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The number of fighters who have become world champions after appearing on ShoBox The New Generation since its inception in July 2001 stands at 30. That means viewers likely will be witnessing a future world titleholder approximately every fourth telecast.
So wholl be the 31st ShoBox alum to graduate into greatness? Will it be the supremely talented Andre The Matrix Dirrell? Perhaps the rapidly improving Ronald The Chosen One Hearns? Or will one of their opponents elevate their status with an upset victory? Stay tuned.
The unbeaten fighters return to Showtime on March 28, when super middleweight Dirrell and junior middleweight Hearns face Derrick Superman Findley and Lightning Harry Joe Yorgey, respectively, in 10-round bouts on a special Saturday edition of ShoBox, live at 11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast.
Dirrell, 17-0 (12), of Flint, MI, will meet Findley, 13-2 (8) of Gary, IN, in the main event. Detroit s Hearns, 21-0 (17) and fellow unbeaten Yorgey, 21-0-1 (9) of Bridgeport, PA, will begin the ShoBox telecast from the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, OK. The event is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, and DiBella Entertainment.
The world-ranked Dirrell and Hearns are familiar faces to Showtime Sports viewers. This will be Dirrells fifth appearance on the network and fourth in a row. Hes twice fought on ShoBox and Showtime Championship Boxing. Hearns has fought three times on ShoBox, including two of his last three fights.
Dirrell is rated No. 1 by the WBO, No. 3 by the WBC and No. 7 by the IBF.
Hearns, the oldest son of legendary eight-time world champion Thomas Hit Man Hearns, is rated No. 7 by the WBC and No. 13 by the WBA.
For the six-foot-1, 25-year-old Dirrell, a sensational amateur who was the 2004 Olympic Games bronze medalist at 165 pounds, this is an opportunity to further elevate his reputation in a talent-laden division currently being featured prominently on Showtime.
Twice, since October, Lucian Bute has successfully defended the IBF super middleweight crown on Showtime. In an eagerly awaited scrap Saturday, April 25, Carl Froch will risk his WBC 168-pound belt and unbeaten record against former undisputed middleweight kingpin Jermain Taylor on Showtime.
Factor in the likes of 2004 Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward and Librado Andrade, who will take on Vitali Tsypko in an IBF 168-pound elimination on the Showtime telecast on April 4, and youve got the ingredients to serve up magnificent matchups now and in the very near future.
The older brother of Anthony Dirrell, Andre is a tall, agile, unorthodox, switch-hitting southpaw who brings a scary mix of speed, smarts and solid power in both mitts into the ring. With exceptional athleticism and tremendous amateur experience, he is a threat to any prizefighter at 168 pounds.
Offers Nick Charles, the blow-by-blow announcer on ShoBox: Andre Dirrell has youth, talent and high rankings on his side. The last point is the double-edged sword. This division is packed with talent. Dirrells rankings near the top of the boxing organizations makes him unwilling to risk a derailment before he gets a world title shot. That said, Ill settle for a spectacular performance March 28 to tell me he’s progressing towards being an elite super middleweight.
A winner of five straight inside the distance, Dirrell dazzled and dominated his last three starts in 08. He stopped Victor Oganov in the sixth round on Nov. 1, scored a fourth-round TKO over Michael Paschall on Aug. 2 and looked extraordinary as he took apart Anthony Hanshaw via fifth-round knockout on May 2.
A lack of consistency may have been an issue in the past, but it isnt now. Dirrell has been concentrating on improving his technique and has added a strength and conditioning coach as well as a personal trainer.
This is my first fight working with a physical trainer, Dirrell said. Im looking a lot better in the ring. I am just focusing on being sharper and putting my punches together right instead of being so wild at the end.
That last fight I had with Oganov was the hardest fight of my life. I just want to be comfortable and know how to control my pace when a guy is rushing me. Thats why I have so many styles of sparring (partners) in camp. Im working on everything I need to work on. I just want to showcase my ability to the fullest and look good doing it. If this fight lasts long enough, youre going to see a good performance.
Findley, who has fought all but one of his fights in Illinois or Indiana , is making his ShoBox debut and initial start since registering a 0:28, first-round TKO over Rashawn Bland on Oct. 3, 2008. In his outing before last the previous July 11, he scored a second-round TKO over six-foot-2 Andrzej Fonfara.
A winner of seven in a row, Findley, at 5-foot-6, is very short for the division but the physically strong, hard-hitting, aggressive-minded 24-year-old compensates for it with a relentless in-your-face style.
Findley accepted this assignment on about two and a half weeks notice, but it wont be a factor. I was in the gym training for another fight but Im focused on this one now, said Findley, who lost to another Andre Andre Ward in November 2006. They think they got me on short notice, but Ill be ready.
Im going to pressure Dirrell. Im going to stay in his chest. Hes going to know Im there to fight. All the weight is riding on him. Hes the Olympic medalist. Theres no weight on my shoulders. Everythings riding on him. I dont have any pressure. Im a man of few words. Im just going to be ready to fight.
The 6-foot-3, 30-year-old Hearns got a late start (age 25) in boxing and had only 10 amateur fights. This will be his second scheduled 10-rounder. In his first, an explosive puncher with first-class speed and movement recorded two knockdowns en route a one-sided, smashing sixth-round TKO over Paul Clavette on Oct. 24, 2008, on ShoBox.
I dont know much about Yorgey, but what I do know is that he likes to start quick so I just want to go out there and try to set the tone and keep him at the end of my punches, said Hearns, an excellent athlete who was born when his famous father was 20.
I dont spend a lot of time studying tapes; I feel my opponents will fight me differently anyway because Im a much taller guy with longer arms, so theyve got to fight to get in. I just do what I know how to do. Im just keeping my basics tight. If youve got good basics, everything else will fall in place.
Despite a belated beginning, Hearns is satisfied with the way his career has progressed. I can see myself improving in different areas, he said. I just needed time because I was learning on the job. I think people are very surprised to even see where Im at just having a few amateur fights and being the son of Thomas Hearns.
Most of them had me at the bottom of the totem pole, like, Oh, hes not going to be anything, but Im gradually stepping up with my opponents. The guys Ive been fighting, most of them dont want to fight because theyre tough guys and theyve never been stopped and Ive been going out and stopping them.
Im very focused in what I do. Now everybodys looking at me. (Some) people even want me to lose. So I have to prove the doubters wrong and let them know the more they say I cant do something, the more it motivates and pushes me to take it to the next level.
Theyll see on March 28 that Im really something to reckon with in the sport of boxing.
Yorgey, while taking a step up in class, should provide Hearns with his toughest test. A polished, fast-handed boxer whos extremely popular in the Philadelphia area where he has a devout following, the 5-foot-10, 31-year-old Yorgey has won five consecutive starts. Like Hearns, he also got a late start in boxing and had limited amateur experience.
From a stylistic standpoint, ShoBox analyst and boxing historian Steve Farhood thinks Hearns-Yorgey will be quite interesting.
Yorgey is what the old timers would call a cutie, Farhood said. Hes not a puncher but hes a superbly conditioned, clever boxer who knows hell have to get close to be effective. If he utilizes a darting in and out style, thats exactly the type of fighter who could give Hearns problems at this point in his career.
Yorgey, a smart, fast-handed boxer, was impressive in his last outing, his first in 10 months, winning a 12-round majority decision over previously unbeaten Jason Le Houllier on Aug. 22, 2008.
Ive seen Hearns fight a couple of times because I watch everybody in my weight class, said Yorgey. Hes good, undefeated and tall. Thats his biggest advantage. And hes Tommys kid. Its great his son is following in his footsteps. (But) Ronald is trying to get out of his dads footsteps. That makes him a dangerous opponent.
You cant fight Hearns standing up youve got to fight him short. Bring him down to your height. Im not going to change. Im going to try to establish my jab early and show him Im physically stronger. With the strength and conditioning Im doing now, its going to come down to, Are you in as good a shape as me? Were going to find out.
One thing Ive seen in his fights is that he has trouble with guys that move laterally, and I thrive on defense. Ive been 10 rounds, Ive been 12 rounds. I dont think hes ever been past eight. Thats going to be another big issue, too. If we go into the deep rounds, well see what his stamina is like.
Yorgey has dedicated this fight to a friends niece, who has cancer and has been given only a few months to live. Im raising money with the fight for her and her family for all of her treatments, he said.
