Looking to Erase Memory of Questionable Loss to Redkach with Big Win Over Wanzell Ellison in Opening Bout of "ShoBox: The New Generation"
200th Episode on Friday, July 25
Canadian lightweight Tony "The Lightning" Luis says he "can't wait" to take on undefeated Wanzell "Venom" Ellison next Friday (July 25) at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Upstate New York.
Luis (17-2, 7 KOs) and Ellison (11-0-1, 5 KOs) of Newark, New Jersey, will meet in a lightweight eight-rounder, as the opening bout of the blockbuster nationally televised quadrupleheader of world-class professional boxing to mark the 200th episode of "SHOBOX: The New Generation," live from Event Center in on Friday, July 25.
The 26-year-old Luis, a native of Cornwall, Ontario, is back on national television with a mission in mind: to prove his gutty performance in his last fight (a debatable decision loss to top prospect Ivan Redkach for the USBA Lightweight Championship in January of this year) was no fluke. Luis went in as the decided underdog against undefeated Redkach, and although he got off to a shaky start and was down in first round, came on strong, and, by the end, convinced many he had done enough to pull off the upset.
"Training is going great," said Luis. "I took this fight on a few weeks' notice but I was already in the gym and we were able to find the footage we need to study this guy. We've got a good game plan in place and I'm in the right shape to follow through with it."
Presented by Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions and Vito Mielnicki of GH3 Promotions and sponsored by Modell's Sporting Goods, the night's 10-round middleweight main event will feature Burke, Virginia's undefeated Antoine "Action" Douglas (14-0, 9 KOs) taking on former world title challenger Michel Soro (23-1, 13 KOs) of Ivory Coast via Villeurbanne, Rhône, France, for the WBA International Championship.
Tickets are priced at $60, $35, and $25 (subject to additional fees) are on sale now at the Turning Stone box office, by calling (315) 361-7469, or throughwww.Ticketmaster.com. The live telecast will begin at 10:00 p.m. eastern, with undercard bouts getting underway at 8:00 p.m. On fight night, doors will open at7:00 p.m.
Luis says he learned a great deal, even in defeat, against Redkach.
"I gained so much confidence from learning I am able to go ten tough rounds. To finish as strongly as I did was big confidence boost for me and has helped me grow as a fighter. The whole experience of being the underdog, against all odds, and really giving it to this guy who was supposed to be the next big thing. I stuck to my game plan throughout like a true professional. That's what a real pro does. The fighter you saw in January showed he can compete with any lightweight in the world. It's just that the wrong guy got the decision. But July 25 is a whole new fighter and whole different fight. I'm not going in to rest on my laurels. It's a new day."
Trained by his father George from his first day as an amateur, Luis hasn't taken an easy road to the fringes of the lightweight world ratings. Luis has already won the WBC Continental Americas Junior Welterweight Championship via KO 1 over former NABA Champion Alejandro Barrera. As an amateur, he was a seven-time Ontario Champion, a 2006 Eastern NY Golden Gloves Champion, won three National silver medals and defeated 10 Canadian National Champions.
"I'm glad we did it this way," continued Luis, "because even though I don't have a ton of fights, I already have great experience. In the beginning, every prospect has to face tomato cans, but I stepped up and fought middle-tier opposition fairly early in my career. Aldo Valtierra had fought for the NABF title and gone 10 rounds with a bunch of very tough guys and even beaten Jorge Luis Teron when he was undefeated. Adrian Verdugo, who gave Jorge Linares absolute hell for seven rounds and went on to fight for the WBC Silver Championship, I outclassed him over eight rounds. I won the Continental Americas belt over Alejandro Barrera and that guy was a former NABA Champion and he went ten rounds with Benoit Gaudet, who had gone nine hard rounds with Humberto Soto for the world championship. I learned from those guys as I stepped up and improved. These were solid guys who give you rounds and break you into the pros."
And so, true to form, Luis says he's expecting a tough challenge from Ellison. "I think he's (Ellison) got very fast hands and is very talented and aggressive. He makes for a formidable opponent. It'll be at tough fight. I 'm expecting the best version of him and I'll be at my best as well."
Sometimes a loss is a win. Such is the case for Tony Luis, who proved a great deal with his strong performance last time out. Now the job against Ellison will be to look good AND come out victorious.
"I can't wait. I really do feel that this is my chance to get the 'W' they took from me in January. That fight wasn't a fluke and Tony Luis is here to stay!"
In the eight-round co-main event, undefeated knockout artist Jerry "The King's Son" Odom (11-0, 10 KOs) of Bowie, Maryland will face Cienfuegos, Cuba, via Miami's also undefeated Vilier Quinonez (8-0, 5 KOs) for the WBC Fecarbox Super Middleweight Championship.
In the third bout of the telecast, Randallstown, Maryland's promising Cecil McCalla (18-0, 6 KOs) will face Watsonville, California's Oscar Godoy (13-2, 6 KOs) in a welterweight eight-rounder.
| 
No comments:
Post a Comment