Don King Brings Boxing Back To Florida

ByBoxing Press

Top prospects from Don King’s boxing stable will appear on ShoBox: The New Generation in a doubleheader on Friday, Nov. 16 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., live at 11 p.m. ET/PT, on Showtime.

Undefeated junior middleweight contender Omar “Oh!” Henry (12-0-1, 9 KOs), from Chicago, will face a stiff test from “King” James de la Rosa (21-1, 12 KOs), from San Benito, Tex., while undefeated lightweight Angelo “La Cobra” Santana (13-0, 10 KOs), from Miami, will face fellow unbeaten Juan “Johnny” Garcia (13-0, 8 KOs), from Holland, Mich. Both matches are scheduled for 10 rounds.

Local favorite Joey Hernandez (22-1-1, 13 KOs), an American-born Cuban, will appear in a domestically non-televised super welterweight attraction against an opponent to be named. Hernandez is riding a seven fight winning streak that is moving him closer to his dream of fighting for a world championship.

Omar Henry has long been considered one of the top prospects in boxing. A proud Puerto Rican, he earned a stellar amateur record of 60-5, and has remained undefeated in 12 professional contests. Henry is now anxious to achieve the greatness that so many have predicted for him.

Mexican boxer-puncher James de la Rosa is expected to provide Henry with the most difficult challenge of his young career. Fighting out of South Texas, de la Rosa would love nothing more than to snap Henry’s unbeaten streak.

An excellent boxer with better-than-average power, de la Rosa is known for his speed and combinations, which have resulted in his 12 knockouts. He is also a ShoBox alumnus. He won a unanimous decision in a close fight against Tim Coleman in a 2008 Showtime-televised event.

In the co-featured main event, two undefeated fighters—both 13-0—will tangle at lightweight when Angelo Santana meets Juan Garcia.

Santana was a two-time national champion in Cuba before heading to Miami to follow his girlfriend and dreams of winning a world championship. Now married to that girlfriend, Santana is closing in on his first world-title shot.

At 24, Santana has matured to the point where he has stopped his last six opponents in four rounds or less. In his last appearance, Santana earned his best win against a quality opponent, world-class contender Justin Savi, who he dispatched with a third round technical knockout on June 23.

Standing in his way is Garcia, who looks to spoil Santana’s rags-to-riches story-in-the-making. No stranger to facing undefeated prospects, Garcia defeated William Jackson (10-0-1) last year. Garcia turned heads on March 23 after he scored a shocking upset over highly touted Cuban Yordenis Ugas, who was 11-0 before they met.

Sunshine State Showdown is promoted by Don King Productions. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. A full undercard will be presented. Henry vs. de la Rosa and Santana vs. Garcia will be televised on ShoBox: The Next Generation live beginning at 11 p.m. ET/PT,delayed on the West Coast) on Showtime.

Tickets priced at $25, $50, $100 and $200 are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.gulfstreampark.com or by calling the Gulfstream Park box office at (954) 457-6201.