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Emmanuel Rodriguez Battles Unbeaten
Reymart Gaballo Dec. 19 On SHOWTIME
Former bantamweight world champion Emmanuel Rodríguez will
take on unbeaten former interim WBA bantamweight champion
Reymart Gaballo for the vacant interim WBC Bantamweight
World Championship in the main event on SHOWTIME
CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Saturday, December 19 at 9 p.m. ET/6
p.m. PT live on SHOWTIME from Mohegan Sun Arena in
Uncasville, Conn., in an event presented by Premier Boxing
Champions.
The action-packed tripleheader will feature unbeaten
welterweight Jaron “Boots” Ennis taking on his toughest
opponent to date in veteran contender Chris Van Heerden in a
12-round co-main event for the vacant IBO welterweight
title. Plus, unbeaten bantamweight Antonio Russell will face
former world champion Juan Carlos Payano in a 10-round
showdown to kick off the telecast.
Non-televised undercard action will see rising prospect
Brandun Lee battling Dakota Linger in a 10-round super
lightweight attraction.
Nordine Oubaali and Nonito Donaire were originally set to
meet for Oubaali’s WBC title, before the fighters tested
positive for COVID-19, at which point the Rodríguez vs.
Gaballo fight was made for the vacant interim title.
The event is promoted by TGB Promotions. Rodríguez vs.
Gaballo is promoted in association with Warriors Boxing and
Fresh Productions. Ennis vs. Van Heerden is promoted in
association with D&D Boxing.
“Emmanuel Rodríguez will seek to grab a second bantamweight
title on December 19, but will have a hungry and dangerous
fighter in the unbeaten Reymart Gaballo standing in his
way,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “With the
vacant interim WBC title on the line, expect both fighters
to leave it all in the ring in order to claim this belt.
Adding in the always exciting Jaron Ennis against Chris Van
Heerden, and an intriguing clash between Antonio Russell and
Juan Carlos Payano, and December 19 shapes up to be a
stacked night from start to finish live on SHOWTIME.”
The 28-year-old Rodríguez (19-1, 12 KOs) will look to
capture a second bantamweight title with a victory on
December 19. Fighting out of Manati, Puerto Rico, Rodríguez
won the IBF Bantamweight World Title with a unanimous
decision victory over Paul Butler in 2018 and successfully
defended it against then-unbeaten Jason Moloney. Rodríguez
was most recently stopped by unbeaten champion Naoya Inoue
in their May 2019 title bout.
“This is a dream come true to have another chance to fight
for the title,” said Rodríguez. “Even with the opponent
change, I know it will be a tough challenge, but I’ve worked
too hard and put in too much time in the gym to allow myself
to lose this fight on December 19.”
Fighting out of General Santos City, Philippines, Gaballo
(23-0, 20 KOs) enters this battle on a four-fight knockout
streak and is unbeaten since turning pro in 2014. The
24-year-old’s most impressive victory came in March 2018,
when he dropped then-undefeated Stephon Young on his way to
a unanimous decision victory for the interim WBA
bantamweight title. The number one bantamweight in the WBA
rankings, who also is ranked 12th by the WBO, Gaballo will
fight in the U.S. for the fourth time on December 19, with
his most recent stateside triumph coming by third-round
stoppage over Yeison Vargas in August 2019.
“I’m very excited for this fight,” said Gaballo. “I can’t
wait to step into the ring again. I’ve been training in
Miami since March and I’m planning to take advantage of this
opportunity. I have a very tough opponent, but I’m going to
show everyone what I can do and make sure I’m victorious.”
A native of boxing-rich Philadelphia, Pa., the supremely
talented Ennis (26-0, 24 KOs) returns to the ring after
stopping Juan Carlos Abreu in September on SHOWTIME. Ennis,
23, scored two emphatic knockout victories on ShoBox: The
New Generation in 2018 before adding two more KO wins to his
ledger in 2019. As his level of opposition has steadily
increased since turning professional in 2016, the
switch-hitter has scored 16 consecutive knockouts in
addition to notching 16 knockdowns in his last six bouts.
“I can’t wait to get in there to make a big statement,” said
Ennis. “I am ready to show out and put on a crushing
performance. This is one step closer to the bigger names and
my world title shot.”
Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Van Heerden
(28-2-1,12 KOs) now lives and trains out of Santa Monica,
Calif. The 33-year-old has won five-straight bouts leading
into December 19, including 2019 wins over Aslanbek Kozaev
and Mahonri Montes. Since his first professional defeat in
2010, Van Heerden has won 14 of his 15 fights, with his only
blemish coming in 2015 against unified welterweight champion
Errol Spence Jr.
"Sometimes it can take years for that one moment to come
around and change your life,” said Van Heerden. “I have
waited seven years for this opportunity to do my part and
inspire my country of South Africa. Even with three weeks’
notice and coming in as the underdog, I am taking advantage
of the opportunity that has been placed in front of me in
these challenging times. I'm the veteran and will use my
experience to win this fight. Fighters fight. We need to be
prepared to step in when the opportunity presents itself and
seize the moment. I’ll be ready on December 19."
The middle brother between WBC Featherweight Champion Gary
Jr. and 2016 U.S. Olympian Gary Antuanne, Antonio Russell
(17-0, 12 KOs) will return to action looking to cement his
contender status in the bantamweight division. The
27-year-old from Capitol Heights, Md. turned pro in 2015
after an impressive amateur career. After four wins in 2019,
Russell kicked off 2020 defeating Jesus Martinez in
February.
“I’m ready for this fight,” said Russell. “We have been in
the gym training hard despite the pandemic. I’m looking
forward to getting back in the ring. We know our opponent is
coming to fight, and so are we. I’m prepared for whatever he
brings.”
Born in the Dominican Republic but now living and fighting
out of Miami, Fla. Payano (21-4, 9 KOs) will move back down
to bantamweight, where he was previously champion, after his
most recent outing saw him drop a competitive decision
against former champion Danny Roman in September. Payano
captured his title in 2014 by defeating Anselmo Moreno,
before splitting a pair of memorable fights against Rau’shee
Warren. Payano has come up short in recent years against top
fighters Luis Nery and Naoya Inoue, while delivering Damien
Vazquez his first career loss.
“I can’t wait to get back in the ring before the end of the
year,” said Payano. “I’m excited for the opportunity on
SHOWTIME against an undefeated bantamweight. He’s never
faced anyone like me, and I plan on testing him from the
opening bell and giving the fans a great show. Uncasville,
CT and Mohegan Sun is a first class city and venue. Thank
you to PBC for giving me this opportunity.”
The 21-year-old Lee (20-0, 18 KOs) steps into the ring for
the fourth time in 2020, having already delivered three
knockout victories this year. Fighting out of La Quinta,
Calif., Lee most recently dropped Jimmy Williams three times
on his way to a first round knockout in October. Lee enters
this fight having stopped his last 11 opponents inside of
the distance.
Representing his native Buckhannon, W. Va., Linger (12-4-2,
8 KOs) has proved to be a durable challenge in his pro
career that dates back to 2015. The 26-year-old was 2-2 from
January 2019 to January 2020, with his losses coming by
narrow majority decisions against Maurice Lee and Nelson
Hampton. Most recently Linger lost an eight-round decision
to unbeaten prospect Omar Juarez in September.
The telecast announce team is comprised of the most
experienced and decorated boxing team on television. Veteran
sportscaster Brian Custer is the host. Versatile combat
sports voice Mauro Ranallo handles blow-by-blow action
alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and former
junior middleweight world champion Raúl “El Diamante”
Marquez. Two Hall of Famers round out the telecast team:
boxing historian Steve Farhood as unofficial scorer, and
world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. The executive
producer is four-time Emmy award winner David Dinkins, Jr.
The director is Bob Dunphy, son of legendary Hall of Famer
Don Dunphy. The pair has been guiding SHOWTIME Sports’
flagship series SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING since its
inception in 1986.
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