PRESS RELEASE: SHOWTIME continues its tradition of sensational match-ups when unbeaten junior welterweights Americo Santos and Isaac Mendoza square off on “ShoBox: The New Generation” Friday, May, 20, 2005.  In the co-feature from Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla., undefeated Allan Green will take on tough Hawaiian Rocky Smith in a light heavyweight clash. SHOWTIME will televise the Gary Shaw Productions doubleheader at 11 p.m. ET/PT (tape delayed on the west coast). The telecast represents the 62nd in the popular “ShoBox” series, which debuted on SHOWTIME in July 2001. Santos (20-0, 17 KOs), of Garland, Texas, scored a second-round TKO in his professional debut over Freddie Gomez on May 10, 2002, in El Paso, Texas.  The heavy-handed slugger won his initial 10 fights by knockout, including six in the opening round.

"I have been in boxing since I was nine years old," Santos said.  "If I was not fighting in the streets, I was boxing in the ring.  It does not end here.  I want to get to the top.  I want to take the world by surprise."

Fighting almost exclusively in Texas, Santos captured the Lone Star state title with a fifth-round knockout over Rudolfo Lunsford on Nov. 15, 2003, from San Antonio.   After Santos landed a searing left hook to his opponent’s body, Lunsford remained sprawled on the canvas for a few minutes after the referee had counted him out.

Most recently, Santos kept his perfect record intact by knocking out Jaime Palma in the fifth round of a scheduled eight-rounder on April 22, 2005, in Santa Ynez, Calif.  A left hook to the body in the third round dropped Palma to the canvas. The courageous fighter managed to recover and survive the round.  Santos found his range again and landed a solid right uppercut to the head in the fifth.  Palma went down and was counted out at 1:48 of the round.

"I have been doing this all my life," Santos said. "It is not a game to me.  This is do or die. I am not flashy in the ring.  I just come out, fight and put on a great show."

 
Mendoza (13-0, 5 KOs), of Tulsa, Okla., has entertained fight crowds while maintaining an unblemished record.

“I am in it to win it,” Mendoza said.  “Do not go to the bathroom when I am out there because you might miss something you have never seen before.  On May 20, boxing fans will get a treat.”

Mendoza made his pro debut at age 24 on Dec. 20, 2002, and recorded a first-round TKO over Michael Fontana in Tulsa.  The relative newcomer proved he could go 10 rounds on July 20, 2004, when he punished Robert Delgado and won 98-92 on all three scorecards in Joplin, Mo.   

Green (15-0, 11 KOs), of Tulsa, broke the two-decade-old eight-second knockout record of Mike Tyson, knocking out Tommy Krupe in the 2002 Golden Gloves National Championships in June 2002.

He won his first three fights with opening-round KOs, including a brutal TKO in his pro debut over Robert Dykes on Nov. 9, 2002, from Oklahoma City, Okla.

In his fourth bout of 2004, the boxer-puncher shut out Willard Lewis across eight rounds on March 27, 2004, in Tustin, Calif.  The judges each scored it 80-72.

On Feb. 25, 2005, Green registered a third-round TKO over Sebastian Hill in Miami, Okla.  Green dropped his opponent with a barrage of punches in the first round.  Two successive right hands to Hill’s face put him down on his back again in the second.  In the third, Green pinned Hill to the ropes and unleashed a barrage of shots that prompted the stoppage.

Smith (11-2, 9 KOs), of Honolulu, Hawaii, flipped the switch.  Although he compiled an 8-2 record through his first 10 fights, Smith had not fought anyone who had more than three victories. So, when Smith battled Nick Cook (13-0 going in) on March 19, 2004, in San Diego, Calif., he made a major leap in competition.  After going toe-to-toe for much of the fight, Smith registered a ninth-round knockout at 2:14. 

In his next fight on July 6, 2004, Smith took on veteran Anwar Oshana (23-3 going in) from Muskegon, Mich.  Smith pummeled his opponent to two standing-eight counts.  Between the fourth and fifth rounds, Oshana and his corner decided they had seen enough and threw in the towel. 

In his most recent battle on Sept. 11, 2004, Smith returned to Muskegon to challenge Tim Bowe.  Smith boxed brilliantly and registered an eight-round unanimous decision by the scores 79-73 twice and 78-74.  Smith backed his foe into the corner repeatedly, feeding him right hands.

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.