NEW YORK (March 15, 2005) – In the main event on “ShoBox: The New Generation” on Friday, April 1, 2005, IBF No. 10/WBO No. 11 featherweight contender Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero makes his first defense of his NABF featherweight title against Adrian “El Gallero” Valdez in a scheduled 12-rounder. In the co-feature from The Palace Indian Gaming Center in Lemoore, Calif., Malcolm “The Show Stopper” Tann will trade leather with Leroy Childs in an eight-round heavyweight bout..
SHOWTIME will televise the Goossen-Tutor Promotions doubleheader on Friday, April 1, 2005, at 11 p.m. ET/PT (tape delayed on west coast). The telecast represents the 59th in the popular “ShoBox” series, which debuted on SHOWTIME in July 2001.
Guerrero (14-0-1, 7 KOs), of Gilroy, Calif., started his boxing career at age nine, and became a spectacular amateur almost immediately. In his professional debut on April 22, 2001, the 18 year old displayed the patience of a veteran en route to cruising to a four-round decision over Alex Ramirez.
In his “ShoBox” debut, Guerrero scored a hard-fought eighth-round TKO over former World Boxing Association (WBA) super bantamweight king Enrique Sanchez on June 3, 2004, from Lincoln City, Ore. Midway through the eighth, Guerrero drilled Sanchez with two sharp left uppercuts to the chin. Seconds later, Guerrero rocked back on his heels and unloaded another clean left hand that caught his opponent flush in the face. The contest was mercifully halted after the eighth round.
Looking ahead, Guerrero is ready for his second SHOWTIME appearance.
“The fact that Valdez is a southpaw makes it more of a challenge to get up for,” said Guerrero, who has already fought two lefties during his boxing career. “But it makes no difference to me. I am at the point where I want the tough fights so I can prove myself.”
Valdez (16-3-3, 8 KOs), of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, made his “ShoBox” debut on August 19, 2004 and nearly finished off Bernard Dunne in St. Paul, Minn.
At the conclusion of the fight, Dunne raised his arms in triumph despite the fact that blood caked his face and continued to drip down around his eyes and over his chin. Across the ring, Valdez did not look too healthy either. The nasty slice on his forehead still oozed a dark purplish stream of blood, but he took his time and mounted the turnbuckles to salute the crowd. Although many observers felt Valdez had won the fight, the judges scored it unanimously for Dunne, 97-93, 96-95 and 96-94.
“The people know who won that fight,” Valdez said. “Even though it says I lost, I do not see it that way. I know I beat Dunne.”
Tann (14-1, 7 KOs), of Seaboard, N.C., served six years in the Air Force and was a senior airman during “Operation Enduring Freedom” in Afghanistan. He did not begin boxing until he was in the Air Force, but managed to go 57-14 and capture the 2002 National Golden Gloves Championship as a super heavyweight during his amateur career.
“The Show Stopper” made his professional debut on Nov. 3, 2002, with a first-round knockout over Jackie Beard in Friant, Calif. Heading into his “ShoBox” debut, Tann has won his last six fights, including a second-round TKO over Innocent Otukwu, on Feb. 10, 2005, in Lemoore.
Childs (11-0, 10 KOs), of Jefferson City, Mo., captured the International Boxing Council (IBC) Continental heavyweight crown on June 11, 2004, with a 12-round unanimous decision over Ralph West in Kansas City, Mo.. The fight marked the first time that an opponent had made it past the third round against Childs in his pro career. In 11 fights, Childs has tallied six first-round knockouts.
When Childs steps into the ring against Tann on April 1, it will mark the first time the hard-punching heavyweight has fought outside of his home state. In his most recent outing, he scored a third-round TKO over Peter Lewis on Nov. 10, 2004, from Kansas City.
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.