Photo: Tom Casino/Showtime – It was all right hands on Friday’s ShoBox: The New Generation. International Boxing Federation (IBF) cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek (37-1, 25 KOs) successfully defended his title against Johnathon Banks (20-1, 14 KOs) with a win by technical knockout at 1:30 of the eighth round.
In the evening’s co-feature, Giovanni Lorenzo (27-1, 19 KOs) impressed the crowd with a second-round knockout over Dionisio Miranda (19-3-2, 17 KOs).
The event, promoted by Main Events and Ziggy Promotions, in association with K2 Promotions took place from The Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
The 26-year old Banks, fighting out of Emanuel Steward’s Kronk Gym in Detroit, Mich., was seeking the world renowned gym’s first world title in 25 years.
Banks opened with four solid rounds behind an impressive jab and a powerful right hand. Showing his class and ability in his first world title fight, Banks had his eye on the prize.
But with the raucous Polish-American crowd in attendance, Adamek took control in the sixth with lethal combinations to the body and the head.
“I changed my tactic,” said Adamek after the fight, “and began to land body punches that changed the fight. I have a lot of respect for the right hand of Johnathon Banks but my trainer (Andrzej Gmitruk) told me to be patient, not to rush in and my time will come.”
Following a big right from Banks in the eighth round, the iron-chinned Adamek answered with a textbook right hand of his own that sent Banks sailing into the ropes and down to the canvas. The one punch all but ended the fight.
While Banks beat the count, he was visibly shaken when the fight resumed. Adamek took advantage of Banks’ weakness and delivered a final barrage that forced referee Eddie Cotton to step in and end the fight as Banks folded again appearing temporarily unconscious.
“Adamek began with a slower pace then usual tonight,” said ShoBox analyst Steve Farhood. “But once he accelerated, he knew what to do to bring about a relatively quick ending. Specifically, he began punching to the body before punching to the head.
“Any fighter who can take the kind of power shots that Adamek takes and keep moving forward is going to be in one thrilling fight after another.”
At the time of the stoppage the three judges ringside had the bout 68-65 and 66-67 twice for Adamek.
In his live, post-fight interview with Farhood, Adamek announced, “Everything is possible in the United States. I believe I can be heavyweight world champion.”
“Look out David Haye,” added ShoBox host and play-by-play announcer Nick Charles.
After the telecast, Charles added, “He has three things: Power in both hands, a granite chin and an iron resolve. You can’t discourage Tomasz Adamek, but he does have vulnerability which makes him even more exciting to watch.”
In the co-feature, Lorenzo, who fights out of New York City by way of the Dominican Republic, ended his fight with Miranda in similar fashion. After absorbing a stunning right from Miranda, Lorenzo delivered a game-stopping right to Miranda’s jaw. Miranda dropped and the referee counted him out at 2:48 of the second round.
After a tough loss in June to veteran fighter Raul Marquez, Lorenzo emphatically returned to his winning ways. His victory Friday night earned him the No. 1-ranked position to fight for Arthur Abraham’s middleweight world title.
CONFIRMED: The WBC Super Middleweight Championship fight between undefeated title holder Carl Froch (24-0, 19 KOs) and world renowned Jermain Taylor (28-2-1, 17 KOs) has been set for April 25th, live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
Other events coming up from SHOWTIME Sports:
ShoBox: The New Generation
Friday, March 13, live at 11 p.m. ET/PT*
IBF Super Middleweight World Championship
Lucian Bute (23-0, 18 KOs) vs. Fulgencio Zuniga (22-3-1, 19 KOs)
ShoBox: The New Generation
Special Saturday Edition, March 28, live at 11 p.m. ET/PT*
Featuring undefeated contenders Andre Dirrell (super middleweight, 17-0, 12 KOs) and Ronald Hearns (middleweight, 21-0, 17 KOs)
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
Saturday, April 4, live at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT*
WBC/WBO 140-Pound World Championship Unification
Timothy Bradley (23-0, 11 KOs) vs. Kendall Holt (25-2, 13 KOs)
Strikeforce MMA Event
Saturday, April 11, live at 10 p.m. ET/PT*
Frank Shamrock (24-9-1) vs. Nick Diaz (18-7, 1 NC)
Josh Thomson vs. Gilbert Melendez II for Thomson’s Strikeforce Lightweight Title; Plus other MMA fights
ShoBox: The New Generation
Friday, April 17, live at 11 p.m. ET/PT*
Featuring undefeated featherweight Yuriorkis Gamboa
*delayed on the West Coast
SHOWTIME will replay Friday’s ShoBox telecast on March 4, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME 2™.
Charles called the action from ringside with boxing historian Farhood serving as expert analyst. The executive producer of ShoBox is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
For more information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please go to the SHOWTIME Sports website at http://sports.sho.com.
A Trio of Returning Athletes Claim Victories at the USA vs. Ireland Dual on Friday in Dublin, Ireland
The three most experienced boxers on the U.S. team emerged from the USA vs. Ireland Dual competition with victories on Friday at the National Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. With one walkover victory, the United States took four of the 12 bouts at the event. Due to an AIBA rule change, the time and number of rounds has changed to three, three-minute rounds in 2009, and the USA vs. Ireland Dual was the first event featuring the new change for many of the boxers.
Two-time Olympian and 2007 Flyweight World Champion Rau’shee Warren (Cincinnati, Ohio) recorded the first victory of the event for the United States team. Warren enjoyed a quick start in his bout with Declan Gareghty of Ireland, taking a 9-2 advantage after the first round of action. His output began to slow in the second as he looked to protect his lead, and Warren enjoyed a 12-2 edge in the second. The third and final round featured more of the same and Warren went on to win a 15-4 decision.
2008 Olympic teammate Raynell Williams (Cleveland, Ohio) claimed the second victory of the dual for the United States, winning a closer contest over Ireland’s Carl Frampton. Williams came out strongly as well, grabbing a 6-2 edge after the opening round. He held a four-point lead after the second round of boxing as well, taking an 8-4 advantage into the third round. Frampton pulled one point closer over the final three minutes, but Williams held on to win a 13-10 final decision.
Super heavyweight Michael Hunter (Las Vegas, Nev.) closed the event in victorious fashion for the U.S., winning a second stoppage over Ireland’s Anthony Crampton. Hunter led by a 5-1 margin after the first round, but Hunter’s onslaught caused the referee call a halt to the bout in the second, giving Hunter the victory.
In other action, light flyweight Louie Byrd (Denver, Colo.) dropped a 22-2 decision to 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Paddy Barnes of Ireland while bantamweight Ernesto Garza suffered a 16-1 loss to 2008 Olympian John Joe Nevin. In lightweight action, Ireland’s Ross Hickey recorded a 19-6 victory over the United States’ Eric Fowler (Montgomery, Texas). Light welterweight Charles Watson (Johnson City, Tenn.) faced off in a highly competitive bout with Phillip Sutcliffe of Ireland, but dropped a 13-9 decision to the home nation boxer. Welterweight Javontae Starks (Minneapolis, Minn.) and middleweight Aleem Whitfield (Geneva, N.Y.) both lost their dual contests with Starks suffering a 15-10 loss to Willie McLoughlin and Whitfield dropping a 13-5 decision to Darren O’Neill. Due to the unexplained absence of Ken Eagan, the U.S. claimed a walkover win in light heavyweight Siju Shabazz’s bout. Heavyweight Paul Koon (Philadelphia, Pa.) lost his contest by a 14-4 margin to Con Sheehan.
Two-time World Champion Katie Taylor of Ireland proved why she earned her titles, winning a 30-3 decision over the United States’ Queen Underwood (Seattle, Wash.)
Coaches Hal Chernoff (Fruitland, Md.); Ray Velez (Ridgewood, N.Y.) and Ken Buffington (Marshalltown, Iowa) led the United States team into action on Friday. Richard Trindle (Mercer, Pa.) is serving as Team Manager for the event with Larry Ferebee (Lynchburg, Va.) and Tom Cleary (Cincinnati, Ohio) working as AIBA officials and Dr. John Denker (Portland, Ore.) joining the squad as the Team Physician.
The two teams will face off in a second dual on Sunday, March 1 at the Arch Centre Athy in Kildare, Ireland.
The line-up for the second dual on Sunday will be:
106 lbs/48 kg: Louie Byrd, Denver, Colo./USA vs. Paddy Barnes, Ireland (2008 Olympic bronze medalist)
112 lbs/51 kg: Rau’shee Warren, Cincinnati, Ohio/USA (two-time Olympian) vs. Ruairi Dalton, Ireland
119 lbs/54 kg: Ernesto Garza, Saginaw, Mich./USA vs. Ryan Lindberg, Ireland
125 lbs/57 kg: Raynell Williams, Cleveland, Ohio/USA (2008 Olympian) vs. David Oliver Joyce, Ireland
132 lbs/60 kg: Eric Fowler, Montgomery, Texas/USA vs. Eric Donovan, Ireland
141 lbs/64 kg: Charles Watson, Johnson City, Tenn./USA vs. John Joe Watson, Ireland (2008 Olympian)
152 lbs/69 kg: Javontae Starks, Minneapolis, Minn./USA vs. Roy Sheahan, Ireland
165 lbs/75 kg: Aleem Whitfield, Geneva, N.Y./USA vs. David Joyce, Ireland
178 lbs/81 kg: Siju Shabazz, Las Cruces, N.M./USA vs. Denis Hogan, Ireland
201 lbs/91 kg: Paul Koon, Philadelphia, Pa./USA vs. John Sweeney, Ireland
201+ lbs/91+ kg: Michael Hunter, Las Vegas, Nev./USA vs. Anthony Crampton, Ireland
USA vs. Ireland Results
106 lbs/48 kg: Paddy Barnes, Ireland, dec. Louie Byrd, Denver, Colo./USA, 22-2
112 lbs/51 kg: Rau’shee Warren, Cincinnati, Ohio/USA dec. Declan Geraghty, Ireland, 15-4
119 lbs/54 kg: John Joe Nevin, Ireland dec. Ernesto Garza, Saginaw, Mich./USA, 16-1
125 lbs/57 kg: Raynell Williams, Cleveland, Ohio/USA dec. Carl Frampton, Ireland, 13-10
132 lbs/female: Katie Taylor, Ireland, dec. Queen Underwood, Seattle, Wash./USA, 30-3
132 lbs/60 kg: Ross Hickey, Ireland dec. Eric Fowler, Montgomery, Texas/USA, 19-6
141 lbs/64 kg: Phillip Sutcliffe, Ireland dec. Charles Watson, Johnson City, Tenn./USA, 13-9
152 lbs/69 kg: Willie McLoughlin, Ireland, dec. Javontae Starks, Minneapolis, Minn./USA, 15-10
165 lbs/75 kg: Darren O’Neill, Ireland, dec. Aleem Whitfield, Geneva, N.Y./USA, 13-5
178 lbs/81 kg: Siju Shabazz won on walkover
201 lbs/91 kg: Con Sheehan, Ireland, dec. Paul Koon, Philadelphia, Pa./USA, 14-4
201+ lbs/91+ kg: Michael Hunter, Las Vegas, Nev./USA stopped Anthony Crampton, Ireland, RSC-2
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