KeAndrae Leatherwood Confident Going Into Centeno Bout

NEW YORK (Feb. 28, 2013) - One of the most dynamic prospects in the junior middleweight division, KeAndrae "Lightning" Leatherwood (12-1-1, 8 KO's), will headline the March 8 edition of ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California.   Leatherwood will be opposed by undefeated prospect Hugo Centeno Jr. (17-0, 8 KO's), of Oxnard, Calif., in a 10-round junior middleweight bout promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Boxing 360.  Leatherwood, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., was a standout amateur who fought in more than 120 bouts, including competing in the National Junior Olympics and International Junior Olympics. Centeno Jr. vs. Leatherwood, a 10-round junior middleweight bout, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona.  Doors open at 5:00 p.m. PT on fight night with the first bell sounding at 5:15 p.m. PT.  The ShoBox: The New Generation telecast will air live on SHOWTIME beginning at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). Tickets, priced at $25, $35 and $45, are on sale at Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com. Leatherwood possesses some of the fastest hands in the division, hence his nickname, "Lightning."  This bout will be a step-up in competition for Leatherwood, but his team knows his work ethic and world-class endurance will allow him to succeed.  Leatherwood has been preparing for this next level of competition, readying his body and skills for the task at hand.  Fighting in the main event on the well-respected ShoBox series, Leatherwood knows this is the perfect opportunity to showcase his skills and propel himself to the next stage of his career.  "I'm so excited to be on SHOWTIME," he said.  "The exposure will be great for my career.  My promoter Mario Yagobi has really come through and given me a golden opportunity.  Now it's up to me to make a believer out of all the new eyes that will get the chance to see me perform." Leatherwood is also excited about putting a win over a prospect like Centeno on his resume; a win that could vault Leatherwood up the ratings and further his chances at a title shot down the road. "There are going to be some pretty upset people after I win, but my team and I will continue with the strategy we have laid out," he said.  "This is an important fight for my career, but it's just the first step and I know I have to fulfill my end of things, which I will do on March 8." Boxing 360's Yagobi believes this will be a coming out party for KeAndrae and he feels that a win under the bright lights of ShoBox will earn him the luxuries afforded to the cream of crop. "KeAndrae is going to put on a show, but it isn't just about getting the win for him," Yagobi said.  "He wants to gain some new fans and put SHOWTIME in a position where they have to bring him back.  The kid is exciting to watch.  I have no doubt he will take care of business on March 8 and then we can continue with the business of building him properly." KeAndrae Leatherwood is promoted by Boxing 360.  For more information on Leatherwood please visit www.boxing360.com.

TOP PROSPECTS HUGO CENTENO JR. AND KEANDRE LEATHERWOOD PUT IT ALL ON THE LINE ON MARCH 8 AT FANTASY SPRINGS RESORT CASINO LIVE ON SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION

LOS ANGELES, February 21 - An important fight featuring top 154-pound prospects will land at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. on Friday, March 8 when ShoBox: The New Generation showcases a clash between Hugo "The Boss" Centeno Jr. and Keandre "Lightning" Leatherwood with both rising stars hoping to make a statement in their quest to become future world champions.

Centeno vs. Leatherwood, a 10-round junior middleweight bout, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona.  Doors open at 5:00 p.m. PT on fight night with the first bell sounding at 5:15 p.m. PT.  The ShoBox: The New Generationtelecast will air live on SHOWTIME beginning at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets, priced at $25, $35 and $45, are available for purchase at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online atwww.fantasyspringsresort.com.

Oxnard's Hugo "The Boss" Centeno Jr. (17-0, 9 KO's) has the amateur experience, talent and determination to do big things in the fight game.  At just 21 years old, his accelerated progress has been remarkable to see.  In 2012, he had an impressive 6-0 run which included wins over Ayi Bruce and Allen Conyers, but he knows that Leatherwood will be his toughest test yet.

A veteran of 120 amateur fights, 24-year-old Keandre "Lightning" Leatherwood (12-1-1, 8 KO's) has made a positive impression on boxing fans as a professional with his fast hands and action-packed style always providing excitement.  The winner of three straight, including a December 2012 win over veteran battler Marcos Primera, the Alabama native is more than ready for his night in the spotlight.

A hard-hitting slate of undercard bouts, including the ShoBox: The New Generation co-main event, will be announced shortly.  For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,  www.fantasyspringsresort.com,  follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/HugoBoss805,www.twitter.com/fantasysprings or visit on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing or www.facebook.com/fantasysprings.  For information on SHOWTIME, visit http://Sports.SHO.com, www.twitter.com/SHOsports orwww.facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

ROBERT GUERRERO RETURNS WITH IMPRESSIVE UNANIMOUS DECISION VICTORY OVER SELCUK AYDIN SATURDAY ON SHOWTIME®

Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® Telecast Will Replay

Tuesday, July 31 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME^®

Available On Demand from Sunday, July 29, through Aug. 26

        

SAN JOSE, Calif., (July 28, 2012) – Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero won the World Boxing Council (WBC) Interim Welterweight World Championship with a unanimous decision victory over previously undefeated Selcuk Aydin in front of a hometown crowd on Saturday in the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING main event  at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

Guerrero, who was moving up two weight classes after a 15-month layoff, was the more active boxer despite admitting having to shake off some rust in his return to the ring.  The Gilroy, Calif., native threw and landed more punches while showcasing a surprising display of power and aggressiveness in an impressive debut in his new division. 

“He’s a strong guy,” Guerrero said.  “I want to take on the best and that’s why we challenged him.  It’s my first fight back in a year and I took care of business. 

“I believe in my talents and my skills.  I stood with him a little too long, but I’m a fighter. Now you know I can take a shot at the welterweight division.  Floyd Mayweather, you want this belt, its right here.  Come and get it. “

Guerrero (30-1-1, 18 KO’s) built an early lead over the Turkish Aydin (23-1, 17 KO’s), who rallied with his powerful right hand in the middle and later rounds, but Guerrero, who fought with a second wind in the championship rounds, had built a steady lead and won by scores of 117-11 and 116-112 (twice). 

“I think I did wrong, not the judges,” Aydin said.  “I could not do what I wanted to do.  It’s my mistake, I blame it on me.  After the fourth round something happened with me.  I saw double and I don’t know why, but there’s no excuse - I lost.” 

SHOWTIME boxing analyst and Hall of Famer Al Bernstein was impressed with Guerrero’s performance. 

“It was fairly remarkable that Guerrero was able to move up two weight classes after a long layoff and win a battle of attrition with a true welterweight,” Bernstein said.  “Aydin is not a stylist and has technique issues, but he is a powerful puncher and he made this an exciting fight.”

In a fast-paced, exciting fight, Shawn Porter kicked off the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast with a hard-fought unanimous decision (96-94, 97-93, 98-92) victory over Alfonso Gomez in the 10-round welterweight co-feature. 

The ShoBox: The New Generation alum proved too tough and durable for Gomez, who seemed unable to hurt Porter (20-0, 14 KO’s), of Cleveland, Ohio, with his best shots.  Porter, who landed 45 percent of his power punches compared to Gomez’s 34 percent, dominated the middle rounds with effective body shots and powerful combos as Gomez (23-6-2, 12 KO’s), of Guadalajara, Mexico, tired. 

“He has a lot of heart,” Porter said.  “We came in here and we knew what to expect.  I’m an aggressive fighter, my team knows that.  If there’s anything I can change it’s that I come forward too much. 

“I’m 20 and 0.  I can do 10 (rounds) with no problem.  I’m on my way up to 12.”

In SHOWTIME EXTREME action, Hugo Centeno (15-0, 8 KO’s), of Oxnard, Calif., kept his unbeaten record intact with a near-shutout eight-round unanimous decision victory (79-73, 80-72 twice) victory over Ayi Bruce (14-8, 8 KO’s), of Albany, N.Y.

Undefeated British super middleweight prospect George Groves (15-0, 12 KO’s) opened up the SHOWTIME EXTREME telecast with a bang with a brutal knockout at 2:15 of the sixth round over Francisco Sierra (24-6-1, 22 KO’s), of Tepic, Mexico. 

The fights will air on replay on SHOWTIME EXTREME on Tuesday, July 31, at 10:30 p.m. ET / PT and will be available On Demand from Sunday, July 29 through Aug. 26.

Gus Johnson called the action on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING with Al Bernstein serving as expert analysts. Barry Tompkins and Steve Farhood announced the fights on SHOWTIME EXTREME. David Dinkins Jr. was the Executive Producer with Bob Dunphy directing.