Showtime Boxing: Menefee Again Replaces Charles On ShoBox

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.”

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 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.