HUGO CENTENO, JR., REMAINS UNDEFEATED WITH CLEAR 10-ROUND DECISION OVER GERARDO IBARRA; FRANCISCO SANTANA OUTPOINTS PREVIOUSLY UNBEATEN EDDIE GOMEZ ON SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION

Replay Is Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME INDIO, Calif. (June 6, 2014) - Since its inception in July 2001, ShoBox: The New Generation has produced 54 world champions, an average of more than one every four telecasts. The critically acclaimed, prospect-orientated series is also a testing ground for undefeated fighters, who frequently are matched against their toughest foes to date. Friday on SHOWTIME® from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif., two more previously unbeaten fighters lost, bringing to 120 the number of boxers who suffered their first defeats on ShoBox. Promising middleweight Hugo "The Boss" Centeno Jr. (21-0, 11 KOs), 23, of Oxnard, Calif., kept his "O" intact, having his way en route to a lopsided 10-round decision over late-substitute Gerardo Ibarra (14-1, 8 KOs), of Houston. Previously undefeated Eddie "E Boy" Gomez (16-1, 10 KOs), of Bronx, N.Y., wasn't so fortunate, losing an upset 10-round decision to surging Francisco "Chia" Santana (20-3-1, 7 KOs), of Santa Barbara, Calif., who won his eighth consecutive fight in a crowd-pleasing co-feature. Making his first start for new trainer Eric Brown, Centeno dominated, winning by the scores of 99-91 twice and 100-90. His uppercut in close range and jab from a distance were key to the triumph.        "It's never easy,'' Centeno said afterward. "He was a tough, durable guy who came to fight.  He was a late replacement but I didn't underestimate him.  I take nothing from him.''  As for the future, Centeno wasn't sure if he was staying at middleweight, or moving down to his more natural 154.        "I have to sit down with my camp and figure out what division works for us," Centeno said. "I felt sharp at this weight.  And I felt a lot sharper after just one month with Eric Brown.  We'll see how much better we'll be after a few fights."           Ibarra, who took the fight on a week's notice, said he wasn't mentally ready.  "I just didn't have enough time to prepare,'' he said.  "No excuses, the better man won tonight.  He was just a little bit more ready than I was.  I don't regret taking the fight.  It was a learning experience.  You learn from your mistakes."       Utilizing a 2 ½ inch advantage, the 5-9 ½ Santana, 27, was victorious in an excellent, fast-paced, two-way action welterweight fight by the scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94. There were no knockdowns, but Santana dominated the last half of the fight. According to SHOSTATS, Santana outhrew Gomez, 683-460, even though he was less accurate. "After the fifth round, I saw he was getting tired and I knew I had the bigger heart,'' said Santana, who was certain the decision would go his way.  "He's talented, but I knew how to put my skills to use.         "A fighter knows when he won and lost.  I knew I won. It was an amazing feeling when I heard Jimmy Lennon Jr. call my name.  I knew I had the bigger heart and the bigger guts.  I knew he would try to get me out of my comfort zone but I wouldn't let him. "I pulled the upset.  On paper, he was supposed to win, but I knew what I came here to do.  I've faced the tougher guys.  I'm older and I know I don't have much time.  This is my time.  I want to be the first Santa Barbara fighter to win a world title. "To beat a great counter puncher you have to beat him with pressure.  I gave smart pressure, not careless pressure."       Offered Gomez, 21, after losing his ShoBox debut: "I thought I did enough to win. He was a tough guy and there were some close rounds, but I thought I did enough. I have to take this loss like a man. That's life. It's part of the sport. For sure I didn't take him lightly. This was only the second time I'd ever fought 10 full rounds like that. It is back to the drawing board. I'll learn from this and I'll be back.'' World-ranked junior welterweight Mauricio Herrera, who'll be challenging Interim WBA World Junior Welterweight world champion Johan Perez in one of four fights on "Honor & Glory: Canelo Alvarez vs. Erislandy Lara" on Saturday, July 12, on SHOWTIME PPV® from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, was interviewed between fights by SHOWTIME analyst Steve Farhood. "I feel like I'm cursed on SHOWTIME, but I'm going to change all that," said Herrera, who resides in nearby Riverside and will be fighting for the first time since a hard-luck 12-round majority decision loss to unified 140-pound champion Danny Garcia last March 15 in Puerto Rico. "Good things are going to come along. Everybody watch on July 12 because I'm coming out and I'm bringing the action." The ShoBox doubleheader will re-air for first time this week as follows:             DAY                                                                 CHANNEL Tuesday, June 10, 10 p.m. ET/PT        SHOWTIME EXTREME   Friday's two-fight telecast will be available ON DEMAND beginning today/tomorrow, Sunday, June 7 and available via SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Barry Tompkins called the ShoBox action from ringside with Farhood and former World Champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

FRANCISCO SANTANA SPEAKS ON SHOBOX SHOWDOWN AGAINST GOMEZ

Photo Credit: Esther Lin / SHOWTIME

INDIO, Calif.  (June 5, 2014) - Gary Shaw Productions, Francisco Santana, who weighed-in at 148.2 pounds, gears up for his upcoming fight against Eddie Gomez, who measured up at 149 pounds.  The 10-round co-main event showdown will air tomorrow/Friday, June 6 from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif., on ShoBox: The New Generation, live on SHOWTIME® at10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). 

"I'm confident in my skills, and want to thank my promoter Gary Shaw for supporting me when nobody else believed in me.  In my last fight I scored a 3rd knockout against Jorge Pimentel, so I feel my punches are very powerful at this point in my career."

"I've been in there with the tougher guys.  My three losses were against some of the top guys in their division.  Karim Mayfield wasn't undefeated, but he was one of the top contenders.  Jermell Charlo, I don't take anything away from him, he's right there close to winning a world title.  I can say that I've been matched tough, I've been tested and I know what to expect and how to overcome that.

"He doesn't have anything I haven't seen before.  We're both two fighters with two hands and all it takes is one punch to win the fight.

"I'm just excited to do what I've been put here to do, and that's to win a world title.  This is my journey, it hasn't always been easy, but a win on Friday will put me one step closer. 

"Whether he is tested or untested, right now my will and my determination to keep climbing to the top is above and beyond.  I think I'm in a good spot.  Obviously he's a pretty young kid and I'm sure he's thinking he's just going to out-power me, but I'm going to prove him wrong tomorrow night. 

"On paper I don't have more power, but I know I can pack a punch.  I've faced the bigger guys, junior middleweights and middleweights, so I know that I can end the fight with one punch."

SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION FINAL WEIGHTS AND QUOTES

Tomorrow/Friday, June 6, LIVE on SHOWTIME^® at 10 p.m. ET/PT

From Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. 

INDIO, Calif.  (June 5, 2014) – Undefeated middleweight prospect Hugo Centeno, Jr. weighed in at 160.4 pounds and fellow unbeaten Gerardo Ibarra tipped the scales at 162 pounds during Thursday’s official weigh-in for their 10-round main event showdown tomorrow/Friday, June 6 on ShoBox: The New Generation, live on SHOWTIME^® at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). 

Undefeated welterweight prospect Eddie Gomez measured 149 pounds and streaking Francisco Santana weighed-in at 148.2 pounds for their 10-round ShoBox co-feature bout from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif.

The 23-year-old Centeno Jr. (20-0, 11 KOs), of Oxnard, Calif., is returning to ShoBox for the first time since a dominating 10-round unanimous decision victory over KeAndre Leatherwood in March of 2013.  Now under the tutelage of Eric Brown, trainer of WBO Middleweight World Champion Peter Quillin and former world champion and SHOWTIME analyst Paulie Malignaggi, Centeno Jr. is aiming to take the leap from prospect to contender.   

Ibarra (14-0, 8 KOs), of Houston, was announced last Friday as a late replacement for the injuredDomonique Dolton.  The undefeated yet untested 23-year-old was a solid amateur – he won the 2005 National Junior Olympic tournament and owns an amateur victory over undefeated pro Gary Russell Jr.

At just 21 years old, Gomez (16-0, 10 KOs), of the Bronx, N.Y., is taking a step-up in opposition against veteran prospect Santana (19-3-1, 7 KOs), of Santa Barbara, Calif., who has won seven in a row since his last loss to undefeated contender Jermell Charlo. 

Here’s what the fighters had to say prior to Thursday’s weigh-in at Fantasy Springs:

HUGO CENTENO, JR.

“This guy is definitely dangerous -- late replacements always are.  I’ve underestimated guys before because you might think they haven’t had enough time to get ready for the fight, or you might not be ready for the type of style that they bring. 

“But, for this training camp, I feel like we were training for every type of fighter.  I had a lot of different sparring partners, such as Ruslan Provodnikov, Sergio Mora, Frankie Gomez and Glen Tapia.  They are all different types of fighters and great caliber fighters.  It was just great work.

“I know he’s an aggressive boxer.  He tries to be a little slick; he tries to bring the action and press forward.  I feel like I’m prepared for what he has to bring to the table. 

“It’s been a year since I had a chance to fight on ShoBox and the last time the guy was talking a big game.  I was hoping for a war to give the fans what they wanted, but, unfortunately, he wanted to turn it into a hug-fest.  But I think it should be different this time.  I think it should be a good fight and I’m looking to make a statement. 

“I’m not calling a knockout because I don’t go in there looking for it, but I’m not sure it will go the distance.

“Everything has been going great with Eric (Brown).  The type of style that he brings to the table is awesome.  The chemistry is there and everything came together perfectly. 

“Working with world-class fighters like Peter (Quillin) and Paulie (Malignaggi) just ups your level and shows you where you’re at.  Being able to hang in there with guys like that is an amazing feeling because you know you’re at that world-class level.

“Training with Ruslan (Provodnikov) has been great.  The type of pressure that he brings is like no other.  He’s just straight forward – he’ll take all your shots and he’s relentless.  After becoming accustomed to that type of pressure, I feel like anything this guy brings I’ll be ready for.

“My dad had three heart surgeries and I told him it’s just time to hang it up.  Training me was really tough on his body and extremely stressful.  We both chose Eric Brown together because we both thought he would go well with my style.  He knows how to teach his fighter that killer instinct and he knows how to teach fighters to think for themselves. That’s what we really liked about him and it’s working really well.”

GERARDO IBARRA:

“I was ready and training when we got the call for this fight.  We moved from Houston to Los Angeles almost two months ago to get ready for an opportunity like this.  I’ve been steadily training waiting for this chance. 

“I came over to Los Angeles for an opportunity like this.  I’m just ready to get in there and show what I can do. 

“I wouldn’t say he’s my toughest test, but this is definitely my biggest opportunity.  We’ll find out in the ring if he’s the biggest test yet. 

“I’m here to surprise people. I’m here to dethrone him.  From whatever cloud they have him on, I’m here to bring him down from that.

“I’ve been in the ring with a lot of different guys.  I was in the ring with the Charlo (Jermell and Jermall) brothers and Brian Vera to help him get ready for the Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. fight.  I feel ready; there is nothing I can’t handle.”

EDDIE GOMEZ:

“I haven’t seen anyone that he’s faced that has impressed me or has the potential to actually be in the ring with me. 

“When I saw his record and the guys that he faced, I only saw two fighters that are like me, that are hungry and looking to be world champs: Jermell Charlo and Karim Mayfield.  And those are two young guys that he lost to.  It just shows you that the guy is used to losing.  Off the two losses to Karim and one to Charlo, it shows you that when he had to face a guy who was undefeated and young and hungry, he didn’t know what to do. 

“His seven-fight win streak doesn’t impress me at all.  He fought two guys, Freddy Hernandez, who is on his way out, he’s done, and Joachim Alcine, who also is done.  They’re not in their prime anymore and they aren’t hungry for the sport the way that I am.  He beat them, yes, but they aren’t impressive fighters to me. 

“I don’t feel like he’s my toughest test.  The toughest test for me is when I’m in the gym, when I’m putting in the work and I’m in there training.  Even on days when I don’t feel like going to the gym, I give it that extra push.  Those are my toughest opponents.  I wouldn’t be here at 16-0 if I had opponents who were tougher than me and I didn’t take care of them in the ring. 

“I have a lot of fans back in New York that will be able to watch me on SHOWTIME.  My hard work is paying off little by little because now I’m climbing the ladder; now I’m on SHOWTIME. 

“I’m young, but I’ve been moving along the correct way.  I’m moving along at the right pace.  I have a lot to learn still, but, before you know it, I’ll be ready to fight the champions at the top in maybe four or five months.  I’m ready.  No more class B fighters, we want those class A fighters, we want that title. 

“If it goes 10 rounds we’ll be more than ready. We’re here, we came to do our job and get our 17^th victory and go back home happy.”

FRANCISCO SANTANA:

“I’ve been in there with the tougher guys.  My three losses were against some of the top guys in their division.  Karim Mayfield wasn’t undefeated, but he was one of the top contenders.  Jermell Charlo, I don’t take anything away from him, he’s right there close to winning a world title.  I can say that I’ve been matched tough, I’ve been tested and I know what to expect and how to overcome that.

“He doesn’t have anything I haven’t seen before.  We’re both two fighters with two hands and all it takes is one punch to win the fight.

“I’m just excited to do what I’ve been put here to do, and that’s to win a world title.  This is my journey, it hasn’t always been easy, but a win on Friday will put me one step closer. 

“Whether he is tested or untested, right now my will and my determination to keep climbing to the top is above and beyond.  I think I’m in a good spot.  Obviously he’s a pretty young kid and I’m sure he’s thinking he’s just going to out-power me, but I’m going to prove him wrong tomorrow night. 

“On paper I don’t have more power, but I know I can pack a punch.  I’ve faced the bigger guys, junior middleweights and middleweights, so I know that I can end the fight with one punch.”

# # #

ABOUT CENTENO JR. VS. IBARRA:

Centeno, Jr. vs. Ibarra, a 10-round middleweight fight, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, and sponsored by Corona. The ShoBox: The New Generation will take place on Friday, June 6 at Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino in Indio, Calif., and will be televised live on SHOWTIME beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). Doors open at 3:00 p.m. PT and the first fight begins at 3:10 p.m. PT.

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

WBO MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION PETER QUILLIN & FORMER CHAMP & SHOWTIME ANALYST PAULIE MALIGNAGGI ASSESS UNDEFEATED PROSPECT HUGO CENTENO, JR.

 

“…I have to be worried that one day he could fight for my belt.” – Peter Quillin

Centeno Faces Fellow Unbeaten Gerardo Ibarra

In ShoBox: The New Generation Main Event

This Friday, June 6, LIVE on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT

NEW YORK (June 5, 2014) – Undefeated middleweight prospect Hugo Centeno Jr., faces unbeaten, late-replacement Gerardo Ibarra this Friday, June 6, in the ShoBox: The New Generation (10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME^®) main event, but he’s already received the stamp of approval from stablemates Peter Quillin and Paulie Malignaggi.

“He’s very confident and talented as a contender,” said the undefeated Quillin, the WBO Middleweight World Champion.  “He has that mentality to become a champ and he comes and brings it every time I spar with him.  He’s the type of guy where I have to be worried that one day that he can fight for my belt.”

Centeno (20-0, 11 KOs), like Quillin and Malignaggi, is trained by Eric Brown at Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.  He sparred with Quillin prior to his bout with Winky Wright, his first world title fight against Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam and prior to the Fernando Guerrero bout. 

“He helped me when a lot of guys didn’t want to spar with me and helped give me the work that I needed to become a champ,” Quillin said.  “He gave me great work.  He’s a very talent prospect and, more than that, he has the whole “Hugo Boss” persona going for him.  You don’t see many guys at that level like that.  He’s building his name and putting himself out there.” 

Malignaggi, a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING analyst with a keen and experienced eye for the sweet science, agrees.  He has worked with Centeno in the gym and has first-hand knowledge of the prospect’s skill set. 

“He’s a solid prospect with a mature attitude and a good work ethic,” Malignaggi said.  “He’s

a good fundamental boxer.  It will be interesting to see his development as he faces tougher competition.”

Centeno, of Oxnard, Calif., is currently sparring with WBO Light Welterweight Champion Ruslan Provodnikov.  Centeno has the tough task of facing a late-replacement in his return toShoBox this Friday.  His original opponent, Domonique Dolton, suffered a hand injury in training and was forced to withdraw from the 10-round bout. 

Dolton was replaced by Ibarra (14-0, 8 KOs), an opponent with an identical record and one that Centeno will have little more than one week to prepare for. 

“I think the last minute replacements are the most dangerous,” Quillin said.  “You don’t know much about them and they can throw you off your game.  You train for one guy during your entire training camp and then you have a completely different fighter in there with you.  It’s extremely dangerous.” 

In the ShoBox co-feature, New York City phenom Eddie "E Boy" Gomez (16-0, 10 KOs) facesFrancisco Santana (19-3-1, 7 KOs) of Santa Barbara, Calif., in a 10-round junior middleweight match.

# # #

ABOUT CENTENO VS. IBARRA:

Centeno, Jr. vs. Ibarra, a 10-round middleweight fight, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, and sponsored by Corona. The ShoBox: The New Generation will take place on Friday, June 6at Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino in Indio, Calif., and will be televised live on SHOWTIME beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). Doors open at 3:00 p.m. PT and the first fight begins at 3:10 p.m. PT.

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