Tripleheader from Cache Creek Casino in Brooks, Calif. at 10 p.m. ET/PT Kicks off Back-To-Back Nights of Live Boxing on SHOWTIME
Super lightweight prospect Shinard Bunch (20-1-1, 16 KOs), from Queens, N.Y., and undefeated Mexican prospect Bryan Flores (23-0-1, 13 KOs) both made weight Thursday, a day ahead of their 10-round main event showdown on SHOBOX: The New Generation tomorrow night, Friday, April 7 live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT from Cache Creek Casino in Brooks, Calif. in the first of back-to-back nights of live boxing on the network.
The co-feature pits undefeated New York super welterweight Jahyae Brown (13-0, 9 KOs) and intriguing Argentine prospect Guido Schramm in a 10-round contest. Plus, Raul Garcia (12-0, 10 KOs) of the Dominican Republic faces Robert Terry (9-0, 3 KOs) of Jersey City, N.J., with both fighters putting their unbeaten streaks to the test in an eight-round super welterweight bout that opens the telecast.
In night two of the live boxing doubleheader that features both the stars of today and the future champions of tomorrow, undefeated super welterweight sensation and SHOBOX® alum Sebastian Fundora defends his title against rising contender Brian Mendoza in the main event live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Saturday night at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. Plus, episode two of the Emmy®-winning series ALL ACCESS previewing the battle between undefeated three-division world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis and unbeaten boxing sensation “King” Ryan Garcia premieres tomorrow night at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT immediately preceding SHOBOX.
International Boxing Hall of Famer Barry Tompkins will call Friday night’s blow-by-blow action alongside former junior middleweight world champion Raul Marquez with another Hall of Famer Steve Farhood joining remotely as the unofficial scorer. The executive producer of SHOBOX: The New Generation is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Chuck McKean directing.
FINAL WEIGHTS:
Super Lightweight 10-Round Bout
Shinard Bunch – 140 pounds
Bryan Flores – 139.6 pounds
Referee: David Hartman; Judges: Kermit Bayless (Calif.), Rey Danseco (Calif.), Marshall Walker (Calif.)
Super Welterweight 10-Round Bout
Jahyae Brown – 153.2 pounds
Guido Schramm – 153.7 pounds
Referee: Michael Margado; Judges: Kermit Bayless (Calif.), Rey Danseco (Calif.), Marshall Walker (Calif.)
Super Welterweight Eight-Round Bout
Raul Garcia – 155.8 pounds
Robert Terry – 155.5 pounds
Referee: Edward Collantes; Judges: Kermit Bayless (Calif.), Rey Danseco (Calif.), Marshall Walker (Calif.)
Note: Contracted weight is 156 pounds.
FINAL QUOTES:
SHINARD BUNCH
“Everything happens for a reason. A couple of years ago, I didn’t get the decision against Janelson Bocachica, although I felt I deserved it. Now I’m here.
“I’ve fought at 147 and 140. When I was at welterweight, I didn’t think I could be a 140-pounder, but Chino [Raul Rivas] pushed me and we made it happen. I felt good. I felt things were easier at this weight and that’s why we are fighting at 140 now.
“I don’t watch a lot of film because I don’t want to overthink. I let my trainer watch tape and come up with a gameplan for me.
“I felt that at the beginning of my career I could have trained better. As I’m growing as a boxer, my training has grown as well. I’ve been with Chino about three years now and we are taking everything very seriously. After this fight, I’d like to be in the top 10 of the division.
“This is the next step of my career. I think I may be three or four fights away from a title shot if I do things right.
“I’m going in there to box all ten rounds, but my opponent’s been down a few times. So don’t be surprised if the fight ends early.
“And yes, my middle name is actually Showtime. My mom said she knew I was going to be a star one day and she needed to name me appropriately.
“I’m in a very hot division. There’s a lot of talent at 140. I’m willing to fight anybody. I want to keep on learning. Keep on growing. I’d like to fight fighters with different styles. I can always learn something new and excel. I’d like to fight the best, whoever is at the top. I definitely see myself growing into the best boxer I can be.”
BRYAN FLORES
“Three fights ago, I had a tough test against Nestor Maidana. I was knocked down three times, but I ended up winning with a KO. In that fight I learned a lot. I realized that I made mistakes in my preparation. It was really hard to make 135 pounds so that’s why I’m moving up.
“I’ve been training with Ismael Salas for over a year. I’m in Las Vegas during training camp and come back home to Mexico when I’m not fighting.
“I’m an aggressive-minded fighter. I have a Mexican style. With my trainer, Salas, I’ve learned to control the distance and fight smarter. But when I get hit, I get all fired up. I get mad and that fuels me.
“My opponent is a strong guy. We have similar records. He hasn’t faced a guy like me, and I haven’t faced a guy like him before. It’ll be a really good fight. This is the opportunity of a lifetime and I’m not about to let it go by.
“The amateur system helped me a lot. I’ve been traveling since I was 14. I was in the Mexican national team. All this experience really helped me as a pro.”
JAHYAE BROWN
“I’m from upstate New York but I train under Dwight Yarde in Las Vegas. He’s helped me to get to a different level. I’m a good student and I’m ready to step up to the challenge. I have the edge. I’m taller, I have a longer reach. I’m going to take control of the fight and stop him in the later rounds.
“I’ve been preparing with Shinard Bunch and Vito Mielnicki, Jr., in Las Vegas. I also sparred with Jallil Hackett, who’s a 175-pounder. I did well. I’m ready for whatever my opponent brings to the table. I know that he moves a lot and he can be tricky at times.
“I come from a different background. I played football. I grew up in a tough part of town. I would fight with my cousins, my siblings. We went to a boxing gym and I just fell in love with it.
“I push myself. I trained very hard and follow my coach’s advice. I do as I’m told. He knows what he’s doing. He’s trained Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis. I’m glad he is in my corner.”
GUIDO SCHRAMM
“We found out a week ago that we’d be fighting on SHOBOX on April 7. We had actually been training for a different fight on the 8th until this opportunity came along. Fortunately, we were able to work it out and make it happen. Things can change day to day in boxing and I’m grateful for the opportunity to fight on TV in the United States and showcase my skills.
“When it’s time to box, I’ll box. When it’s time to brawl, I’ll brawl. Whatever it takes when I’m in the ring. I’ll adjust to whatever is coming and I’ll take it from there.
“I have the experience edge, and I’ve been sparring with a lot of elite fighters. So I feel prepared and hope everything goes my way this weekend.”
RAUL GARCIA
“The Dominican Republic is producing a lot of champs and I’d like to add my name to that list one day. Seeing Alberto Puello, Carlos Adames, Hector Luis Garcia succeed in their boxing careers truly inspires me to work hard and change my life.
“I’ve been boxing my whole life. I listen to the instructions of my corner, and just get things done. They call me ‘el domador’ [the lion tamer]. I’m not afraid of anything. My opponent, whose nickname is ‘Tiger,’ should watch out. I’ve tamed all sorts of cats.
“This is my first fight with Bob Santos. We’ve worked on my ring IQ, technique and boxing strategy.”
ROBERT TERRY
“I’m still shocked. It’s a huge deal for me to fight on SHOBOX and I’m excited. It came suddenly and when we got the call, I was super excited. This is what we’ve been working for and we want to show everybody what we’re capable of. I needed a chance, and this is it.
“I expect my opponent to come with his A-game and fully prepared. He has a lot of knockouts and I expect him to come strong and ready, but this is what we’ve worked and prepared for.
“I’ve always pictured, in my mind, performing on a big stage like this. So during my three-year layoff, I never doubted that I’d fight again.
“I’m going to feed off the lights and the cameras and all the energy that this type of fight is going to bring. I know that everyone is going to be tuned in. I’ve got a lot of people watching and I’m going to feed off of their support.
“I started getting knockouts as my opponents got better. The better my opponents have been, the more I’ve progressed. Them being better has made me have to be better.”