Ivan Baranchyk went the distance with Keenan Smith in front of Baranchyk’s adopted hometown in the main event of a quadrupleheader featuring eight returning fighters on Friday’s ShoBox: The New Generation from Buffalo Run Casino & Resort.
In a battle of undefeated fighters, the hard-hitting Baranchyk (15-0, 10 KOs) took advantage of a one-point holding deduction against Sims in the fifth round to earn the decision in his fifth appearance on the ShoBox series and six consecutive fight out of Miami.
“I’m happy to be fighting back home in Miami, I love to fight here,” said Baranchyk, who was happy with his win but displeased with his overall performance. “I came out too hard and tried too hard to knock Smith out. I really wanted to knock him out which is why my punches were wild.”
Smith (11-1, 5 KOs) sealed his fate when he was deducted a point by officials after excessive holding throughout the first half of the fight. He became the 166th fighter to lose his undefeated record on the ShoBox series.
“They weren’t playing fair,” Smith said. “Anything that I did, the referee was on me. I was hitting him with clean body shots, and he kept telling me to keep them up, and then he took a point for holding. I don’t know what fight [the judges] were watching.”
The fight was a hard-hitting and physical affair from the beginning. Baranchyk came out swinging, landing just 21% of his jabs and 29% of total punches, edging out Smith who landed just 22% of his total punches.
“I came out too hard and tried to knock him out, which is why my punches were wild,” said Baranchyk.
In the co-feature, Rolando Chinea upset previously unbeaten former national amateur champion Kenneth Sims Jr. in a close majority decision.
“I was most confident after the second round of the fight, when I noticed he was sticking his tongue out and making certain gestures that showed he was tired,” Chinea said. “If I had to grade myself I would rate my overall performance as a B… I have a lot to improve on and my job here is never finished.”
Like Smith, Sims (12-1, 4 KOs) suffered the first loss of his career, becoming the 165th fighter to lose his undefeated record on the ShoBox series.
In the wild final round, the pair combined for 291 punches and 85 connects, but Chinea’s surge earned him the majority decision win.
“My body just didn’t respond tonight,” Sims said. “I am done at 140 pounds. I just did not feel right from the opening bell. I am going to 147 pounds.”
In the sixth round, Chinea took control and was the busier fighter against a fading Sims. While both fighters exchanged numerous punches in the seventh and closed the fight out with a flurry of activity, Sims clearly struggled at 140 pounds.
In the wild final round, the pair combined for 291 punches and 85 connects, but Chinea’s surge earned him the majority decision win.
In the second fight of the night, Glenn Dezurn (9-0-1, 6 KOs) stepped up to the 121-pound super bantamweight division to go the distance with ShoBox veteran Adam Lopez (16-1-2, 8 KOs) in an action-packed eight-round slugfest that ended in a split draw. Both fighters were visibly disappointed by the judge’s decision.
“I thought I did enough to win,” said the still-undefeated Dezurn, who spars with his wife, women’s pro fighter Franchon Crews. “I’m just fortunate for this opportunity and hope [Lopez] and I can come back strong and fight again someday.”
The first round was a round of give-and-take where both Dezurn and Lopez landed and sustained an impressive amount of body punches. It was Lopez who originally appeared more subdued, foregoing the counterpunch as Dezurn worked the jab.
By the fifth round it was clear Dezurn was losing steam when Lopez began to break him down and force him against the ropes. Lopez went on to dominate the sixth and seventh rounds, when Dezurn, clearly out-fought, looked tired and began to lean over.
“After the first round, I dominated the action,” said Lopez, who has now fought on ShoBox a record-tying six times. Maybe [Dezurn] won the seventh, but I whipped him. I should have won the fight, this was a redemption for me. Once I got used to his speed, I feel I won rounds six to two. The whole fight, his back was against the ropes and I beat up his body.”
Trained by the famed Coach Barry Hunter, the still-undefeated Dezurn made a valiant comeback in the final round, where he came back to life.
“I thought it was fair,” Hunter said. “We came on in the middle rounds, and Glenn won the seventh and eighth to get us the draw. It all came down to the stretch and I thought we did enough to win those rounds.”
In the opening bout of the telecast, former knockdown-of-the-year candidate Joshua Greer Jr. (14-1-1, 6 KOs) stopped Leroy Davila (5-2, 3 KOs) after five rounds, when Davila’s corner called the fight at the conclusion of the fifth.
“The game plan was to box and hit hard, and that’s what I did,” said Greer, who earned a memorable knockout against James Gordon Smith in his last ShoBox appearance. “I had to put on a good show. I will fight whoever has the belts. I want to fight for a world title.”
The 23-year old Greer landed a number of aggressive combinations that had Davila against the ropes from the onset. While Davila appeared to come alive in the second round, the 29-year old southpaw became stationary and had trouble recovering from a shot to the face that had him bleeding out of the left side of his nose and struggling for the second half of the fourth and the fifth. His corner called the fight just after the bell sounded, ending the fifth round.
The event was co-promoted by GH3 Promotions and Holden Productions.
Friday’s quadrupleheader will replay on Monday, July 17 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available on SHOWTIME on DEMAND® and SHOWTIME ANYTIME®.
Barry Tompkins called the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer was Gordon Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
Smith-Baranchyk final quotes & weights for Friday
Undefeated super lightweights Keenan Smith and Ivan Baranchyk officially made weight on Thursday, one day before they headline a quadrupleheader tomorrow/Friday on ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from Buffalo Run Casino & Resort in Miami, Okla.
Philadelphia’s rising prospect Smith (11-0, 5 KOs) takes on the hard-hitting Baranchyk (14-0, 10 KOs), who trains in Los Angeles and fights out of Miami. This will be Baranchyk’s fifth appearance on the ShoBox series, and his sixth consecutive fight in his adopted hometown of Miami.
“I respect all fighters, but he’s talking a little smack,” Smith said right after both fighters weighed in at exactly 140 pounds. “It doesn’t matter where we fight. I’ll fight him in his own backyard if I have to.”
Former national amateur champion Kenneth Sims Jr. (12-0, 4 KOs) will look to remain unbeaten when he meets aggressive five-year pro Roland Chinea (14-1-1, 6 KOs) in the eight-round co-feature.
Glenn Dezurn (9-0, 6 KOs) and Leroy Davila (5-1, 3 KOs) recently went the distance in a grueling eight-round super bantamweight bout that opened April 14’s ShoBox telecast, where Dezurn earned a unanimous decision. Both fighters return in the opening two bouts of tomorrow night’s telecast. Dezurn will take on ShoBox veteran Adam Lopez (16-1-1, KOs) in an eight-round super bantamweight clash, where Lopez will make his record-tying sixth ShoBox appearance. Davila will battle Joshua Greer (13-1-1, 5 KOs) in the eight-round telecast opener.
Tickets for the event promoted by GH3 Promotions and Tony Holden Productions are priced at $35, $55, $65 and $75 and are available for purchase now at buffalorun.com.
OFFICIAL WEIGHTS:
Keenan Smith: 140 Pounds
Ivan Baranchyk: 140 Pounds
Kenneth Sims Jr.: 139 ½ Pounds
Roland Chinea: 139 ½ Pounds
Glenn Dezurn: 121 ½ Pounds
Adam Lopez: 121 ¾ Pounds
Joshua Greer: 117 ½ Pounds
Leroy Davila: 117 Pounds
FINAL QUOTES:
KEENAN SMITH:
“I’ve been through a lot and it’s been hard, but I’ve been using it as motivation.
“I can box and I can punch. I’m not looking to go in and trade with this guy.
“I liked going away for camp for the first time. It made me focus and just kept my mind on boxing.
“I’m not worried about the hometown advantage.
“I’ve been training hard for this fight and tomorrow you’re going to see the best. We are looking to kill the beast. [Baranchyk] comes to fight, he swings a lot of wild punches. I’m a boxer and a puncher, I’m good at making fighters feel uncomfortable. It’s a blessing to be up here, and it’s a blessing to fight on ShoBox and it’s a big opportunity to move up the ladder.”
IVAN BARANCHYK:
“Training camp went great and we did eight weeks. I’m going to be shortening my punches up. I know Keenan is an American-style fighter and will be doing a lot of moving forward.
“I love knockouts and haven’t had one in my last three fights. I can’t wait to get another one tomorrow.”
“Everything is perfect in Los Angeles for me. The weather and the training are amazing.
“Everyone knows I had a great fight with Abel Ramos on ShoBox. It’s a pleasure people think that was the fight of the year, and maybe the best ever on ShoBox, but I’m just focused on the future.”
“I’m not going to talk much, I’m going to get inside the ring and do all my talking inside the ring.”
KENNETH SIMS JR.:
“I’ve had some good friends recently who have lost their lives, and it’s been emotional. I haven’t been using my head and I want to get back to boxing.
“I love punching to the body. I lot of people think I lack power, and I get hit with a lot of punches. My goal is to be a pure boxer and to keep putting my punches together. .
“I feel like I’m an exciting fighter. I’ve been fighting since I was 8 years old and I’ve put in the hard work.
“I think my jab is going to be the difference and a key in this fight. That and my footwork.
“I had a good training camp, no distractions. I was focused. I’m ready to put on a great show.”
ROLANDO CHINEA
“I’m a lot stronger than I was in my last fight. This is the best I’ve felt for any fight.
“My nine month layoff doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t make any difference
“I’ve been stalking Kenneth for a while now and we’ve watched a lot of tape of him.
“People still don’t believe in me, and I still have a chip on my shoulder. I’ve fought some experienced guys and tough guys on the ‘A’ side. I’m ready to move from the ‘B’ side to the ‘A’ side.
“I’m going to show I’m here for good. You are going to see a new Rolando Chinea tomorrow night.
“I’m a workhorse and at times I’m my own worst critic.
“I watched a lot of boxing growing up. Felix Trinidad was my favorite.”
GLENN DEZURN:
“I know people are still talking about the eighth round of my last fight on ShoBox against Davila, and the crowd was going crazy, but I never focus on the crowd. I just focus what I have to do in the ring.
“I’m an old-school fighter and I’ll fight anyone. We can go out in the back alley and fight.
“I loved Sugar Ray Robinson and the approach he took in his fights.
“But at the end of the day a lot of old-school fighters have had to just get it done, fight by fight, to keep putting food on the table.
“I don’t see this as a big step up for me. I’m a pro now and I do everything like a professional. It’s been hard work, but that’s what it takes to become a world champion.
“I’m honored to be fighting on SHOWTIME once again. I’m an entertaining fighter and I put a lot of pressure on myself.”
ADAM LOPEZ:
“I need to mature more as a fighter. I wasn’t as prepared for my last fight as I should have been.
“I should win this fight easy. I watch the ShoBox fights I’ve been in and I’ve used different styles.
“We’ve worked on everything for this fight: quickness, defense, movement. If he wants to bang it out I’ll be ready for whatever he brings.
“I’ve busted my ass in the gym every day and I’m ready. This is where all the hard work pays off.
JOSHUA GREER
“My last knockout was a KO of the year candidate. Everyone knows I’m an exciting fighter and I’m a prospect looking to make things happen.
“The knockouts are addictive and it’s important to remember to stay humble and know who I am as a fighter. We’ll take them, but I’m not looking for the knockout.
“We’ve worked on the mistakes we’ve made in the past and corrected all the problems we’ve seen.
The pillow is only going to come out if there is some trash talking, and I know there will be. So you’ll be sure to see the ‘Night, Night’ pillow.”
LEROY DAVILA
“Last time I fought on ShoBox I did not strategize enough like I should have.
“He might bring the pillow into the ring, but it won’t make it out after the fight. He’ll be able to use it on himself.
“I’ve got to take him out of his game. I have to take away his biggest weapon, his right hand.”
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