Showtime Boxing: Shobox

ByBoxing Press

Sakio Bika has withdrawn from the “ShoBox: The New Generation” super middleweight tournament with an injured elbow and has been replaced by once-beaten southpaw Lafarrell “Memphis Fairway” Bunting. The announcement was made Tuesday by “ShoBox” Executive Producer Gordon Hall and tournament promoter Gary Shaw.

The hard-hitting Bunting (15-1-1, 15 KOs), who enters the tournament with an explosive 15-knockout wins, will box another prolific puncher, Jose Luis Herrera (14-1, 14 KOs) of San Onofre, Colombia, when the “ShoBox’’ tournament continues with first-round bouts this Friday, Aug. 4, on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).

Tony Hanshaw (19-0, 13 KOs) of Warren, Ohio, will face Esteban Camou (18-1, 15 KOs) of Navojoa, Mexico, in Friday’s second opening-round bout at The Sports Center of Las Vegas. The winners of the 10-round bouts will advance to face each other in the semi-finals on Oct. 6. The other semi-final that evening will match a pair of unbeatens, Jean Paul Mendy and Henry Buchanan.

On Jan. 5, 2007, the winner of the tournament final will take home the International Boxing Organization (IBO) 168-pound title. Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, is promoting the event, which also offers two boxers from an original international field of eight the rare opportunity to appear on national television three times in only six months.

Bunting, of Las Vegas, by way of Memphis, Tenn., is looking for his 11th consecutive win. The six-foot-one-inch, 25 year old has won 10 straight inside of the distance. In his most recent start on July 15, 2006, he registered a first-round knockout over Carlos Bates to capture the vacant International Boxing Association (IBA) light heavyweight title in San Marcos, Texas.

The 1997 National Junior Olympics champion at 165 pounds, Bunting started boxing at the age of 10 when his stepfather took him to a gym. He turned pro three days after his 21st birthday on Oct. 4, 2001. Bunting boxed to a draw in his third outing and suffered his lone defeat in his seventh.

Tickets to the Aug. 4 show are on sale at The Pureformance Training Center (PFTC) box office, or by calling 702.450.PFTC. Tickets also can be purchased online at puresupplements.com.