by beating the best in their divisions to win those titles.  They are two of the most competitive fighters I have had the privilege to work with.  The fans at the Emerald Queen Casino and the viewers watching on HBO are in for a terrific night.  It’s now or never for Vernon and Carlos and that’s exactly how they are going to fight each other on July 28.”

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Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Gary Shaw Inks Victor Oganov

Promoter Gary Shaw announced today the signing of undefeated Top-10 super middleweight contender Victor Oganov to an exclusive promotional contract.
Oganov (26-0, 26 KOs), a native of Russia, now living in Australia, is currently world-rated No. 8 by the World Boxing Organization.  At 5’9 with a 59-inch reach, Oganov is already proving to be a most formidable opponent in a very hot division.
“As they say, ‘to the victor go the spoils,’ and with his power Victor will be collecting a lot of spoils in U.S. rings,” said Shaw.  “In Victor’s U.S. debut in January, he knocked out Richard Grant in the second.  Jeff Lacy in his prime went the distance against Grant, so that tells you something.  He’s fought in a lot of different countries.  Nothing distracts him.  He is focused on one thing…destroying his opponent.  I think the fans are going to love watching him.”
Oganov, 30, has fought in seven different countries since turning pro in 1998, including Russia, Estonia, England, Chile, Ukraine, Australia, and the United States.  He is managed by Edward Goumachian.

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Hanshaw Waiting for Jones; Dawson and Darchinyan Call Him Out

NEW YORK, NY - “Calling all cars!  Calling all cars!  Be on the lookout for a former world champion fighter who always refers to himself in the third person.  Goes by the name of Roy Jones Jr.  Last seen heading south . . . waaaaaay south and as far away as possible from super middleweight contender Anthony Hanshaw.  Approach with extreme caution and for heaven’s sake, bring plenty of backup—backup contracts.  He is armed with amendments and codicils and brother, he isn’t afraid to use them!”
Alas, Sigfried & Roy Jones, Jr. pulled a disappearing act on undefeated super middleweight contender Hanshaw, whom both Jones and promoter Lou DiBella had verbally agreed to terms to fight on June 2, in a 10-round light heavyweight bout that would have been broadcast live on Showtime.
“We had agreed to terms and signed our parts of the contract,” stated Hanshaw’s promoter Gary Shaw.  “Lou DiBella was supposed to get Jones to sign all his documents and the promotion would have been ready to go.  We are still waiting to hear back.  I’m just hoping Roy hasn’t been abducted by aliens!”
“If Jones is refusing to fight a super middleweight moving up to light heavyweight, you can bet he won’t be challenging me either,” said Chad Dawson, the newly-minted undefeated WBC light heavyweight champion.  “Maybe he heard DiBella toss out his name as a possible opponent for middleweight champion Jermain Taylor?  Roy must like them really small.”
“Am I small enough?” asked undefeated IBF/IBO flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan.  “If making me move up 73 pounds isn’t enough, then I suggest Roy get out of his chicken coop and get some fresh air before he fowls up anymore fights for himself!”