The stakes just got higher in the “ShoBox” super middleweight tournament, as the eventual survivor of the eight-man, single-elimination battle will become the International Boxing Organization (IBO) 168-pound champion. Promoted by Gary Shaw, LLC, and televised by SHOWTIME, the festivities will kickoff with opening-round bouts on Friday, July 28, and Friday, Aug. 4, (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast) from the PFTC at The Sports Center of Las Vegas.

 

            The IBO made the announcement Wednesday that it had agreed to make the tournament a series of eliminations for its world title.

 

“This adds yet another degree of excitement to an already well-received event,” said ‘ShoBox’ Executive Producer Gordon Hall. “Winning three consecutive fights against a tough, international field of 168-pounders, all on national television, is an attractive scenario for a young fighter to begin with. The IBO title is another major incentive for these hungry fighters.”

 

The winners of the opening-round bouts advance to the semi-finals on the Friday, Oct. 6, edition of “ShoBox” (11 p.m. ET/PT), with the final IBO championship bout slated for Friday, January 5, 2007.

 

Friday’s match-ups:  Jean Paul Mendy (21-0, 11 KOs) will face Dallas Vargas (21-2, 15 KOs), while Henry Buchanan (13-0, 11 KOs) will meet Lucas Arias (11-0, 8 KOs).

 

On Aug. 4, Anthony Hanshaw (19-0, 13 KOs) will take on Esteban Camou (18-1, 15 KOs), while Sakio Bika (20-1-2, 14 KOs) will battle Jose Luis Herrera (14-1, 14 KOs) in the opener.

 

Tickets to the July 28 and Aug. 4 bouts 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.

Nick Charles and Steve Farhood will call the action from ringside, while Al Bernstein will serve as roving reporter. The executive producer of the telecast is Gordon Hall, with Richard Gaughan producing.

For information on “ShoBox: The New Generation” and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts, including complete fighter bios, records, related stories and more, please go the SHOWTIME website at http://www.sho.com/boxing.