05.10.06 – One match-up features former roommates who used to spar together, while the other pits undefeated fighters from different sides of the globe. What all four fighters have in common, however, is a goal to reach the top of the super middleweight division. That journey will continue when SHOWTIME televises the semi-finals of the “ShoBox: The New Generation” super middleweight tournament on Friday, Oct. 6, as part of a FREE PREVIEW WEEKEND.
The SHOWTIME broadcast from the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif., will open with American Henry Buchanan (14-0, 11 KOs) of Capital Heights, Md., squaring off against France’s Jean Paul Mendy (22-0, 12 KOs). The second bout of the evening will pit LaFarrell Bunting (16-1-1, 16 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nev., against former sparring partner Tony Hanshaw (20-0, 13 KOs) of Warren, Ohio.
The winners of the two 10-round bouts on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast) will advance to the Jan. 5, 2007, final. The last man standing will walk away with the International Boxing Organization (IBO) 168-pound title and will be one big step closer to a top world ranking. Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, is promoting the event, which also offers two boxers from the original field of eight the rare opportunity to appear on national television three times in only six months.
HENRY BUCHANAN (14-0, 11 KOs) 166 pounds
“I have never fought a southpaw in the pros. There have been times in the amateurs where I didn’t know my opponent was a southpaw until after the fight. It can be annoying to fight a lefty.”
“Mendy is strong and looks to throw some hard punches, but I don’t know a lot about him. Mendy’s physique is immaculate. He is nervous. He hasn’t seen anything yet.”
“I am a boxer. I can figure out anybody in the ring. I am a deceitful and deceptive fighter.”
“Losing is not an option. I will figure out something. I can do it all.”
“It is going to be a hard fight, but it is what I am made of on the inside. If I am made of crap, it will show tomorrow night. If I have what it takes, than I will stand the test of time.”
“I am fighting for survival. I am fighting for my life.”
“I am going to be tossing and turning all night long. Mendy wants to hurt me.”
JEAN PAUL MENDY (22-0, 12 KOs) 165 pounds
“Buchanan always moves and uses his jab. I plan to attack, but I can dance and move if I have to. I am always aggressive.”
“I like small boxing rings. It is an advantage for me to have this 17-foot ring.”
“Bunting is a good boxer, but is very slow. Hanshaw has speed and good movement. If their fight goes the distance, Hanshaw will win. Hanshaw is a good boxer, but he can’t take a punch.”
LAFARRELL BUNTING (16-1-1, 16 KOs) 167 pounds
“Last time, Hanshaw did not acknowledge me at all. It was poor sportsmanship. He was like, ‘what the hell is he doing here?’”
“Hanshaw is going to try to be tough. He cannot afford to get caught because I will knock him out.”
“I was 50, maybe 60 percent for my last fight.”
DANNY SMITH (BUNTING’S TRAINER)
“The more of a fight it becomes and the less of a boxing match the better.”
ANTHONY HANSHAW (20-0, 13 KOs) 166 pounds
“Bunting and I used to live together in Mansfield, Ohio. We used to spar, but I don’t remember it.”
“I can box like Muhammad Ali if I want to.”
“Bunting started off slow in the last fight, than he finally picked it up. He has not fought anybody. I have fought some good fighters.”
“I hurt my hand in the second round of my last fight and it hurt like hell. I had him (Esteban Camou) out in the ninth round, but I had to back off because of my hand.”