NEW YORK (May 10, 2010) – Curt Menefee will re-join the ShoBox: The New Generation announce team after perennial host and play-by-play announcer Nick Charles recently stepped down to continue his battle against cancer and spend time with his family. Menefee, who called three fights for SHOWTIME® in 2009, will anchor the remaining ShoBox telecasts in 2010 alongside expert analysts Steve Farhood and Antonio Tarver. “Having done a couple of events with Steve and Antonio last season, this feels almost like a family reunion,” Menefee said. “That’s what the SHOWTIME folks have quickly become to me, family..”
Best known as the studio host for FOX NFL SUNDAY, Menefee last called a ShoBox fight card on Dec. 4, 2009. The versatile sportscaster’s first assignment of 2010 will be this Friday, May 14. In the main event at Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif., highly regarded Sergiy Dzinziruk (35-0, 23 KOs) of Ukraine makes his United States professional debut and fifth defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior middleweight title against once-beaten Daniel Dawson (34-1, 24 KOs) of Australia. The telecast will begin at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
“We’re very glad to have Curt rejoin the ShoBox announce team,” said Ken Hershman, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports®. “When filling in for Nick Charles last fall, I was very impressed with his passion for boxing and the growing chemistry with Steve and Antonio. I believe that Curt is the exact caliber sportscaster that our ShoBox fans have come to enjoy.”
For nearly nine years, critics and viewers have continually praised ShoBox for showcasing the best in up-and-coming talent. Since its inception in July 2001, 40 fighters who appeared on ShoBox have gone on to become world champions.
Beginning on May 14, ShoBox will be broadcast in High Definition, marking the completion of all SHOWTIME Sports programming making the transition to HD.
“By delivering our ShoBox fights in HD, we’re providing our fans with the best visual quality to enjoy our competitive matchups,” said Gordon Hall, ShoBox executive producer.
For information on SHOWTIME Sports Programming, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please go the new SHOWTIME Sports website at http://www.sho.com/sports.
Highly Regarded Dzinziruk Defends WBO Title Friday, May 14, On ShoBox
NEW YORK (May 7, 2010) – European superstar Sergiy Dzinziruk will make his United States. professional debut and the fifth defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Junior Middleweight title against once-beaten challenger Daniel Dawson on Friday, May 14, on ShoBox: The New Generation at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) live on SHOWTIME®. The telecast will originate from the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif., and will be promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC.
The 34-year-old Dzinziruk is arguably the world’s top junior middleweight, but is largely unknown in the U.S. The southpaw, who is currently training in Los Angeles for his first world title defense in more than 17 months, was inactive in ’09 due to a contract dispute with his European former promoter.
Despite the inactivity, Dzinziruk is still drawing raves reviews and is the No. 1 ranked junior middleweight by many well-respected boxing websites, including ESPN.com and FightNews, ahead of 154-pound stars Alfredo Angulo, Antonio Margarito, Kermit Cintron, Cory Spinks and Yuri Foreman.
“Just because the American audience hasn’t had a chance to see him yet doesn’t mean they shouldn’t understand that he’s a good fighter,” ESPN’s Dan Rafael said. “I’ve seen him and he’s a very good technician, he’s a very good boxer. He’s got a lot of talent.
“It depends how he performs on ShoBox and who is available in the division, but, if he keeps winning, there will be big fights for him.”
Dzinziruk (35-0, 23 KOs), of Hamburg, Germany, by way of Ukraine, last fought on Nov. 1, 2008, when he successfully defended his title against Joel Julio in Germany.
“I’m ready to fight, defend my title and show my talent,” Dzinziruk said. “I’m ready and willing to go all the way. I’ve been waiting for a long time to defend my title in the U.S.
“I’m willing to take on anyone in the division. Angulo, Cintron, (Paul) Williams, whoever, doesn’t matter. They’re all very interesting fights for me. I want to take on every champ in the division and show America what I’m made of.”
Dzinziruk fought previously in the U.S. as an amateur, representing Ukraine at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York. He recently signed a promotional contract with American promoters Artie Pelullo’s Banner Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions.
“No one is safe once they step into the ring with Sergei,” Shaw said. “There’s a reason he’s called ‘The Razor.’ He cuts his opponents up to ribbons. He is one of the brightest lights in boxing’s most exciting division.”
The southpaw’s two most impressive wins came against Julio and then-defending WBO champion Daniel Santos in December 2005.
“His biggest problem is his layoff, but even with the layoff, you can make the argument that he should be the top-rated junior middleweight in the world based on what he’s accomplished as a champion,” said Steve Farhood, the expert analyst for ShoBox.
“He’s the most established of the 154-pound champions. What makes this fight interesting is that he’s coming off a layoff and he’s fighting in the U.S. for the first time.
Dzinziruk will face another test in Australian prospect Dawson (34-1, 24 KOs), whose only loss came to then-unbeaten Daniel Geale for the International Boxing Organization (IBO) 154-pound belt in 2007. The 33-year-old Dawson is a late replacement for Sherzod Husanov, who couldn’t make it to the U.S. from Russia due to visa issues.
“Normally, changing an opponent last minute is not a good thing,” Dzinziruk said. “We were getting ready for the other fighter, but I checked this guy’s style and what he does so I don’t think it will be too much of a problem. I am ready to take on anyone.”
Like Dzinziruk, Dawson is coming off a lengthy layoff, having last fought on Feb. 1, 2009, when he scored a third-round KO over Ariel Aparicio in Perth, Australia. Dawson will make his U.S. debut after dominating the opposition in Australia since 2002.
“It’s a world title opportunity,” Dawson said. “You go in there and throw everything you’ve got, throw your heart over the wall and your body will follow.
“This is what you dream of, this is what you wait for; this is what you train all these years for, what you live for.”
Curt Menefee will call the action from ringside with the aforementioned Farhood and Antonio Tarver serving as expert analysts. The executive producer of ShoBox is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
For information on SHOWTIME Sports Programming, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please go the new SHOWTIME Sports website at http://www.sho.com/sports.