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Friday’s ShoBox: The New Generation fights were scheduled for 20 rounds, but prospects Tim Coleman and Archie Ray Marquez only needed a total of six to score quick KOs on Showtime from Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif.
In the main event, Coleman (18-1-1, 5 KOs) was aggressive, scoring a knockdown in the second round before landing a brutal uppercut that KO’d two-time Venezuelan Olympian Patrick “El Elegante” Lopez (20-3, 12 KOs) at 2:13 of the third round.
In Friday’s co-feature, Marquez (10-0, 1 ND, 7 KOs) was equally aggressive in his own third round knockout of Juan “Chago” Santiago (13-5-1, 8 KOs ) at :11.
Coleman, who was fighting at 140-pounds for just the third time in a row and for the first time under trainer Roger Mayweather, was clearly more comfortable and powerful at light welterweight. Coleman scored the flash knockdown in the second, but Lopez, who didn’t seem fazed, came back with a vengeance to close out an excellent round.
After heated exchanges for the first two minutes of the third, Coleman landed a huge right uppercut that Lopez walked right into. Clearly hurt, Lopez got up and stumbled around before falling into his corner, forcing the referee to end the bout.
“Since my move down in weight I’ve got more comfortable,” Coleman said. “I listened to Roger. He told me to hit the body and then land the uppercut. He told me to come straight at him, and I did. He said I needed to go for him or I’d miss the opportunity to knock him out.”
Lopez, who was world-ranked and inching closer to a shot at a world title, wasn’t expecting Coleman to be that aggressive.
“I thought he would be backing up, backing up,” Lopez said. “I was surprised he was so aggressive. I didn’t see it (right uppercut) coming at all. He caught me.”
Coleman also surprised and impressed ShoBox color commentator Steve Farhood.
“He (Coleman) had four career knockouts going in, but, after watching what we just saw, that’s unbelievable,” Farhood said. “I think if he was fighting at 140 pounds the whole time he’d have many more knockouts.”
Marquez and Santiago started out strong in the first, but Marquez was deducted one point for a questionable low blow early in the second round. Frustrated with the call and not receiving a warning, Marquez came out gunning and more aggressive than ShoBox fans had seen in his previous appearance this past January.
Marquez landed combination after combination against the ropes toward the end of the second, knocking down a wounded Santiago, who got up but was lucky to get an extra minute of rest when the round ended.
Tasting blood, Marquez didn’t waste a moment in the third to jump on Santiago , who was quickly rendered defenseless against the ropes. The onslaught of punches continued and the referee quickly called the bout.
“I had him finished against the ropes,” Marquez said. “He couldn’t fight back. The ref did the right thing to end it. I felt sharp (after the layoff) and it was the strongest camp I’ve ever had.”
Santiago, who lost a split decision in his last ShoBox appearance on May 14, was again disappointed in the outcome.
“I think it was called very quickly,” Santiago said. “I wasn’t hurt at all – I was covering myself. He caught me with a right hook, but I was good to continue.”
Farhood, who had expected both fights to go the distance, was impressed and surprised with Friday’s outcomes.
“This is why they fight the fights,” Farhood said. “On paper, it looked like two distance fights. But both winners fought more aggressively than we’re used to seeing. The power they displayed was a pleasant surprise.”
Friday’s fights will be available On Demand beginning Wednesday, Oct. 6 and ending Tuesday, Oct. 19.
The fights were promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC.
