*****OFFICIAL WEIGHTS FROM FOXWOODS*****

PRESS RELEASE BILLY DIB 125 LBS. VS.    EVGENY GRADOVICH 125 LBS.    Ledyard, CT (2/28/13) - Earlier tonight IBF Featherweight Champion Billy "The Kid" Dib (35-1-1NC, 21KO's) and undefeated Russian Challenger Evgeny Gradovich (15-0, 8KO's) both made weight for their championship bout tomorrow night at MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods.  Both Dib and Gradovich looked to be in tremendous shape, with each fighter tipping the scales at 125 lbs.   The event tomorrow is promoted by 50 Cent's SMS Promotions and DiBella Entertainment and sponsored by SMS Audio.  The championship bout will be televised live tomorrow night on ESPN's Friday Night Fights.  Below are the complete weights for the entire card. IBF Featherweight Championship (12) Billy Dib (35-1-0-1NC, 21 KOs), Champion, Sydney, Australia 125 LBS. Evgeny Gradovich (15-0, 8 KOs), Challenger, Igrim, Russia   125 LBS. NABF Super Welterweight Championship (10) Willie Nelson (19-1-1, 11 KOs), Champion, Cleveland, OH   152 LBS. Michael Medina (26-3-2, 19 KOs), Challenger, Los Angeles, CA   154 LBS. Junior Lightweights (8) Ryan Kielczweski (15-0, 3 KOs), Quincy, MA   127 LBS. Gil Garcia (5-3-1, 1 KO), Houston, TX   129 LBS. Super Bantamweights (8) Luis Rosa Jr. (12-0, 6 KOs), New Haven, CT   124 LBS. Jhovany Collado (4-6-2, 1 KO), Jamaica, NY   123 LBS. Junior Welterweights (4) Luis Oliveras (pro debut), Glendale, AZ   140 LBS. Rafael Munoz (1-1), Houston, TX   140 LBS. Female Junior Featherweights (6) Shelly Vincent (7-0), Providence, RI   124 LBS. Mikayla Nevel (0-3), Columbus, OH   122 LBS. Welterweights (4) Jimmy Williams (1-0, 1 KO), New Haven, CT   146 LBS. Raynard Younger (0-1), Alpharetta, GA   147 LBS. The 12-round main event on ESPN Friday Night Fights features International Boxing Federation (IBF) Featherweight Champion Billy "The Kid" Dib (35-1-0-1NC, 21 KOs), who is promoted by 50 Cent, defending against undefeated Russian challenger Evgeny Gradovich. NABF Super Welterweight Champion Willie "The Great" Nelson defends his title against Michael "Medina in the 10-round co-feature.             Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. ET.The ESPN Friday Night Fights card will air live at 9 p.m. ET. The Nelson-Medina bout is promoted in association with Rumble Time Promotions. The event is sponsored by SMS Audio.    ***50 Cent will be performing live on fight night*** Tickets priced at $200, $100, $75 and $40 may be purchased online atfoxwoods.com, by calling the Foxwoods' box office at 800-200-2882, or in personat the Foxwoods' box office. OTHER PHOTOS CO-FEATURE NABF JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP  L-R: Michael Medina,Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Steve Smith (Rumble Time) and Willie Nelson   L-R: GIL GARCIA, LOU DIBELLA & RYAN KIELCZWESKI  L-R: LUIS ROSA & JHOVANY COLLADO  L-R: LUIS OLIVERAS, CURTIS "50 CENT" JACKSON AND RAFAEL MUNOZ TEAM SMS PROMOTIONS L-R: LUIS OLIVERAS, YURIORKIS GAMBOA, DONTE STRAYHORN  CURTIS "50 CENT" JACKSON, BILLY DIB & ANDRE DIRRELL ***50 Cent will be performing live on fight night*** PHOTO CREDIT: DIBELLA ENTERTAINMENT/ED DILLER

FINAL PRESSER QUOTES DIB & GRADOVICH PROMISE FIREWORKS 50 CENT IN LIVE PERFORMANCE

PRESS RELEASE ESPN Friday Night Fights at MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino (L-R) Billy Dib, 50 Cent, Lou DiBella and Evgeny Gradovich (Presser Gallery Below - All pictures by Edward Diller)  NEW YORK (February 27, 2013) - Co-promoters Lou DiBella, of DiBella Entertainment, and 50 Cent, of SMS Promotions, hosted the final press conference today at the Strand Hotel in New York City for this week's (Mar. 1) ESPN Friday Night Fights at the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. In the 12-round main event, SMS Promotions' IBF Featherweight Champion Billy "The Kid" Dib (35-1-0-1NC, 21KO's) puts his world title on the line against Russia's undefeated IBF #11 rated Evgeny Gradovich (15-0, 8KO's). In the televised co-feature, former amateur standout and now top-ten rated junior middleweight contender Willie Nelson (19-1-1, 11KO's) squares off against Michael Medina (26-3-2, 19KO's) in a 10-round showdown for Nelson's NABF super welterweight title. The Nelson-Medina bout is promoted in association with Rumble Time Promotions. The event is sponsored by SMS Audio. Both bouts will air on ESPN's Friday Night Fights beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET. 50 Cent will perform live on fight night. Tickets priced at $200, $100, $75 and $40 may be purchased online atfoxwoods.com, by calling the Foxwoods' box office at 800-200-2882, or in personat the Foxwoods' box office.    PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES LOU DIBELLA: "First and foremost, I want to thank everyone here for coming out and also everyone that is involved in this event, particularly 50 cent, Foxwoods and our great sponsor, SMS Audio.  "We have an outstanding event coming up this Friday and I think it is important for everyone to know that we are not doing this event to make a ton of money.  We are doing this to give the public an opportunity to see a great event and also to give this great champion, Billy Dib, the exposure that he truly deserves here in the US.   "We have a terrific card from top to bottom, including a dynamite co-feature with NABF Junior Middleweight Champion Willie Nelson defending his title against Michael Medina. It is a co-feature that easily could have been a main event on its own, in fact, it was originally, but then we had this great opportunity to put Billy Dib in the main event, defending his world championship live on ESPN and we just couldn't pass that up.  I want to thank Doug Loughrey from ESPN for giving us this opportunity and for working so hard on making this a reality. "There are an awful lot of haters when you start a new business, especially in the boxing world. No one has laid out a red carpet for Curtis "50 Cent' Jackson. Everything that he has achieved thus far he has worked to get.  I am totally impressed by working with him to see his intellect and how hard he actually works.  I only see great things for him in this sport moving forward and just wanted to say it really is an absolute pleasure to work with you and your company."    CURTIS "50 CENT" JACKSON: "I am excited about Friday night. This has been a great partnership I have formed with Lou (DiBella) and it has just been an amazing process for me.  This is the first boxing event that I have been involved with for the entire process, from beginning to end, and it really is going to be a special night for me on Friday night. "To actually be in Billy's camp and to see the sacrifices that he makes day in and day out is really something special.  It makes you realize really what these fighters go through. It gives you a whole new appreciation for them and for this great sport. "The level of the actual talent involved in this promotion is exciting for me and excites me for what the future has to hold for me in this sport. I believe by combining the right elements we can bring back that younger demographic to this sport, and that is something we are going to be working on constantly." BILLY "THE KID" DIB: "I want to thank everyone who was involved with this promotion. March 1st is going to be a great event. The whole team has worked very hard. This is my second coming. I am coming back here to America to showcase my ability. I am a completely different animal right now and you will see that Friday night.  I know Gradovich is going to fight out of his skin, being this is his first world championship opportunity, so I can promise you that this is going to make for fireworks in this fight. We respect Gradovich; we know that he is ready, and these are the type of fights we want."  EVGENY GRADOVICH: "Thank you for this opportunity, I am very excited. I know that this is going to be a great fight. We trained very hard for this fight, and I know it is going to be a very good fight for everyone involved, especially the fans in attendance and those watching at home on ESPN."

MEDINA GOING TO 'WOODS' TO TAKE NABF BELT BACK FROM NELSON

March 1 ESPN Friday Night Fights co-feature at MGM Grand at Foxwoods   Michael "El Magnifico" Medina (photo by Chris Farina)  NEW YORK (February 27, 2013) - Former North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super welterweight champion Michael "El Magnifico" Medina (26-3-2, 19 KOs) challenges present NABF titleholder Willie "The Great" Nelson (19-1-1, 11 KOs) tomorrow in the 10-round co-feature on ESPN Friday Night Fights, airing live from the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. "I wasn't active," Medina explained, regarding why he was stripped by the NABF. "Now, I'm getting my belt back. I feel that it's really still my belt. He's the NABF champion but he didn't take my belt from me. I'm looking forward to this fight. He's a strong, young fighter and it'll be awesome to add his name to my resume. A win will take me from this level to a higher one with bigger fights. I'm confident that, after this fight, I'll be getting more fights on television networks." The ESPN Friday Night Fights card, co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and 50 Cent's SMS Promotions, will air live at 9 p.m. ET. The Nelson-Medina bout is promoted in association with Rumble Time Promotions. The event is sponsored by SMS Audio. The 12-round main event on ESPN Friday Night Fights features International Boxing Federation (IBF) Featherweight Champion Billy "The Kid" Dib (35-1-0-1NC, 21 KOs), who is promoted by 50 Cent, defending his title against undefeated Russian challenger Evgeny Gradovich (15-0, 8 KOs), who is rated No. 11 by the IBF. WBC No. 17-ranked Medina captured the NABF belt on December 22, 2011, winning a 10-round decision over veteran Grady Brewer. However, Medina was later stripped of his belt because he failed to defend his title due to him being unable to land fights, not because he turned down opponents. "He didn't have a promoter and Mike just got caught in the middle of things," his manager Steve Feder noted. "I wasn't with him until his last fight which, ironically, was on the same card (Sergio Martinez vs. Julio Caesar Chavez Jr. PPV, September 15, 2012, in Las Vegas) that Willie Nelson last fought. So, Mike will be fighting for the same belt that he didn't lose in the ring. He signed with Lou (DiBella) and now he's in a fight to get his belt back. He's always wanted to be in these kinds of fights. This is a good fight for both guys. "Mike's a good boxer who adapts well depending on who he's fighting. He gets a lot of different looks sparring at Wild Card Gym. Eric Brown (Medina's trainer) has done a good job with him. Mike likes to mix it up. He's hoping that the two of them stand there and go at it. He's not looking to box and move, which should make for a lot of action." Nelson won the vacant 154-pound title stripped from Medina by way of a 10-round decision in his aforementioned title fight against World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth champion and Virgin Islands Olympian, John "Dah Rock" Jackson (13-1, 12 KOs). Standing 6'4" with an imposing 84-inch reach, WBC No. 5-rated Nelson (19-1-1, 11 KOs) is a freakishly built super welterweight, against whom Medina will be giving away three-and-a-half inches in height, as well as a nine-inch reach advantage. "It's unusual," Medina spoke about fighting such a tall opponent. "I haven't fought guys that tall but I have been sparring with taller guys, middleweights and super middleweights, and I've also been working with good technical boxers like (Nobuhiro) Ishida. He's a good teacher and I'm comfortable that I'll benefit from that. "He's (Nelson) tall but I've watched some tapes of his fights and he likes to fight on the inside. If he does, that will help me because I'm aggressive. His height and reach can only be a factor if he jabs and moves, but we've been working on different strategies for whatever way he fights." Tickets priced at $200, $100, $75 and $40 may be purchased online atfoxwoods.com, by calling the Foxwoods' box office at 800-200-2882, or in personat the Foxwoods' box office.

SOLID UNDERCARD ANNOUNCED FOR DIB-GRADOVICH

PRESS RELEASE March 1 ESPN FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS at MGM Grand at Foxwoods NEW YORK (February 26, 2013) - Co-promoters DiBella Entertainment and 50 Cent's SMS Promotions have announced a solid undercard supporting this week's ESPN Friday Night Fights event, featuring International Boxing Federation (IBF) Featherweight Champion Billy "The Kid" Dib (35-1-0-1NC, 21 KOs) defending his title against undefeated Russian challenger Evgeny Gradovich (15-0, 8 KOs), airing live (9 p.m. ET start) from the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. The 12-round main event pits Australia-native Dib, promoted by 50 Cent, against Gradovich. In the 10-round ESPN Friday Night Fights co-feature, North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super welterweight champion Willie "The Great" Nelson (19-1-1, 11 KOs) makes his first title defense against Michael "El Magnifico" Medina (26-3-2, 19 KOs). The Nelson-Medina fight is being promoted in association with Rumble Time Promotions. The event is sponsored by SMS Audio.  Undefeated prospect Ryan "Polish Prince" Kielczweski (15-0, 3 KOs), fighting out of Quincy (MA), takes on Houston's Gil "La Metrealleta" Garcia (5-3-1, 1 KO) in an eight-round junior lightweight bout. Another unbeaten New Englander, New Haven super bantamweight Luis "KO King" Rosa Jr. (12-0, 6 KOs), is matched against New York City-veteran Jhovany Collado (4-5-2, 1 KO) in an eight-rounder. World Boxing Association (WBA) No. 11-rated welterweight Charlie Ota (21-1, 15 KOs), fighting out of Japan by way of Harlem, has been added to the card in a six-round bout against hard-hitting Brandon "The Business" Baue (12-9, 10 KOs). Ota joined the US Navy in 2000 and was stationed in Japan.  Reigning OPBF and Japanese champion Ota was slated to fight this past Thursday in New York City but the fight fell through.  Baue, who lives in Troy, Missouri, lost a six-round decision in his last action to former world champion Yuri Foreman. The fastest rising New England female boxer, New London's (Conn.) undefeated junior featherweight Shelly "Shelito's Way" Vincent (7-0), who is trained by Peter Manfredo Sr. in Rhode Island, faces Mikayla Nebel (0-3) in a six-round fight. Also fighting on the undercard in four-round bouts are former Southern Connecticut State College football player, New Haven junior middleweight Jimmy Williams (1-0, 1 KO), against Raynard Younger (0-1), from Georgia, and Arizona junior welterweight Luis Olivares makes his professional debut versus Houston's Rafael Munoz (1-1), while Cincinnati lightweight Donte Strayhorn meets Cranston's (RI) Joe Pingitore in a battle of pro-debut fighters.    The event is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and 50 cent's SMS Promotions and sponsored by SMS Audio. Tickets, priced at $200, $100, $75 and $40, may be purchased online at foxwoods.com, by calling the Foxwoods' box office at 800-200-2882, or in person at the Foxwoods' box office. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Thomas Oosthuizen Shines in U.S. Television Debut With Unanimous Decision Victory over Marcus “Too Much” Johnson

Luis Orlando Del Valle & Jose Pedraza Score Action-Packed Unanimous Decision Wins

From Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla.

Catch the Replay this Tuesday, May 1 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME^®

MIAMI, Okla. (April 28, 2012) –- Thomas Oosthuizen made the most of his United States television debut on ShoBox: The New Generation by producing a crowd-pleasing unanimous decision victory over Marcus “Too Much” Johnson. The 10-round super middleweight bout was scored 98-91 on all three scorecards. In the SHOWTIME^® co-feature, unbeaten super bantamweight prospect  Luis Orlando Del Valle  scored a hard-fought, 10-round unanimous decision over Christopher Martin by the tallies of 100-89, 98-91 and 97-92. In the evening’s opening bout, Jose “The Sniper” Pedraza won a unanimous decision over the relentless Gil Garcia by the scores of 79-72 and 80-71 two times in an eight-round super featherweight bout from Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla.

After losing the first fight of his career in his last ShoBox appearance, Johnson (21-2, 15 KOs), of Houston, came out bullish and determined to outperform the IBO super middleweight titlist Oosthuizen. Jumping out from his corner at the opening bell, Johnson bolted directly at his six-foot-four opponent and attacked him with a barrage of head and body blows. Oosthuizen (19-0-1, 13 KOs) of Gauteng, South Africa, absorbed some early punishment but maintained his composure.

Despite his height advantage of more than five inches, the tall South African did not always keep his distance, choosing to fight off the ropes during many portions of the contest. As the bout entered the fourth and fifth rounds, the 26-year-old Johnson slowed and Oosthuizen upped his work rate. A busy southpaw, Oosthuizen threw most of his punches in bunches including repeated left-right, left-right combos to the ribs.

In the eighth, Oosthuizen pressured Johnson into the blue corner and forced the Texan to take a knee after landing a right hook to the body. Johnson beat the count and the two battled it out for the final rounds before the scores revealed that Oosthuizen claimed the latest victory in his budding career.

“I never underestimated Johnson,” said the 24-year-old Oosthuizen. “I expected him to come out fast but I knew it would be sink or swim. I think he was surprised when I surpassed his big punches at the beginning. I could tell he was beginning to tire by the third or fourth round because I could hear how heavily he was breathing.”

In the co-feature, Del Valle (16-0, 11 KOs), of Bayamon, P.R., continued his pursuit of contender status with a win over his toughest opponent to date. The Puerto Rico native won the early rounds before Martin began to work his strong jab in the fourth to make it a closer fight. Both natural counter punchers, the boxers got busier as the fight advanced.

In the seventh, Martin (23-2-3, 6 KOs), of Chula Vista, Calif., was having a strong round and switched to southpaw stance only to get caught by a left hook that dropped him to the floor. When he rose to his feet, Dell Valle pressed forward but Martin regained his composure and survived the round.

Del Valle and Martin engaged in many rousing exchanges over the last three rounds that created swelling above the right eye of both 25-year-old fighters – as well as excitement in the venue through the final bell.

To open the evening, Pedraza (8-0, 6 KOs) and Garcia (5-3-1, 1 KO) put on an entertaining display of boxing. The highly touted prospect out of Caguas, Puerto Rico, Pedraza amassed “a frightening connect percentage,” said SHOWTIME expert analyst Steve Farhood, landing 60 percent (281 of 471) of his shots. In the fifth round, Pedraza badly staggered Houston’s Garcia with several shots to the head. Referee Vic Drakulich ruled it a knockdown but video replay revealed that Garcia did not touch the canvas and was not held up by the ropes. By late in the sixth round, Pedraza had opened a cut over Garcia’s left eye.

Unfazed by the near knockdown or cut, Garcia pushed forward. Though Pedraza proved to be the quicker and more polished boxer, Garcia won the crowd with his no-quit, unyielding fight style. Garcia gave Pedraza a tough test through his resilience and body attack but it was not enough to win the fight.

Mike Crispino called the action on ShoBox with Farhood serving as expert analyst. Gordon Hall is the executive producer of ShoBox with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing. For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, visit the website at http://sports.SHO.com.

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THOMAS OOSTHUIZEN & MARCUS JOHNSON, LUIS ORLANDO DEL VALLE & CHRIS MARTIN, JOSE PEDRAZA & GIL GARCIA WEIGHTS & FINAL QUOTES

ShoBox: The New Generation Tripleheader Tomorrow/Friday, April 27, LIVE on SHOWTIME® At 11 p.m. ET/PT

MIAMI, Okla. (April 26, 2012) – All six fighters participating in an eagerly awaited tripleheader on ShoBox: The New Generation tomorrow/Friday, April 27, live on SHOWTIME® (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) made weight on their first attempts Thursday at Buffalo Run Casino.

In the ShoBox main event at Buffalo Run Casino, unbeaten southpaw and IBO super middleweight champion Thomas “Tommy Gun’’ Oosthuizen (18-0-1, 13 KOs) of Gauteng, South Africa, will make his ShoBox debut when he meets Marcus “Too Much” Johnson (21-1, 15 KOs), of Houston, in a 10-round super middleweight bout.

The co-featured bout will match undefeated Luis Orlando Del Valle (15-0, 11 KOs) of Bayamon, P.R., against his toughest opponent to date, Christopher Martin (23-1-3, 6 KOs), of Chula Vista, Calif., in a 10-round super bantamweight battle.

Former international amateur standout and current World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight Youth champion Jose “The Sniper” Pedraza (7-0, 6 KOs), of Caguas, P.R., will open the telecast against Gil Garcia (5-2-1, 1 KO) in an eight-round super featherweight match.

WEIGHTS: Oosthuizen weighed 169 pounds, Johnson 169½; Del Valle and Martin each tipped the scale at 123 pounds; Pedraza weighed 131½ pounds, Garcia 132¼ .

What the fighters said Thursday:

THOMAS “TOMMY GUN’’ OOSTHUIZEN

 “Marcus might be hungry for a win but that doesn't mean I've lost my hunger. The hunger comes from both sides and I'm still hungry to destroy whatever comes my way. “I had a great camp in South Africa and I'm peaking at the right time. I feel sensational. Good luck to Team Johnson but I'm here to do a job.”

MARCUS “TOO MUCH’’ JOHNSON

“I'm glad to be back on SHOWTIME. I guarantee you'll see a totally different ‘Too Much’ tomorrow night. Winning tomorrow night's fight would mean everything for me and my family. That's why I'm here. “A win tomorrow is going to change my family's life. So I have to knock this guy off his pedestal.”

LUIS ORLANDO DEL VALLE

“I guarantee everybody who tunes in is going to see a great fight. It's SHOWTIME. It's my time. “I hope Christopher Martin has come prepared because I know that I am. I'm the new generation. I'm the new face of boxing.”

CHRIS MARTIN

“Don't call it an upset when I beat Del Valle tomorrow. It is going to be a good fight. You can expect fireworks. I'm coming off some tough fights but I learned a lot. I need to let my hands go. Round by round, I'll break him down. “This challenge helped me keep focused throughout camp. It will show tomorrow in my performance. The pressure is on him. Let him be the favorite. I'll take the victory.’’

JOSE PEDRAZA

“I'm inspired by the fact that people say I'm the most promising prospect out of Puerto Rico since Miguel Cotto. It makes me work harder for the fans. I'm happy to have those expectations.

“I’ve seen Garcia's fights. I know his techniques. He’s aggressive but I will tire him out and go after him late.”

GIL GARCIA

“It motivates me to fight a guy like Pedraza. I like challenges. I like to fight the best. That's what this is, fighting. We fight fights to win and go on to next one. I'm a tough guy. I just like fighting. I don't care who or where.

“Tomorrow is going to be a war. They are going to see a no-quit guy who won't stop throwing punches.”

Tickets are priced at $75, $45 and $35 and can be purchased through Buffalo Run Casino by visiting: http://www.stubwire.com/event/shoboxthenewgeneration/buffaloruncasino/miami/3130/  .

Mike Crispino will call the blow by blow action on ShoBox with Steve Farhood serving as expert analyst. Gordon Hall is the executive producer of ShoBox with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing. For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, visit the website at http://sports.SHO.com .

JOSE PEDRAZA IS READY FOR ANOTHER TEST

 

April 16, 2012 - On Friday, April 27, in Miami, Oklahoma, the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games gold medalist and WBC Youth super featherweight World Champion, José "Sniper" Pedraza (7-0, 6KO's), from Puerto Rico, will be opening the telecast of the SHOWTIME series ShoBox: The New Generation, live at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Pedraza's opponent, Gil García (5-2-1, 1KO), from Texas, recently fought to a controversial draw against undefeated Gabino Saenz (6-0, 5KO's) and has a controversial majority decision loss to Jerry Belmontes (15-0, 5KO's).

"García is a tough opponent that throws lots of punches, but we are more than ready for that. My condition is perfect, and we are very happy to be on a SHOWTIME fight," says Pedraza. Pedraza's WBC Youth super featherweight title will not be at stake.

Pedraza's father, trainer and manager, Luis Espada, commented: "Pedraza is in great shape, near the weight limit, and the sparring with former world champ Rocky Martínez went great."

Espada also talked about Pedraza's opponent, Gil García: "I saw a video and he is an aggressive fighter that never backs down. Also, he has a controversial loss to Jerry Belmontes. We think García is a good fit for Pedraza's development."

The Pedraza vs. García bout is set for eight rounds at a maximum weight limit of 132 pounds.

Co-featuring the event is fellow Boricua, Luis "Orlandito" del Valle (15-0, 11 KO's), who will be going against Christopher Martin (23-1-3, 6 KO's) in a 10-round fight in the super bantamweight division.

The boxing card, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, will be held at the Buffalo Run Casino, and will feature the main event fight between current IBO super middleweight champion Thomas Oosthuizen (18-0, 13 KO's) and Marcus Johnson (23-1, 12 KO's).

Pedraza and Del Valle are members of "Team Puerto Rico", which is a collaboration between Gary Shaw Productions, DiBella Entertainment, Universal Promotions and Warriors Boxing, made with the goal of gathering the best of Puerto Rico's boxing talents.

For tickets, you may contact DiBella Entertainment: (212) 947-2577 and/or http://www.dbe1.com/ .

For more information about Team Puerto Rico Boxing, you may visit http://www.teampuertoricoboxing.com/ , Facebook.com/Team Puerto Rico Boxing, and @TeamPRboxing on Twitter.


Team Puerto Rico..........the new wave, making a splash.....

TOP INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTS FACE PICK ‘EM FIGHTS IN TRIPLEHEADER EDITION OF SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION

Unbeaten Super Middleweight Thomas Oosthuizen Takes On Marcus Johnson; Luis Del Valle Risks Perfect Record Against Christopher Martin In Co-Feature; Promising Youngster Jose Pedraza Opens Telecast Against Gil Garcia

Friday, April 27 at 11 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME®
From Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla.

NEW YORK (April 12, 2012) –- Six hungry prospects with a combined record of 88-4-5 with 61 knockouts will clash in a trio of vitally important fights on ShoBox: The New Generation on Friday, April 27, live on SHOWTIME® (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) at Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla.

In the main event, unbeaten southpaw and IBO super middleweight champion Thomas “Tommy Gun’’ Oosthuizen (18-0-1, 13 KOs) of Gauteng, South Africa, will make his ShoBox debut when he meets Marcus “Too Much” Johnson (21-1, 15 KOs), of Houston, in a 10-round super middleweight bout.

Undefeated Luis Orlando Del Valle (15-0, 11 KOs) of Bayamon, P.R., gets the toughest test of his career when he faces Christopher Martin (23-1-3, 6 KOs) of Chula Vista, Calif., in a 10-round super bantamweight battle.

Former international amateur standout and current World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight Youth champion Jose “The Sniper” Pedraza (7-0, 6 KOs), of Caguas, P.R., will open the telecast against Gil Garcia (5-2-1, 1 KO) in an eight-round super featherweight bout.

ShoBox expert analyst Steve Farhood is eager to see how the intriguing matchups play out. “I’m anxious to see Oosthuizen,’’ Farhood said. “He seems like a physical marvel because he’s 6-feet-4 and makes 168 pounds. This division is one we’ve targeted on SHOWTIME and ShoBox so we’ll get our chance to see if he’s going to be a player or not. But he’s matched very tough. Johnson has proven in his previous ShoBox appearances that he has a lot of talent. If he’s motivated, this is a virtual pick ‘em fight.

“Del Valle shined in his one previous ShoBox fight, but Martin is a slick, very experienced boxer who’s certainly a top 15 super bantamweight. So Del Valle is taking a big step up in class.

“And it’s very exciting to have Pedraza on ShoBox. He’s clearly one of best prospects in the world and might just be the best prospect in Puerto Rico, which is saying a lot given all the young talent on the island today.’’
Oosthuizen, 24, is managed and trained by fellow countryman and former two-time world title challenger, Harold Volbrecht. The son of former two-division South African champion Charles Oosthuizen, Thomas is ranked No. 7 in the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and No. 10 by the WBC.
A rangy boxer-puncher, Oosthuizen has fought all but one of his fights in South Africa. This will be his second go in the United States after winning a unanimous decision over Aaron Pryor Jr., on Sept. 3, 2011, in Biloxi, Miss. The fast-starting Oosthuizen, despite a right eye that was cut and badly swollen, outlasted Pryor by the score of 117-111 three times.
Oosthuizen is coming off a sixth-round TKO over Serge Yannick on March 3. He turned pro in February 2008. The sole blemish on his record, a Nov. 6, 2010, draw, came in his 14th fight in a 12-rounder against Isaac Chilemba.

Johnson, who is making his 2012 debut, regained his winning ways in his last outing by outpointing William Bailey across six rounds on Nov. 19. In his outing before last, the 26-year-old suffered his lone defeat on an upset 10-round decision to Dyah Davis on April 8, 2011, on ShoBox.

A terrific amateur who just missed making the 2004 United States Olympic team, he twice defeated Andre Dirrell before losing to Andre Ward in the trials and The Box-Offs. Johnson was ranked in the top 10 by two of boxing’s major organizations before the stunning setback to Davis, the son of 1976 U.S. Olympian Howard Davis.

“Everything happens in its own time, but I’m ready to make another move,’’ said Johnson, a skilled boxer-puncher. “I have a lot to prove in this fight. I just want to thank SHOWTIME for having me again.”

Johnson’s other ShoBox appearances came against Victor Villereal (Oct. 2, 2009), Derek Edwards (April 30, 2010) and Kevin Engle (Nov. 5, 2010).

The world-ranked Del Valle, a quality prospect and member of the vaunted Team Puerto Rico, is rated No. 3 at featherweight in the World Boxing Association (WBA) and No. 8 in the World Boxing Organization (WBO). He’s won eight of his last 10 fights by knockout.

This will be the 5-foot-6, 25-year-old Del Valle’s second start in 2012 and third since he won his ShoBox debut with an impressive 10-round unanimous decision over Dat Nguyen. Del Valle is coming off a clear but hard-fought unanimous eight-round decision over Mexico’s Jose Beranza on Jan. 21.

“I’m very excited and can’t wait for this fight,’’ said Del Valle, who lives in Puerto Rico and splits training between Puerto Rico and New York. “Martin beat Eduardo Arcos and Chris Avalos and the only fight he lost was very close. But with me, there won't be any excuses. I'm going to win. I feel I’m a complete fighter and if I just stay focused, everything will fall into place. I want to fight for a world title by early 2013.’’

An outstanding amateur who captured countless titles en route to going 114-12, Del Valle has been a pro since April 11, 2008. A natural left-hander who fights from the orthodox stance, Del Valle made headlines recently for nearly getting into a fight with WBO bantamweight champion Jorge Arce at the weigh-in for the rematch between Orlando Salido and Juan Manuel Lopez in Puerto Rico.

Martin, the No. 8-ranked contender at 122 pounds in the International Boxing Federation (IBF), was unbeaten through 25 fights (23-0-2) with his most significant success coming in his 10-round debut on a split decision over the previously unbeaten Avalos on ShoBox, on Aug. 6, 2010, in Hinckley, Minn.

The 5-foot-7, 25-year-old Martin is looking to rebound on April 27, however, after going 0-1-1 in his last two starts. He boxed a 10-round majority draw with Teon Kennedy last Jan. 13, and dropped a split nod to Beranza on Oct. 1, 2011. The draw was scored 95-95, 95-95 and 97-93 for Kennedy. Martin lost to Beranza by the scores of 96-94, 97-93 and 98-92.

“I definitely have a lot to prove,’’ said Martin, a pro since July 2006. “My last fight, I didn’t fight my best, and I felt I lost to Beranza. There was just too much going on before that one. I never get nervous and I got nervous. I trained hard. It just wasn’t me with the same edge. It was like just going through the motions.

“Somebody once told me that I ‘fight to my opponent’s level.’ And even though I didn’t want it to be true, it is true. When I fought Avalos, I knew I was going to be a challenged. That is how I feel now.”

Pedraza represented Puerto Rico in the 2008 Olympics. He also was a gold medalist at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games, and was a three-time Puerto Rican national amateur champion.

A pro for little more than a year, the 21-year-old has mostly blitzed his opposition, winning all but one of his seven fights by knockout. He turned pro on Feb. 18, 2011, and fought six times that year. In his 2012 debut, he registered a fourth-round TKO over Anthony Woods in Puerto Rico.

“My training is going great. We are ready for any challenge and the fans can expect a great fight,” said Pedraza, who trains in his hometown of Cidra, P.R. Jose started boxing when he was 10 and turned pro on Dec. 3, 2009, after going 155-15 in the amateurs.

Pedraza’s opponent, Garcia, is no stranger to tough competition in his young career. The Houston native has already faced unbeaten prospects like Jerry Belmontes, Jesse Magdaleno and Gabino Saenz.
Mike Crispino, known for his work on the MSG Network in New York, will call the blow by blow action on ShoBox with Farhood alongside. Gordon Hall is the executive producer of ShoBox with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing. For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, visit the website at http://sports.SHO.com.
Tickets are priced at $75, $45 and $35 and can be purchased through Buffalo Run Casino by visiting: http://www.stubwire.com/event/shoboxthenewgeneration/buffaloruncasino/miami/3130/.