Dirrell-Hanshaw Preview!
May 1, 2008
By Francisco Salazar
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Boxing once again returns to the California Central coast on Friday night with a crossroads bout between two young contenders.
Super Middleweights Andre Dirrell and Anthony Hanshaw square off in a 10 round bout at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, CA.
The bout will headline an eight-bout "ShoBox: The New Generation" card, presented by
Gary Shaw Productions.
Hanshaw, (21-1-1, 14 KO's) from Warren, OH, has not fought since his only professional defeat at the hands of former pound-for-pound king Roy Jones, Jr. Hanshaw gave Jones all he could handle, pressing the fight against Jones, before losing a unanimous decision. Hanshaw was knocked down in the 11th round.
Prior to that, Hanshaw fought to a 12 round split-decision draw against Jean Paul Mendy in January of last year. Both were finalists in an eight-man tournament, where they were vying for the IBO super Middleweight title.
Hanshaw has had to address issues outside of the ring that has seen him fight sporadically in years. After turning pro in 2000, Hanshaw was inactive in 2003 and 2005. His last victory came over a year and half ago and hopes a victory over Dirrell will springboard him to bigger fights down the road.
This will be Hanshaw's second fight in California. Ironically, his only fight in Southern California was a knockout victory over Lafarrell Bunting.
Dirrell, (14-0, 9 KO's) from Flint, MI, is coming off of a third round stoppage victory over veteran Shannon Miller in February.
Like Hanshaw, Dirrell has fought significant bouts on national television. In June, Dirrell won a 10 round unanimous decision over Curtis Stevens. Prior to that bout, he scored two knockdowns over durable Kenny Kost to win an eight round unanimous decision.
Dirrell has tasted the canvas like Hanshaw in previous fights. Dirrell had to come off the canvas in June of 2006 to win a tough six round unanimous decision over hard-hitting Alfonso Rocha.
Dirrell has been successful as a professional thus far after a decorated amateur career. Dirrell won a bronze medal for the United States at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. He was also a 2001 and 2003 United States amateur champion.
In the co-feature, Lightweight Antonio DeMarco will have his hands full against hard-hitting Juan Castaneda in an eight round bout.
DeMarco, (18-1-1, 13 KO's) from Tijuana, Baja California Norte, Mexico, fought a few months ago at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA on the undercard of the Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez bout. In that bout, DeMarco scored a workmanlike eight round unanimous decision over Juan
Carlos Martinez.
His career-defining bout thus far in his career was a hard-fought 10 round unanimous decision over fellow Lightweight prospect Nick Casal in September of last year. The back and forth action had the crowd on its feet as both never backed down.
DeMarco is a fan favorite at the Chumash Casino Resort. This will be his eighth appearance in Santa Ynez.
DeMarco is unbeaten in his last 11 bouts, dating back to his six round majority decision defeat to Anthony Vasquez in February of 2006.
Castaneda, (12-0, 9 KO's) from San Antonio, TX by way of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, is coming off a six round unanimous decision victory over Priest Smalls in November.
His fight against DeMarco will be a major step up in competition. Although he had knocked out nine of his first 10 opponents, it was against non-descript opposition.
Aside from Smalls, Castaneda's other notable victory was a close majority decision victory over Lonnie Smith in October of 2003.
In what could be the fight of the night, Nick Casal and Antonio Ojeda square off in an eight round Junior Welterweight bout.
Casal, (17-2-1, 13 KO's) from Niagara Falls, CA, scored a second round stoppage over James Wayka in March. It was his first fight since the hard-fought battle he had against DeMarco in September.
With a great amateur background, Casal turned pro at the young age of 18 years of age. He knocked out his first 10 opponents and was unbeaten in his first 16 bouts. However, he lost an eight round unanimous decision to Jose Antonio Izquierdo in January of last year.
Like DeMarco, Casal has fought numerous times in Santa Ynez. It will be the seventh time that Casal will fight at the Chumash Casino Resort.
Ojeda, (15-6-3, 9 KO's) from Santa Maria, CA by way of Michoacán, Mexico, scored a third stoppage victory over Steve Marquez in November.
After a two and a half year hiatus from the sport, Ojeda returned in 2003 and was unbeaten in 11 of 12 bouts until a ninth round stoppage to Rolando Reyes in April of 2005. His most significant victory to date was an eight round unanimous decision victory over previously-unbeaten Juan Manuel Buendia in July of 2006.
Ojeda will have the crowd support as Santa Maria is a 35 minute drive to Santa Ynez.
Featherweight Francisco Leal will take on Jose Magallon in a six round bout.
Leal, (13-2, 8 KO's) from Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, last fought in November when he fought to a 10 round majority draw against Giovanni Caro.
Magallon, (8-4, 3 KO's) from Las Vegas, NV, won a clear-cut six round unanimous decision over previously-unbeaten Gregorio Torres in February. He has won his last two bouts.
Four other bouts round out the card.
Tickets are on sale and are priced at $95, $75, $55, $40, and $25. Tickets could be purchased at the Chumash Casino Resort Box Office or by calling 1-800-CHUMASH.
Doors open at 5PM local time, with first bell scheduled for 5:30PM. Showtime will begin its broadcast at 11PM ET/PT.
Nick Charles and Steve Farhood will call the action from ringside for Showtime.
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