PRESS RELEASE: Four undefeated fighters will put their perfect records on the line when “ShoBox: The New Generation” returns to Connecticut on Friday, May, 6, 2005. The main event will feature “ShoBox” veteran Sechew Powell against Cornelius Bundrage in a 10-round middleweight showdown. In the co-feature from Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn., junior middleweights Yuri Foreman and Kevin Cagle will square off in an eight-rounder tussle.
SHOWTIME will televise the DiBella Entertainment doubleheader at 11 p.m. ET/PT (tape delayed on the west coast). The telecast represents the 61st in the popular “ShoBox” series, which debuted on SHOWTIME in July 2001.
Powell (15-0, nine KOs), of Brooklyn, N.Y., is a four-time amateur champion who many experts feel has the talent, attitude and dedication to become a future world champion.
“It is nice to get noticed,’’ the southpaw boxer-puncher said. “I am satisfied with my progress and feel good with where I am, but there is still so much more to learn.”
The pride of Brooklyn got floored and was nearly knocked out in the fifth round of his SHOWTIME and “ShoBox” debuts on June 17, 2004, against Grady Brewer in Laughlin, Nev. However, Powell managed to survive the round and triumph by the scores 76-75 twice and 75-76 after the eighth.
Powell impressed in his second appearance on “ShoBox,” Jan. 21, 2005, and registered an eight-round unanimous decision over Patrick Thompson scored 80-71, 80-72 and 79-73. He looked sharp and landed combinations at will against the overmatched Thompson. In the sixth round, Powell staggered his opponent with an uppercut that nearly ended the fight.
In his pro debut, Powell registered a second-round TKO over Aundalen Sloan on Aug. 17, 2002, in Atlantic City, N.J. Powell dominated by utilizing a stiff jab and quick, hard combinations. Late in the first round after a hard left hand sent Sloan stumbling to the ropes, Powell dazzled the crowd with an eight-punch combination. Late in the second, he continued the onslaught by landing a six-punch combination that staggered Sloan. Moments later, the referee halted the bout.
Bundrage (21-0, 13 KOs), of Detroit, captured the United Boxing Association (UBA) Intercontinental light middleweight title on Feb. 18, 2005, by scoring a TKO at 1:27 of the second round over Jonathan Corn.
Undefeated through 21 fights, Bundrage has scored knockouts in his last five fights heading into his “ShoBox” debut.
“I feel strong in the ring right now,” Bundrage said. “I am moving well, seeing my target and hitting. No disrespect to Powell, but May 6 is going to be a short night.”
Bundrage made his professional debut at age 22 on Sept. 15, 1995, and tallied a four-round decision over Shawn Purdy in Detroit.
Foreman (17-0, seven KOs), of Brooklyn, N.Y. by way of Russia, has to be successful in the ring to support himself outside of it.
“On my second day in the United States I was working,” Foreman said. “It was difficult because you have to work and you have to train. I worked in Manhattan cleaning, carrying and delivering from morning until evening. Then, it was straight to Gleason’s Gym for training. Sometimes when I went to the gym, I was dead already.”
Foreman made his pro debut on Jan. 24, 2002, and recorded a first-round knockout over Israel Felix in New York, N.Y. After one more fight, Foreman gave up his day job and dedicated himself solely to boxing.
“Finally, I could run in the morning instead of the evening,” Foreman said. “I could rest all day, then go to the gym and give 110 percent.”
Cagle (16-0, 12 KOs), of Albermorle, N.C., scored a first-round TKO over Gary Kirby in his pro debut on Sept. 6, 2003, from Greensboro, N.C. After knocking out his initial seven opponents, Cagle won the Carolina Boxing Association (CBA) 154-pound crown with a second-round KO over Travis Clybourn.
Most recently, Cagle scored an opening-round knockout over Shannon Freeman on March 5, 2005, in Greensboro.
Nick Charles will call the action from ringside, with Steve Farhood serving as expert analyst. 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.