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On a night of scintillating southpaw sluggers on Showtime, lightweight Antonio Demarco and undefeated junior middleweight Alfredo Angulo took the next step toward a world ranking with impressive victories Friday on “ShoBox: The New Generation.”
In his 10-round debut, DeMarco (16-1-1, 12 KOs), recorded a unanimous decision over game warrior Nick Casal (16-2-1, 1 NC, 12 KOs) in an action-packed war. In the co-feature from the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif., Alfredo Angulo (10-0, seven KOs) made quick work of fellow unbeaten Emmanuel Gonzalez (9-1, four KOs) by scoring a second-round TKO. Showtime televised the Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, doubleheader at 11 p.m. ET/PT.
Making his fifth start in six months and sixth appearance at Chumash, DeMarco opened up a brutal cut at the top of Casal’s nose in the seventh round and cut his opponent’s lip with punishing combinations throughout. Despite battling a cold all week, DeMarco stood toe-to-toe to garner the hard-fought victory. Two of the judges scored the contest 97-93, while the other had it 96-94.
“I felt a little weak and was fighting at about 75 or 80 percent,” DeMarco said. “I was having problems with my sinuses, but fought all out like a great Mexican fighter would.”
Despite suffering a brutal cut and trailing on the scorecards, Casal, of Niagara Falls, N.Y., never backed down and brought the raucous crowd to its feet with a courageous effort at the end of the 10th round. However, “Hands of Gold” absorbed too much punishment and lost for the second time in three fights.
In his “ShoBox” debut, Angulo defeated Gonzalez for the second time (and first as a pro) by stopping the Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, resident in less than five minutes. Midway through the second round, Angulo floored his counterpart with a right hand to the jaw. Moments later, Angulo landed a punishing combination that sent Gonzalez to the canvas for the second time. Referee David Mendoza decided he had seen enough and stopped the bout at 1:56 of the second.
“This fight was actually longer than our first meeting in the amateurs because that was a first-round stoppage,” Angulo said.
Angulo said that his experience sparring against current or former world champions such as Ricky Hatton, Carlos Baldomir, Fernando Vargas, Roy Jones Jr. and Antonio Margarito helped him in his SHOWTIME debut.
“I learned a lot from fighting those guys and continue to learn one day at a time.”
Nick Charles and Steve Farhood called the action from ringside. The executive producer of “ShoBox” is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing.
Friday’s bouts will re-air this week as follows:
DAY CHANNEL
Saturday, Sept. 8, at Midnight ET/PT SHOTOO
Monday, Sept. 10, at 10 p.m. ET/PT SHO EXTREME
Tuesday, Sept. 11, at Midnight ET/PT SHO EXTREME
Thursday, Sept. 13, at 11 p.m. ET/PT SHOTOO
The next “ShoBox” telecast will be on Friday, Oct. 5, (SHOWTIME, 11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). In the main event, World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 3/World Boxing Association (WBA) No. 8/World Boxing Organization (WBO) No. 10 contender at 140 pounds, Timothy Bradley (21-0, 11 KOs), will take on Sven Paris (23-2, 16 KOs).
For more information on “ShoBox: The New Generation” and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts, including complete fighter bios, records, related stories and more, please go to the SHOWTIME website at http://www.sho.com/boxing.
