RED HOT IN CLEVELAND: TEMPERS FLARE AT ANGELO SANTANA-HANK LUNDY WEIGH-IN

FINAL WEIGHTS, QUOTES & PHOTOS FOR FRIDAY’S SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATIONDOUBLEHEADER

Santana Meets Lundy In Main Event

Tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 21, LIVE at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME^®

At Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University

CLEVELAND, Ohio (Feb. 20, 2014) – Tempers flared during Thursday’s official weigh-in as main event fighters Angelo “La Cobra” Santana and Hammerin’ Hank Lundy and their camps had to be separated after stepping on the scales for tomorrow/Friday’s ShoBox: The New Generation doubleheader live on SHOWTIME (10:45 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

Santana, 134 pounds, and Lundy, 135 pounds, were posing for a photo with legendary promoter Don King and former heavyweight world champion Larry Holmes when a brief scuffle broke out between the fighters and their camps. King, Holmes and others were quick to separate the camps and restore order to the proceedings.

The heavy-handed Santana (14-1, 11 KOs), of Miami, Fla., and dangerous, world-ranked  Lundy (23-3-1, 11 KOs), of Philadelphia, will square off in an important 10-round lightweight bout from the  Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio. 

In the opening match of the ShoBox telecast, undefeated Amir “Young Master” Imam (12-0, 11 KOs), of Albany, N.Y., will face fellow unbeatenJared “The Quiet Storm” Robinson (14-0, 6 KOs), of Charlotte, N.C., in a 10-round super lightweight match.  Imam tipped the scales at 140 pounds and Robinson measured 139½ pounds during Thursday’s weigh-in. 

Tickets to the event – priced at $35, $75, and $125 plus tax and fees – are on sale and can be purchased through the Wolstein Center box office and website www.wolsteincenter.com or by calling Charge-by-Phone 1-877-468-4946.  Doors open at 7 p.m., and a full undercard will be presented prior to the televised matches.

Below is what the fighters had to say prior to Thursday’s weigh-in:

SANTANA

“Everything is going according to plan for this fight.  It’s been about six months of preparation.  The errors I made in my last fight have been fixed.  That won’t happen again.  I have an opportunity in this fight to erase it all tomorrow night.

“He’s fought a lot of talented fighters but that doesn’t mean I don’t have the talent to fight him and beat him.  He hasn’t fought me yet so his wins don’t mean anything.

“I’m prepared for the full 10 rounds.  It’s always great to get the KO, and we’ll definitely look for it, but I also like to box.  I’m not just a knockout puncher.

“It’s a great opportunity that SHOWTIME is giving me.  I’ve prepared for everything so there will be no surprises.  The only surprise will be for my opponent.”

LUNDY

“At the end of the day, we all know that I’ve faced the tougher fighters.  We all know I have the better record. But it’s that man in me and not my record that you have to beat. 

“When I fought Ajose (Olusegun) everybody said he would destroy me.  When you doubt the hammer the hammer is always going to come up big.

“You have to respect the man for getting in there.  But this man is not even in my class.  You have to crawl before you walk and this guy is trying to walk before he crawls. 

“I’m top 10 in the world.  This guy doesn’t have anything on me.”

IMAM

“Fighting on national television makes me step it up a notch.  You have to because everyone is watching. 

“Yeah, I have a lot of knockouts on my record, but I’m just looking for a win.  If the knockout comes, it comes. 

“He hasn’t faced what I’ve faced, sparred what I’ve sparred.  He simply doesn’t have the experience that I have.  But it doesn’t matter who he’s faced because he hasn’t faced me. 

“He’s going to learn from the master on Friday.  The fans love me.  I’m going to put on a show. 

“It makes it sweeter if I get the KO.  Everybody says I don’t go deep into fights and don’t get rounds, but it’s not my fault I’m better than them.”

ROBINSON

“We’re not even if you look at our records.  If you go a little deeper, his record is not as impressive at face value. 

“I’m going to use my speed and boxing skills to take his power away from him.  His power won’t be a factor in this fight.

“I’ve faced the better opposition than him.  And fighting on ShoBox gives me that extra motivation to overcome anything he throws at me. 

“The sky is the limit for me.  But I need a win first and I’ll take it from there.”

#  #  #

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with boxing historian Steve Farhood and former World Champion Raul Marquezserving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

QUOTES FROM SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION PRESS CONFERENCE AT CLEVELAND CITY HALL

Legendary Promoter Don King & Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson

Introduced Fighters For Friday’s Event at Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University

LIVE at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME^®

Photo Credit: Tom Casino / SHOWTIME

CLEVELAND, Ohio (Feb. 19, 2014) – Legendary Hall of Fame promoter Don King and Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson held a press conference in the Rotunda of Cleveland City Hall on Wednesday to introduce the fighters that will compete on ShoBox: The New Generation this Friday, Feb. 21 from the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio. 

In the main event on SHOWTIME (10:45 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast), heavy-handed lightweight slugger Angelo “La Cobra” Santana (14-1, 11 KOs), of Miami, Fla., will face the dangerous, world-ranked Hammerin’ Hank Lundy (23-3-1, 11 KOs) of Philadelphia in a 10-round bout. 

In the opening match of the ShoBox telecast, undefeated Amir “Young Master” Imam (12-0, 11 KOs) will take on fellow unbeaten Jared “The Quiet Storm” Robinson (14-0, 6 KOs), of Charlotte, N.C., in a 10-round super lightweight match.  Imam, of Albany, N.Y., has won 11 consecutive fights by knockout, all but one inside three rounds.

King, who promoted his first boxing event more than 40 years ago onAug. 28, 1972 in Cleveland, was excited to return to his roots with an event that he has dubbed ‘Cleveland Show for People Care: Let's Do it for Cleveland, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.’

"We have a great fight card here,” King said.  “Our fighters are the catalysts that will bring an attraction here.  But the attraction here is the people of Cleveland."

Mayor Jackson thanked King for bringing the event to Cleveland and for his continued generosity to the Cleveland area.

"Mr. King has a great tenacity about him that has allowed him not only to make his fights successful, but to make him a successful man in this world," Jackson said. 

Tickets to the event – priced at $35, $75, and $125 plus tax and fees – are on sale and can be purchased through the Wolstein Center box office and website www.wolsteincenter.com or by calling Charge-by-Phone 1-877-468-4946.  Doors open at 7 p.m., and a full undercard will be presented prior to the televised matches.

Below is what the fighters had to say about Friday’s matchups: 

SANTANA:

"I'm going to beat the hell out of him.  In the ring, he will be beaten.  It will be bad and it will hurt.

(Other recent quotes from Santana):

"For my last fight (a loss to “Baha” Mamadjonov), it was very hard to make weight. I had a lot of family problems. My grandmother passed away. I had two injuries in training, in my back and in my knee. I could not train. I gained weight. I had to lose 38 pounds in a month and a half. It was really, really hard.

“This fight is going to be different. Now I have Alejandro Fernandez as a strength and conditioning coach. This is the first time I've ever worked with a coach like that. My weight is great already. My father also came from Cuba to Miami to help me train in August.

“The loss did have a positive effect. I learned a lot. I never imagined I was going to lose that way. But that’s in the past. Now, it's a new Angelo. I'm working hard and I'm ready to go.

“Lundy is a good fighter; he moves really well. But I'm totally ready for him. I want to thank SHOWTIME for giving me this opportunity.’’

LUNDY:

"I'm on fire.  I have nothing but hatred inside right now.  When I get in the ring with this guy it's going to be blood, sweat and hurt.  Mark my words. 

“You (Santana) jumped up out of your league. When Friday night comes, Hammerin’ Hank is going to bring SHOWTIME to Cleveland.

(Other recent quotes from Lundy):

“Where I'm at in my career, it's a new beginning to fight on ShoBox.  I think this is a great fight for me. I’ve fought on television before but I’ve been dying to get on SHOWTIME so I appreciate this big opportunity.

“I’m always fighting on the road so it’s no big deal. I’m not going to curl up and freeze. I have a proven record against good fighters. So for me, once again, it’s gut-check time and time to put on a show and bring it on home.

“I’ve watched Santana about three times. I know what he's going to do, what kind of punches he's going to throw. Sure, he can punch, we know that. But what I do, I make the fight one-dimensional. All he's going to do is look for that one big punch. He hasn't been tested. I've seen him fight a guy that was 11-1 and the guy stopped him. There are a lot of things that I see with him that I'm going to take advantage of.

“This is what Shobox is all about, and that's what I respect. They're putting the boxing back into boxing -- where if a guy thinks he's tough, let him step up and prove it. On the same token, this guy Santana is dealing with the South Philadelphia Broad Street Bully, and I'm coming. So all I can say is – watch out for this fight.’’

IMAM:

"I'm ready to put on a show and do what I have to do to win.  Its ‘Young Master’ time, baby.  I’m ready for the big stage.  I’m ready to put on a show for Cleveland and the rest of the country.

(Other recent quotes from Imam):

“I've pretty much been in training since my last fight.  I don't know anything about this guy I'm fighting, just his record. I don't look at videos.

“The difference since I first turned pro – I'm just getting a feel for the ring, getting used to it, getting experience. But I always want to entertain. That’s my style. I come to fight and I put on a show. I take care of business.  You don't get paid for overtime.’’

ROBINSON: 

"The best man is going to win Friday night.  We’ve all put in the work in the gym.  The only thing left to do is fight.  And, believe me, I’m ready.

(Other recent quotes from Robinson):

“It is definitely my greatest opportunity and biggest fight.  It is just an unbelievable feeling that after working at something so long you finally get the kind of opportunity on a big stage that all of us fighters aspire to be on. I’m grateful to be in this situation, to reach this mecca and I can’t wait to see what happens after. I have nothing but gratitude and good feelings about this fight.

“I don’t know too much about Imam aside from his record and that he’s a pretty good boxer.  I have the ability to adapt; that’s what I have to focus on. It’s the most important thing a fighter can do.”

#  #  #

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with boxing historian Steve Farhood and former World Champion Raul Marquezserving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

FULL REPLAYS OF ANGELO SANTANA AND AMIR IMAM AVAILABLE NOW ON SPORTS.SHO.COM IN ADVANCE OF SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION DOUBLEHEADER, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21 LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

Watch Angelo Santana’s Stunning Knockout of Johnny Garcia and Amir Imam’s Brutal Knockout of Jeremy Bryan

         

Access Full Replays of Both Fights Available Now on the SHOWTIME Sports Websitehttp://sports.sho.com any by Clicking Below

 

SHOWTIME Sports^® is offering full-length replays of two of the most memorable ShoBox fights on the SHO Sports website in advance of the highly anticipated ShoBox: The New Generation doubleheader featuring Angelo Santana and Amir Imam on Friday, Feb. 21 live on SHOWTIME (10:45 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

Santana’s brutal knockout of Johnny Garcia on Nov. 16, 2012 in his ShoBox debut was one of the most memorable KOs of the year.  But in his next outing, the top 135-pound contender suffered his first loss—an upset TKO against late replacement Bahodir Mamadjonov in 2013 on ShoBox.  Now, as the once-beaten Santana looks to bounce back, he’ll face the hardest test of all when he steps in against dangerous veteran Hank Lundy. 

Undefeated knockout artist Amir Imam faced Jeremy Bryan on ShoBox in 2013 in what was expected to be the most dangerous assignment of his career.  Instead, he made it a quick night, registering a devastating second-round knockout.  Now, after facing outmatched opponents in his last three bouts, Imam returns to ShoBox to face fellow undefeated prospect Jared Robinson to prove that he’s ready for the next step on his journey toward a world championship. 

Relive the knockout that established Santana as one of the most feared prospects in the sport and see just one example of why Amir Imam has knocked out 11 consecutive opponents.  Both ShoBox replays are available now at sports.sho.com. 

Santana and Imam return to ShoBox: The New Generation on Friday, Feb. 21 live on SHOWTIME at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

POWER-PUNCHING ANGELO SANTANA RETURNS TO FACE HANK LUNDY AND AMIR IMAM MEETS JARED ROBINSON IN BATTLE OF UNBEATENS FRIDAY, FEB. 21, ON SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION®

From Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio;

Doubleheader Starts at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT Live on SHOWTIME^®

NEW YORK (Feb. 5, 2014) – The first time Angelo Santana appeared on ShoBox: The New Generation he scored one of the most memorable knockouts of 2012. The second time, he suffered the only loss of his career in a shocking upset. Now, in his third consecutive ShoBox appearance, Santana (14-1, 11 KOs) will look to regain his status as one of the most promising – and feared – boxing prospects of today.

But it won’t be an easy test as he takes on the more experienced Hank Lundy (23-3-1, 11 KOs) in the compelling 10-round lightweight main event of ShoBox on Friday, Feb. 21, live on SHOWTIME^® (10:45 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).  The event is promoted by Don King Productions from the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio.

Opening the telecast will be a 10-round super lightweight bout featuring one of the most exciting prospects in boxing, Amir “Young Master” Imam (12-0, 11 KOs), and Jared “The Quiet Storm” Robinson (14-0, 6 KOs) in a battle of unbeatens. The electrifying, power-punching Imam has won 11 consecutive fights by knockout, all but one inside three rounds.

“My first boxing promotion in Cleveland was on Aug. 28, 1972,’’ said Don King. “It was a charity event for ‘Show For People Care’ to benefit Forest City Hospital and it featured Muhammad Ali in an exhibition match. For our great fight card on Feb. 21, we’re calling it ‘Cleveland Show for People Care: Let's Do it for Cleveland, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.’ 
“It’s going to be a terrific night of fights, a dynamite show in Mayor Frank Jackson’s great city of Cleveland, in Gov. John R. Kasich’s great state of Ohio. We will be in a city and a state where people are the most important.

“This ShoBox event features the next generation of young boxers. In Santana and Imam, you have two guys, who, if they win, could be fighting for a world title in their next fight.’’

Tickets to the event – priced at $35, $75, and $125 plus tax and fees – go on sale tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 6, at 5:00 p.m. ET and can be purchased through the Wolstein Center box office and websitewww.wolsteincenter.com  or by calling Charge-by-Phone 1-877-468-4946.  Doors open at 7 p.m., and a full undercard will be presented prior to the televised matches.

The talented Santana, 25, is seeking to regain his winning ways in his first outing since suffering his lone defeat – a stunning  ninth-round TKO to late substitute and underdog Bahodir “Baha” Mamadjonov last April 12 on ShoBox. Going into the fight, the popular and aggressive Santana was ranked No. 3 in the WBA.

Despite his loss, expectations remain high for the Cuban native. In a career-best performance in his ShoBox debut on Nov. 16, 2012, Santana registered one of the most devastating knockouts of the year – a brutal fifth-round stoppage over previously unbeaten Johnny Garcia in Hallandale, Fla. 

Lundy, 30, is a tough out for any boxer and figures to give Santana all he can handle. A dedicated, determined boxer-puncher with good speed and movement and a strong amateur background, Lundy has registered notable victories in his seven-year career, including wins over former WBC lightweight world champion David Diaz (KO 6) in August 2011 and current WBA lightweight world champion Richar Abril (W 10) in January 2010.

“Hank Lundy is one of the most exciting and TV-friendly fighters in the ring today,” said Jimmy Burchfield, President and CEO, CES Boxing. “We appreciate the opportunity for this fight given by Don King and Angelo Santana.  We feel it’s going to be a terrific fight.”

A former NABF lightweight champion whose currently ranked No. 10 in the IBF and No. 13 in the WBC at super lightweight, the switch-hitting Lundy is coming off a lopsided 10-round decision over former top ranked Olusegun Ajose (31-1 going in) on July 19, 2013. Seemingly always matched tough but willing to fight anybody, any place, Lundy dropped a close, questionable 12-round decision to local favorite and still-undefeated Viktor Postol in the Ukraine two outings ago on March 21, 2013.

Imam (pronounced “EE-mom”), 23, an amateur standout and silver medalist at the 2011 U.S. Olympic Trials, fought six times in 2013. This will be his second appearance on ShoBox. He was devastating in his debut, impressively knocking out Jeremy Bryan in the second round of the co-featured bout under Santana vs. Mamadjonov on April 12, 2013. A left hand followed by a colossal right to the chin finished Bryan at 2:13 in what was expected to be Imam’s toughest test.

The only time Imam went the distance as a professional came in November 2011 when he won a four-round decision in his pro debut. His last 10 fights have ended in two rounds or less.

Robinson, 31, a pro since August 2009, fights out of Charlotte, N.C.  He is coming off a sixth-round knockout over Jahaad Wingfield last Aug. 17.

A well-prepared and focused athlete, Robinson hasn’t come close to losing while competing exclusively in the South (North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina).

This opportunity, on a nationally televised event, is one that Robinson, who was the No. 3-rated U.S. amateur in 2008, has longed for and he is confident he will make the most of it.

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with boxing historian Steve Farhood and former World Champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer isGordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.