EW YORK (July 27, 2009) – Crafty former light heavyweight world champion Antonio Tarver will join ShoBox: The New Generation announcers Nick Charles and Steve Farhood as a guest commentator on the telecast live Friday, July 31, on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
Tarver, the former undisputed 175-pound world champion, is the only man to stick two losses on the professional resume of future Hall of Famer Roy Jones, Jr.
Said Tarver about his SHOWTIME commentating debut, “I’d like to think that I am more than a boxer; I’m an on air personality. My experience as both an amateur and professional boxer will bring insight to the telecast. Nick and Steve are phenomenal at what they do and I’m just excited to be able to add the element of experience. I can let the audience at home know what these boxers are feeling at a very difficult time. So many things go through your mind and I understand the anxiety, the desperation, the excitement, and when you’re in a tricky spot, the fear.”
Tarver, still considered one of the best boxers in his era, continues to train and dedicate himself to furthering his boxing career. “By no means does this signal my retirement or the end of my boxing career. This is just another aspect to my career. I’m in the gym, I’m training and I’ll be fighting again this year.”
EXCLUSIVE TIMOTHY BRADLEY AND NATE CAMPBELL INTERVIEWS TO AIR DURING SHOBOX TELECAST
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Friday’s ShoBox telecast will also feature interviews with World Boxing Organization (WBO) Junior Welterweight champion Timothy Bradley and former unified lightweight champion and dynamic puncher Nate Campbell one night before their fight on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, Saturday, Aug. 1, live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast)
Bradley, who has racked up frequent flyer miles and collected two world titles fighting the best at 140-pounds all over the world, will get his first shot at a “home game” at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino • Resort • Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif., less than 10 miles from where Bradley grew up in North Palm Springs.
The veteran Campbell, of Jacksonville, Fla., is a former unified 135-pound titleholder who is moving up in weight to challenge Bradley at 140-pounds. He can be crafty and smart, but more importantly, he’s hard hitting with 25 of his 33 wins coming by knockout.
Further Information:
July 31, 2009 – ShoBox: The New Generation: Quintero vs. Harris
In the main event, talented, once-beaten prospect Marvin Quintero (16-1, 12 KOs) hopes to continue his ascension through the ranks with a triumph over hard-hitting veteran Tyrone Harris (23-5, 15 KOs) in a 10-round lightweight bout.
In the co-feature, undefeated bantamweight prospect Chris Avalos (10-0, 8 KOs) will take on knockout artist Andre Wilson (11-2-1, 9 KOs) in an eight-round bantamweight bout.
The event is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, and will originate from Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, Calif.
August 1, 2009 – SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: Bradley vs. Campbell
In the main event, Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley (24-0, 11 KOs) will defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) 140-pound crown against former unified lightweight world champion Nate “Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell (33-5-1, 25 KOs).
The co-feature will pit World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 1-ranked super lightweight Devon Alexander “The Great” will fight for the vacant WBC super lightweight championship against the former holder of that belt, Junior “The Hitter” Witter.
The event is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Thompson Boxing Promotions in association with Don King Productions and Agua Caliente Casino • Resort • Spa.
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®.
