ShoBox: The Next Generation returns to Showtime with a main event featuring two undefeated junior welterweights. Keenan Smith (11-0, 5 KOs) will take on Ivan Baranchyk (16-0, 10 KOs) at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla.
The primary undercard should be Kenneth Sims Jr. (12-0, 4 KOs) taking on Rolando Chinea (14-1-1, 6 KOs). It looks like we’re getting four fights tonight. I’ll get you the details when the men hit the ring.
As always, scroll on down for the live blog. Keep reading for the press release from Showtime.
Weights
Keenan Smith 140 – Ivan Baranchyk 140
Kenneth Sims, Jr. 139.4 – Rolando Chinea 139.6
Glenn Dezurn 121.6 – Adam Lopez 121.8
Joshua Greer 117.4 – Leroy Davila 117
NON-TELEVISED WEIGHTS
Antoine Douglas 159.6 – Juan De Angel 168.4
Charles Conwell 155.6 – Rick Graham TBA
Isiah Steen 163.4 – Travis Nero TBA
MIAMI, Okla., (July 13, 2017) – Undefeated super lightweights Keenan Smith and Ivan Baranchyk officially made weight on Thursday, one day before they headline a quadrupleheader tomorrow/Friday on ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from Buffalo Run Casino & Resort in Miami, Okla.
Philadelphia’s rising prospect Smith (11-0, 5 KOs) takes on the hard-hitting Baranchyk (14-0, 10 KOs), who trains in Los Angeles and fights out of Miami. This will be Baranchyk’s fifth appearance on the ShoBox series, and his sixth consecutive fight in his adopted hometown of Miami.
“I respect all fighters, but he’s talking a little smack,” Smith said right after both fighters weighed in at exactly 140 pounds. “It doesn’t matter where we fight. I’ll fight him in his own backyard if I have to.”
Former national amateur champion Kenneth Sims Jr. (12-0, 4 KOs) will look to remain unbeaten when he meets aggressive five-year pro Roland Chinea (14-1-1, 6 KOs) in the eight-round co-feature.
Glenn Dezurn (9-0, 6 KOs) and Leroy Davila (5-1, 3 KOs) recently went the distance in a grueling eight-round super bantamweight bout that opened April 14’s ShoBox telecast, where Dezurn earned a unanimous decision. Both fighters return in the opening two bouts of tomorrow night’s telecast. Dezurn will take on ShoBox veteran Adam Lopez (16-1-1, KOs) in an eight-round super bantamweight clash, where Lopez will make his record-tying sixth ShoBox appearance. Davila will battle Joshua Greer (13-1-1, 5 KOs) in the eight-round telecast opener.
Tickets for the event promoted by GH3 Promotions and Tony Holden Productions are priced at $35, $55, $65 and $75 and are available for purchase now at buffalorun.com.
FINAL QUOTES:
KEENAN SMITH:
“I’ve been through a lot and it’s been hard, but I’ve been using it as motivation.
“I can box and I can punch. I’m not looking to go in and trade with this guy.
“I liked going away for camp for the first time. It made me focus and just kept my mind on boxing.
“I’m not worried about the hometown advantage.
“I’ve been training hard for this fight and tomorrow you’re going to see the best. We are looking to kill the beast. [Baranchyk] comes to fight, he swings a lot of wild punches. I’m a boxer and a puncher, I’m good at making fighters feel uncomfortable. It’s a blessing to be up here, and it’s a blessing to fight on ShoBox and it’s a big opportunity to move up the ladder.”
The fights are on Showtime at 10 p.m. Watch them with me.
