Press Release: In a crossroads fight, Duva Boxing will pit two of the brightest young junior welterweights when Kendall Holt (20-1, 12 KOs) squares off against unbeaten Isaac Hlatshwayo (25-0, 1 NC, 9 KOs) on Friday, Nov. 3, on “ShoBox: The New Generation.” With a regional title at stake, both men weighed in exactly at the 140 pound limit. In the co-feature from Bally’s Casino Ballroom in Atlantic City, N.J., Shamone Alvarez (15-0, 10 KOs) will take on Enrique Gutierrez (10-0, eight KOs) in a welterweight attraction. Showtime will televise both bouts live at 11 PM/ET (delayed on the west coast). Holt, who hasn’t fought in over a year, said ,“The layoff was costly for my career, but that’s going to end tomorrow night. I don’t want to overlook this guy because he poses a threat because of my layoff. My inactivity will not be a factor in this fight. I’ve been training for eights weeks and been in camp for four weeks. I’ve been sparring with tough sparring partners that are bigger than me -- junior middleweights and middleweights. My friends and family will be at this fight. My son won’t be there because he’s too young. But afterwards, we’ll watch the tape of the fight like 100 times. Hlatshwayo is unlike my past opponents. Most guys don’t use the jab like he does. He can use it all he wants, I’m going to counter and get out of the way.”
Hlatshwayo had this to say, “No matter where he (Holt) goes in the ring I will be there for him. All the fights are important. In boxing you can’t underestimate any opponent. Every fight I have is equally important… I’ve never been knocked down, even in the amateurs… I had to use my jab a lot in previous fights because I had a problem with my right. But now I plan to use a lot of combinations… My speed will be there tomorrow. When I was fighting at a lighter weight I wasn’t as fast. Now, at 140 I’m comfortable and fast.”
About the co-feature, Alvarez, 147 pounds, said, “I’m just concerned with getting past tomorrow. Gutierrez is coming prepared, we’re coming prepared. I’m going in there to work. I just want to compete and keep my ‘zero’... We researched him, called people who have seen him fight, called gyms where he has trained. We were in the amateurs together.”
Gutierrez, 146 ¾ pounds, replied, “This is a great opportunity to show my talent. To show young kids what they can do if they work hard… I’ve faced hard fighters, but when I saw an opening I took it… I’ve been in the gym since July, I feel good and comfortable at this weight. I feel strong. I only take two or three days off after a fight and I go right back into the gym… I’ve heard that Alvarez was a good fighter through word of mouth… I feel comfortable and ready. I feel this is a step up a blessing to be fighting on Showtime. This is my fist televised fight… We’ve been sparring with Tyrone Titus, he’s a south paw, 5’ 7’, similar to Alvarez.”
