FIGHTERS MAKE THE WEIGHT FOR FIRST SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION TELECAST OF 2015

TRIPLEHEADER STARTS AT 11 P.M. ET/PT ON SHOWTIME^®DURING FREE PREVIEW WEEKEND

Undefeated Lightweight Ivan Redkach Faces Yakubu Amidu In Main Event Of Tripleheader From Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, Calif.

Click HERE To Download Photos

Credit: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME

CABAZON, Calif. (Jan. 8, 2015) – The six fighters who will compete on Friday’s ShoBox: The New Generation on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast) made weight on Thursday at Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa in Cabazon, Calif.

In the main event of the DiBella Entertainment-promoted event, unbeaten lightweight Ivan “El Terrible” Redkach (17-0, 1 NC, 13 KOs), of Los Angeles by way of Ukraine, will meet Yakubu Amidu (19-5-2, 17 KOs), of Los Angeles by way of Ghana, in a 10-round fight.

In the co-feature, former amateur standouts Patrick Day (9-0-1, 5 KOs), of Freeport, N.Y., andAlantez “SlyAza” Fox (13-0-1, 4 KOs), of Forestville, Md., collide in an eight-round junior middleweight bout.

In the opening bout of the telecast, former amateur sensation Ievgen “Ukrainian Lion” Khytrov (7-0, 7 KOs), of Brooklyn, N.Y. by way of Ukraine, will take on Maurice “The Natural” Louishomme (8-0-1, 4 KOs), of Colorado Springs, Colo., in an eight-round middleweight bout.

ALL ACCESS: Stiverne vs. Wilder will premiere at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME immediately preceding the ShoBox telecast.

Weights: Redkach and Amidu tipped the scale at 137 pounds; Day weighed 154 pounds while

Fox measured 155 pounds; and Khytrov weighed in at 163 pounds and Louishomme measured 161 pounds.

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

IVAN REDKACH:

“This year I have a new team, I have a new manager and this year I’m going to fight for a world title.  It would be my dream matchup to fight Jorge Linares for the title.  I’m ready.

“I trained for about five months, training three times a day in Oxnard at Robert Garcia’s gym. 

“With Robert Garcia we’ve been sparring with some of the top fighters.  We sparred with Brandon Rios, Jessie Vargas, Ray Beltran, Mike Perez.  Top fighters.  It was a great experience. 

“Robert has changed some of my techniques to get ready for this fight.  He’s made 11 world champions out of his gym.  That’s why he was the top trainer of the year.   There’s a reason that he’s made so many champions so I think I’m in good hands.

“I’ve sparred with Amidu and I’ve seen him train.  It’s good to have that under my belt going into this fight.”

YAKUBU AMIDU:

“Training camp has been going great. I’ve been working out for a few months because I was supposed to fight an opponent at an earlier date that had to pull out.

“My entire team has been working very hard, focusing on this fight.

“I have been training with Freddie [Roach] at WildCard gym, we are all a family at the gym.  It has been very comfortable for me.

“I know that Redkach is a tall, strong puncher. I have a strategy for him. We will see what he comes with after the first few rounds.

“Redkach is a very good fighter. I have done my homework on him. If the knockout comes then I will take it, but if it doesn’t come then there’s nothing to worry about.”

PATRICK DAY:

“I guess we’ll find out tomorrow in the ring if this is the toughest guy that I’ve faced.  On paper he is, but statistics don’t always prove it.  We’ll find out.  We’ll see how he reacts.

“His height won’t be a problem for me.  Not at all.  It will be a bit different than usual, but I’ve faced tall opponents in the past before and I know how to deal with it.  It’s not new to me. 

“He’ll try to clinch once he feels my speed, how fast I can strike.  If I release a hard power shot he’ll definitely try to clinch to slow things down a little.

“I’m looking to make a statement.

“Camp was excellent.  We had a superb camp.  We trained for about two months straight.  We brought in some tall sparring partners to prepare for his height and style.  We were running in freezing weather in New York and my will kept me going.  We’re ready.”

ALANTEZ FOX:

“Training camp has been great, I feel super strong. I’m ready for this fight and will be in great condition if the fight goes eight rounds. It was a six week camp and I feel 100 percent.

“I don’t know much about [Patrick] Day. I know he’s short, but everyone is short to me.  I will use my distance to my advantage like I always do.

“I know that he has to come on the inside and press, and if he doesn’t then he will be playing to my game beautifully.

“I have to thank my team for giving me this wonderful opportunity to be fighting on SHOWTIME. This is what I have been waiting for my entire boxing career since I was eight years old.

“I hope this won’t be my last time on SHOWTIME. I hope to be fighting for a championship bout within the next year or two.”

IEVGEN KHYTROV:

“Training camp was great.  We were sparring with Daniel Jacobs, Luis Collazo, Marcus Browne, the strongest guys in the division. 

“We knew about this guy for about a week, but it doesn’t matter who I fight.  I want to be champion of the world. 

“I’ll do my best to knock him out.  Fans want the knockout and I’ll try to give them a knockout.  I can’t predict the future, but I’m going to do everything possible to get it done.

“I can’t predict the future, but I’m looking for a big year in 2015.”

MAURICE LOUISHOMME:

“I have been training the past 10 years for this fight. I have constantly stayed busy in the gym with the hopes of being able to get this opportunity.

“My biggest strength in this fight will be my jab. I really utilize my jab well. I am looking to set the entire fight up with the jab, and then look for openings with my right hand and uppercuts.

“This is an eight round fight. I am looking to box, move and avoid his big shots. If I can catch him and hurt him I am definitely going to jump on him for the knockout.

“I feel privileged and blessed to be here. I am thankful for SHOWTIME for giving me this opportunity.  It’s a chance of a lifetime.”

IVAN REDKACH PUTS UNBEATEN RECORD ON LINE AGAINST YAKUBU AMIDU ON FRIDAY, JAN. 9 IN FIRST SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION TELECAST OF 2015

Undefeated Junior Middleweights Patrick Day and Alantez Fox Battle in Co-Feature; Unbeaten Middleweights Ievgen Khytrov and Maurice Louishomme Clash In Opener

Tripleheader Airs During SHOWTIME^® Free Preview Weekend;

Telecast Begins Live at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast)

From Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa in Cabazon, Calif.

NEW YORK (Jan. 6, 2015) – ShoBox: The New Generation, the popular, critically acclaimed boxing series that has produced 57 world champions since its inception in 2001, will kick off the new year with a tripleheader featuring five undefeated fighters on Friday, Jan. 9, live on SHOWTIME^® (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast), during the premium network’s Free Preview Weekend.

In the main event, unbeaten lightweight Ivan Redkach (17-0, 13 KOs), of Los Angeles by way of Ukraine, will meet Yakubu Amidu (19-5-2, 17 KOs), of Los Angeles by way of Ghana, in a 10-round fight.

In the co-feature, undefeated prospects and former amateur standouts Patrick Day (9-0-1, 5 KOs), of Freeport, N.Y., and Alantez “SlyAza” Fox (13-0-1, 4 KOs), of Forestville, Md., will collide in an eight-round junior middleweight scrap.  In the opening bout of the telecast, former Ukrainian amateur star Ievgen “Ukrainian Lion” Khytrov (7-0, 7 KOs), of Brooklyn, N.Y. by way of Ukraine, will take on Maurice Louishomme (8-0-1, 4 KOs), of Colorado Springs, Colo., in an eight-round middleweight bout.

During the Free Preview Weekend SHOWTIME is available to over 70 million households.   For additional details and a full schedule of programming, go to SHO.com/freepreview. 

The live ShoBox telecast will be preceded by the premiere of ALL ACCESS: Stiverne vs. Wilder at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT.  The tripleheader at Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa in Cabazon, Calif., is promoted by DiBella Entertainment.

The promising southpaw Redkach, a native of Shostka, Ukraine, grew up on the rough side of town before turning to boxing and becoming one of his country’s top amateurs. Before relocating to Los Angeles and turning pro in November 2009, he amassed an impressive 260-40 record as an amateur, which culminated in him being a 2008 Olympic Team alternate for Ukraine. 

Since then, Redkach, who made ESPN.com’s “Top 20 Prospects to Watch” list in 2012 and 2013, has mostly had his way. He is coming off a lopsided 10-round decision over veteran Sergey Gulyakevich last June 27 in Saint Charles, Mo.

The power-punching Redkach, who is known for a relentless style that makes for entertaining fights, will appear for the second time on ShoBox and second at Morongo. Two outings ago he won his ShoBox debut with a unanimous 10-round decision over Tony Luis on Jan. 17, 2014. He registered a fourth-round knockout over Dillet Frederick on Dec. 30, 2011 at Morongo. 

Amidu, who trains at the Wildcard Gym in Hollywood, Calif., will be making his 10th consecutive start in the United States. He turned pro in 2004, winning 13 of his first 14 contests by knockout. During those 14 bouts, Amidu, boxing primarily in Ghana, picked up the Ghanaian and West African Boxing Union super featherweight titles.

The 30-year-old Amidu, a tough and determined, doggedly aggressive brawler, has been in the ring with top competition, including Ricky Burns, who would go on to win the WBO 130-pound world title, and former world title challenger Ali Funeka. 

Amidu, who is managed by the actor Vince Vaughn, recently fought to a controversial draw to veteran world title challenger Juan Carlos Burgos in July of 2013.  A win over the undefeated Redkach would surely be the biggest victory of his career in a fight that suits his style perfectly.

"Redkach is one of the most explosive and exciting fighters in his weight class and, in Amidu, he's fighting a seasoned veteran who's never been in a bad fight and gives everyone hell,” said Lou DiBella, CEO of DiBella Entertainment.  “This is a real test."

The showdown between Day and Fox is a quintessential ShoBox matchup, pitting two undefeated-yet-untested prospects with a combined record of 22-0-2 in what should be the toughest tests of their careers. 

The promising Day, one of New York’s most decorated amateurs (he was 75-5) and a former No. 1 at 152 pounds in the U.S., will be making his scheduled eight-round debut. Since turning professional in January 2013, the 22-year-old has stayed busy, fighting four times in 2014 and six times in ’13. In his last outing, the poised, skilled counter-puncher won a one-sided six-round decision over Felipe Reyes on Oct. 15. Day, an honor student at Nassau Community College (nutrition), lives across street from his trainer, Joe Higgins, in Freeport (Long Island).

Fox, 22, stands 6-foot-5 and has a 79-inch reach, which is extremely tall and lengthy for a 154-pound fighter. The slick boxer, who literally stands head and shoulders above most of his contemporaries and often steps over the ropes when entering the ring, is still growing as a pro.

Fox had a successful 10-year amateur career (165-35) that began at the age of eight. A pro since July 2010, he’s won seven consecutive fights since boxing an eight-round split draw in a New York state junior middleweight title fight in September 2012 with streaking Frank Galarza, who has gone unbeaten (8-0-1) since. Fox won his most recent start on a unanimous six-round decision over Jonathan Garcia last Sept. 20.

"In Day and Fox, you have two terrific undefeated prospects putting their zeros on the line,” DiBella said.  “It doesn't get any better than that."

Prior to turning pro in December 2013, Khytrov, 26, was one of Ukraine’s most accomplished amateurs, accumulating a 480-20 record, which culminated with a trip to the 2012 London Olympics. Incredibly active as a pro, the Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine native notched six victories to his record in 2014, taking on and dominating quality opposition. In his last bout on Nov. 21, 2014, Khytrov put his power on display against top prospect Louis Rose, knocking him out in the first round.

Khytrov is already considered an elite prospect by many boxing pundits after just seven professional fights, but he’ll be facing his first undefeated opponent this Friday in Louishomme. 

Louishomme, 37, is an eight-year pro who is a former bronze medalist as an amateur at the 2005 U.S. National Championships. A veteran who has fought from 158 to 174 pounds, Louishomme has built an impressive professional record mostly within his home state of Colorado and has had several bouts of inactivity. He will be taking a significant step up in class against Khytrov, after beating Arturo Crespin by seventh-round technical decision in his last fight on November 15, 2014.

"Khytrov is an elite prospect and Louishomme was a great amateur who’s had a strange undefeated career,” DiBella said.  “Louishomme has won three fights in a row on his comeback and, even though his career has been sporadic, he's always been in the gym sparring with elite U.S. talent like Errol Spence and Marcus Browne. He is the only fighter who sought out this opportunity against Khytrov and I know he is coming to win."

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 is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

Undefeated lightweight contender Ivan Redkach Now trained by Robert Garcia

LOS ANGELES (August 21), 2014 - Undefeated United States Boxing Association (USBA) lightweight champion Ivan "The Terrible" Redkach (17-0, 13 KOs) has changed head trainers, adding former world champion and 2011 Trainer of the Year Robert Garcia to his corner. The 28-year-old Redkach, who won 260 of 300 amateur matches and represented his native Ukraine at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing as a team alternate, was always considered a better professional prospect than amateur because of his ferocious style and devastating power in both hands. Rated in the top 10 by three of the four sanctioning bodies - IBF #6, WBC #8 and WBA #10 - Redkach and his manager, Larry Army (Elite Management), felt a world-class trainer was needed on Team Redkach as the Ukrainian fighter closes in on his first world title shot, hopefully, in 2015.  "I have a lot of respect for my former trainer, Mario Morales, but I needed a new trainer to teach me how to win at the championship level," Redkach said. "I didn't show any improvement in my last two fights, something I need to do every fight to be a legitimate world title contender. "Robert Garcia has proven many times that he is a great trainer, one of the best in boxing. I get great sparring at his gym in Oxnard, which is only a one-hour drive from my home (in Los Angeles). I can't wait for my next fight to show everybody how much I've improved." Garcia currently trains world champions such as Nonito Donaire, Evgeny Gradovich, Mickey Garcia and Marcos Antonio Rubio, as well as former world champions and top contenders Marcos Rene Maidana and Brandon Rios. . Redkach captured the vacant USBA title last January, winning a 10-round decision (99-90, 97-92, 97-93) over tough Tony Luis (17-1), and this past June he came out of a fight against awkward Sergey Gulyakevich (41-2) with a victory by way of a 10-round decision (100-90, 99-91, 98-92). "My job as his manager is to provide Ivan with everything he needs to win a world title," Army explained. I saw things in Ivan's last two fights, mistakes that weren't corrected, and it was time for a change. Ivan needed a trainer like Robert Garcia to win at the highest level. "Robert actually saw Ivan fight at the last show (vs. Gulyakevich). He trained a fighter on the same card. We talked after the fights and he immediately seemed like the right fit. We were lucky that, living in LA, Ivan had other options to go with an elite trainer, but  Robert was always our No. 1 choice. He's a great teacher and certainly qualified by any standards. He has some Eastern European/Russian fighters in his gym. Robert has had great success changing their styles to be more potent and that's what we're hoping for with Ivan" Redkach's next fight is expected to be in October.

Tony Luis Eager for Return to Bright Lights of Televised Boxing

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. Visit Modell's Sporting Goods at modells.com.