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DIAZ
AND GUERRERO,MEET IN FIRST “SHOBOX” REMATCH
NEW YORK (June 13, 2006) – In a rematch of a thrilling, action-packed
slugfest that wound up as one of 2005’s most shocking upsets, “The
Ghostbuster,” Gamaliel "Platano" Diaz (20-5-2, 9 KOs), will face Robert
"The Ghost" Guerrero (17-1-1, 10 KOs) in the “ShoBox: The New
Generation” main event Friday, June 23, on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT,
delayed on the west coast).
The winner of the World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight elimination
bout - and first rematch in the five-year history of “ShoBox” - will
become the mandatory challenger to WBC featherweight champion Takashi
Koshimoto.
In co-featured bouts, the promising, unbeaten Dirrell brothers, Andre
and Anthony, of Flint., Mich., will make their “ShoBox’’ debuts in
six-round super middleweight bouts. Andre (7-0, 4 KOs) will meet James
Morrow (9-2-2, 1 NC, 4 KOs). Anthony (8-0, 8 KOs) will face Marcus Don
“The Barber” Hall (11-1, 1 NC, 4 KOs). The tripleheader from the
Oakland/Alameda County Arena in Oakland, Calif., will be promoted by
Goossen Tutor Promotions..
Diaz stunned the boxing world by winning the initial collision of top-10
featherweights with a well-deserved, 12-round split decision Dec. 5,
2005, on “ShoBox.” Going in, southpaw Guerrero was undefeated, ranked
No. 2 by the WBC and regarded as one of boxing’s brightest young stars.
Despite being the WBC No. 7 contender, Diaz was a virtual unknown. That
is not the case anymore. The Mexico City native proved he was not afraid
of apparitions by outpointing Guerrero 115-112, 114-113 and 112-115.
Diaz, of Mexico City, has won 11 straight bouts and is unbeaten in his
last 19 (17-0-2). This will be the current WBC No. 3 contender’s first
start since he made his United States debut against Guerrero.
“I see this fight the same as the first one, except I will win easier,”
Diaz said. “He got in some good punches the first time that he will not
land this time. I am changing my style and working more on defense. I do
not care if it is a knockout or another decision. I am confident that I
will gain the victory.”
Guerrero (17-1-1, 10 KOs), of Gilroy, Calif., is ranked No. 7 by the WBC.
Unusually tall and rangy for a featherweight, Guerrero is known for
tremendous defense and speed. He showed no effects from the Diaz bout by
scoring an impressive third-round TKO over Sandro Marcos May 18, 2006,
in San Jose.
In a sharp and overpowering performance, the popular Guerrero bloodied
Marcos’ nose in the second round and scored a knockdown in the third.
Marcos made it to his feet, but was staggered again from a series of
punches. He was falling to the canvas when the referee stopped the fight
at 0:54.
“I am back and right on track,” Guerrero said, after his first outing in
five-and-one-half months.
“Looking back at the first Diaz fight,” Guerrero said, “I thought I had
edged it out and won, but the judges saw it differently. It was a really
close fight and a great learning experience. Now, I know I cannot take
anything for granted or take anybody lightly. I have to be on my toes
for everybody.
“I am working hard and watching the tape of me and Diaz, and basically
going off of that. I know I have to change it up more and not focus as
much on defense. I plan to work much more on offense.
“I have so been into being slick and slipping shots and looking good in
there that I left out what got me there: coming in and grinding in
there. I plan to come out in round one firing punches and keep it that
way, picking it up round after round.”
Andre “The Matrix’’ Dirrell was the 2004 Olympic Games bronze medalist.
After an outstanding amateur career in which he went 214-22, the
youngster turned pro with a fourth-round TKO over Carlos Jones on Jan.
27, 2005, in Glen Burnie, Maryland.
The southpaw is coming off of a hard-fought, six-round unanimous
decision over Alfonso Rocha on May 25, 2006, in Temecula, Calif. Despite
getting floored from a right hand in the closing seconds of the third,
Dirrell dominated and finished strongest to win 58-55 on all the
scorecards,
“This fight proved that I was in great shape,” said Dirrell, who
recovered after the hard knockdown to bloody Rocha’s nose in the fourth
and cut him over the right eye in the fifth. “Rocha could take a punch.
It was not an easy fight, but this is what I want. To be champion you
have to fight tough guys.”
Between fights, Andre, who is 13 months older than Anthony, is working
on getting his high school diploma. “When the Olympics came around, I
started slowing down. I had to go to camps and stuff, so I did not have
the time to finish.”
Morrow, of Lafayette, Ind., is coming off of an eight-round decision
over James Rice on March 18, 2006. Morrow won five straight at the
outset of a career that began on Nov. 29, 2003, and was 8-0-1 after nine
starts. However, he has gone 0-2-1 with one no contest until beating
Rice.
“I wanted the win and a good performance and I got both,” said Morrow,
who fried Rice by the scores 80-70 on the three scorecards. “This gets
me close to where I need to be.’’
Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell is a switch-hitter who has majored in
finishing off opponents quickly and decisively since turning pro on the
same show as his brother. None of his eight starts have lasted more than
two rounds. Four have ended by knockout in the first round, including
his last three.
In his most recent outing, Dirrell stopped Juan Ramos in the opening
session on May 25, 2006, in Temecula. Dirrell scored one knockdown
before the referee stopped the fight at 2:54.
“I was a little surprised the Ramos fight was so easy,” Dirrell said. “I
did not expect a first-round knockout. I was just more aggressive, and
he realized that my punch was too much for him.”
The Dirrell brothers have tattoos of the face of their grandfather, Leon
Lawson, on the back of their shoulders.
“We never had a father figure,” Andre said. “Our grandfather took me and
my brother in. He got me started in boxing when I was 10. He has ridden
our back in school and everything we have done, including boxing. We
decided to make it literal, and put him on our backs.”
Hall, of Savannah, Georgia, has gone unbeaten (11-1,1 NC, 4KOs) since
losing his pro debut on Sept. 27, 2002. The Georgia native has won nine
straight since his third bout ended in a no contest. In his two 2006
starts, Hall has won six-round decisions, including one in his last
outing against Vincent Harris on April 14. It was the fourth time Hall
outpointed Harris, but the scores were tighter this time: 58-56 twice
and 56-58.
“My style is that I give a lot and I take a lot. I am determined,
durable and come to fight,” said Hall, who goes by the name of Don,
although Marcus is his real name. He got his nickname because “I have
been a barber since high school.’’ The upcoming bout will represent his
first fight outside of Savannah.
The telecast represents the 78th in the well-received, critically
acclaimed “ShoBox” series, which debuted on SHOWTIME in July 2001.
“ShoBox” features up-and-coming prospects determined to make a mark and
eventually fight for a chance at a world title. A number of fighters who
have appeared on the series have gone on to become world champions,
including Ricky Hatton, Juan Diaz, Leonard Dorin, Joan Guzman and Scott
Harrison, and Jeff Lacy.
Nick Charles will call the action from ringside, with Farhood serving as
expert analyst. The executive producer of the telecast is Gordon Hall,
with Richard Gaughan producing. |
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