14.05.04 – In an excellent matchup, once-beaten sluggers Darnell “Ding-A-Ling-Man” Wilson and Laudelino “Lino” Barros collide for the vacant IBA cruiserweight title in the 12-round main event Thursday, May 20, on “ShoBox: The New Generation” on SHOWTIME. Two promising prospects from Philadelphia will mix in the co-feature when Yusef Mack faces Randy Griffin in a 10-round super middleweight bout. SHOWTIME will televise the Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, promoted doubleheader at 11 p.m. ET/PT* from the Kewadin Casino in Sault St. Marie, Mich. The telecast represents the 43rd in the popular “ShoBox” series, which debuted on SHOWTIME in July 2001.
Wilson (16-1-1, 14 KOs), of Middletown, Maryland, is known as “Ding-A-Ling” because he can ring your bell. A devastating puncher with either hand, the hard-hitting knockout artist has won 15 straight fights, 13 of them within the distance. A crowd-pleaser known for “Tyson-like power,” he also resembles the former undisputed heavyweight champion. The popular Wilson has developed into one of the division’s hottest commodities despite going 1-1-1 at the outset of his career. At his best when he can bore inside and work the body, Wilson is coming off a third-round knockout over Forrest Neal on March 27, 2004. Wilson registered one of his most noteworthy victories when he captured the Maryland state light heavyweight title with a dramatic, come-from behind eighth-round knockout over Dana Rucker on Nov. 14, 2002. Outside the ring, Wilson is a systems engineer who handles the networking technical support for many businesses. He has 47 certifications. Wilson was a top amateur before turning pro on Nov. 16, 2001.
Barros (18-1, 17 KOs), of Sao Paulo, by way of Bonito, Brazil, likes to keep a relentless pace and possesses terrific punching power. He is coming off a third-round TKO over Jorge Guerrero on March 6, 2004. Barros, whose lone defeat was to highly regarded Danny Batchelder in his start before last, grew up near the Amazon rain forest. As a child, he worked in the sugar cane fields and practiced karate in his spare time. At 18, he turned to boxing and won his first amateur tournament in 1997 when he knocked out the son of Brazilian heavyweight Adilson Rodrigues. A terrific amateur, Barros was a member of the Brazil’s 2000 Olympic and national team. He competed in international tournaments in Australia, Russia, Cuba, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Argentina and the U.S. Barros turned pro on Feb. 6, 2001.
Mack (16-0-1, 10 KOs), of Philadelphia, Pa., made his “ShoBox: The New Generation” debut with an impressive fourth-round TKO over John McKinney on July 27, 2002 in Biloxi, Miss. In his last start, Mack won his 13th consecutive bout when he out-boxed and out-hustled the more experienced Ray Berry en route to registering a six-round unanimous decision on April 9, 2004. Mack, whose boxing idol is Sugar Ray Leonard, compiled an amateur record of 40-7 before turning pro on Nov. 17, 2000.
Griffin (17-1, 10 KOs), of Philadelphia, Pa., will enter the ring with a six-fight winning streak. Griffin, who turned pro with a first-round TKO over Cornell Hester on June 20, 2000, won his initial 11 fights before dropping a six-round decision to James Lubwama on May 10, 2002. On July 11, 2003, he recorded a third-round TKO over Dan Thornton to capture the Kentucky state super middleweight title. In his last start, Griffin flattened Karl Willis in the third round on March 19, 2004.
“ShoBox: The New Generation” features up-and-coming prospects determined to make a mark and eventually fight for a chance at a world title. The best of the new generation of hungry, young boxers will have an opportunity to showcase their talent and heart as they battle each other in competitive fights in front of a national television audience. “ShoBox: The New Generation” is pure, basic boxing, reminiscent of the golden days of the sport.
Nick Charles will call the action from ringside, with Steve Farhood serving as expert analyst. The executive producer of the telecast is Gordon Hall, with Richard Gaughan producing.
For information on “ShoBox: The New Generation” and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts, including complete fighter bios, records, related stories and more, please go the SHOWTIME website at http:www.sho.com/boxing.
The Kewadin Casino, located in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, is located on the banks of the St. Mary’s River. This waterway links Lake Superior and Lake Huron and is the site of the world famous Soo Locks.