NEW YORK (Sept. 29, 2009) – Allan Green, coming off a dominating performance over Carlos De Leon, Jr., will face unbeaten “Marvelous” Tarvis Simms in a 10-round super middleweight affair this Friday, Oct. 2, LIVE on ShoBox: The New Generation on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast) from the First Council Casino in Newkirk, Okla.
The matchup is vitally important for both fighters as they are competing in one of boxing’s deepest divisions, a division that SHOWTIME is focusing on with the upcoming Super Six World Boxing Classic that begins next month. Green, who is currently the No. 6 ranked contender in the World Boxing Council (WBC), looks to stay at the top of the division while Simms hopes to prove he belongs in the top.
Green (28-1, 20 KOs), currently training in Hollywood, Fla., was born and resides in Tulsa, Okla. He will be the definite crowd favorite fighting in his home state against Simms, of Norwalk, Conn. Simms (25-0-1, 11 KOs) is the twin brother of Travis Simms, a former world champion with a similar record of 25-1.
Simms was a late replacement for the inured Victor Oganov, who was forced out less then two weeks before the fight. In his last fight, Simms scored an eight-round unanimous decision over Marcus Upshaw in Uncasville, Conn.
Simms called Green, “one of the best super middleweights out there” but said he has what it takes to beat him. “That’s why we accepted the fight. Right now, it is my destiny and I’m in full control. With the opportunity given, I just want to take advantage of it, and I’m sure I will take advantage of this opportunity.”
In a quintessential ShoBox matchup in the co-feature, “The Truth” Antwone Smith (16-1-1, 8 KOs) takes on Henry Crawford (22-0-1, 9 KOs) in a 10-round welterweight battle between two of the division’s brightest prospects. Both fighters are determined to show what they can do in the ring come Friday night.
“They told me ‘ShoBox’ – I said, ‘I’ll take it,’ ” the 28-year-old Crawford said. “They didn’t even tell me the money or anything. It’s been a long time coming. I’m 28, I’m 22-0, so I said, ‘I need to step up. I’ll take it.’ ”
Smith stepped up big-time in his last fight in May, scoring his career-best win, a 10-round unanimous decision against Richard Gutierrez (24-2-1). It was also Smith’s first scheduled 10-rounder. In July, Crawford won an eight-round unanimous decision against Kaseem Wilson (12-1-1).
In another exciting televised fight, Marcus “Too Much” Johnson takes on Victor Villereal in an eight-round super middleweight matchup.
Curt Menefee, Steve Farhood and Antonio Tarver will call the ShoBox action from ringside. The executive producer of ShoBox is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
For more information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please go to the SHOWTIME Sports website at http://sports.sho.com.
About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. The growing list of fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Leonard Dorin, Scott Harrison, Juan Diaz, Jeff Lacy, Ricky Hatton, Joan Guzman, Juan Urango, David Diaz, Robert Guerrero, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Malignaggi, Kendall Holt, Timothy Bradley and Bernard Dunne.
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL® and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.