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Top Prospects & Contenders Set To Compete On Showtime
Boxing Countdown Show Sat., Aug. 12
Three showdowns featuring a top rising prospect, an
all-action contender and a former title challenger will
highlight the SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN show this Saturday,
August 12 from The Theater at MGM National Harbor in an
event Presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
Action live on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and
SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page will begin at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m.
PT and is topped by top rising prospect Michael Angeletti
dueling fellow unbeaten Jonathan Lopez in an eight-round
bantamweight affair. The lineup will also see all-action
contender Jose Benavidez Jr. facing Sladan Janjanin in a
10-round middleweight bout, plus former title challenger
Damien Vazquez battles the Philippines’ Jeronil Borres in an
eight-round bantamweight showdown. The live stream is hosted
by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show host
Luke Thomas.
These fights precede a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®
tripleheader headlined by former world champion Emmanuel
Rodriguez take on streaking contender Melvin Lopez for the
vacant IBF Bantamweight World Championship. The telecast
begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and also features undefeated
rising star Gary Antuanne Russell taking on fellow unbeaten
Kent Cruz in the 10-round super lightweight co-main event,
plus sensational top prospect and Travon Marshall duels
unbeaten two-time Olympian Gabriel Maestre in the 10-round
welterweight telecast opener.
A highly skilled technician with blazing speed, Angeletti
(8-0, 7 KOs) has upped his competition in recent outings,
dominating the previously unbeaten Jeremy Adorno in October
2022 before stopping the experienced Michell Banquez in
round eight of their May clash on SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN.
Originally from New Orleans and now training in Spring,
Texas, Angeletti carries a six-fight knockout streak into
Saturday night. He faces Puerto Rico’s Lopez (8-0-2, 4 KOs),
who will be fighting in the U.S. for the second time as a
pro. The 26-year-old made his U.S. debut in February,
fighting fellow unbeaten Eduardo Diogo to an entertaining
majority draw.
Phoenix’s Benavídez (27-2-1, 18 KOs) is the older brother of
unbeaten two-time world champion David Benavídez and is
trained by his father Jose Sr. A long-established contender,
Benavídez moved up to super welterweight after dropping a
2018 world title challenge to Terence Crawford and most
recently lost a close decision to two-division champion
Danny Garcia last July. He will take on the 32-year-old
Janjanin (36-15, 26 KOs), who won his most recent outing via
decision in April. A native of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Janjanin has fought in 14 different countries, often facing
top contenders and rising prospects, including a point’s
loss to former interim champion Martin Murray in 2019.
The 26-year-old southpaw Vázquez (16-3-1, 9 KOs) was born in
Thornton, Col. and now fights out of Las Vegas. The younger
brother of former two-time champion Israel Vázquez, he
challenged Brandon Figueroa for a 122-pound world title in
September 2020. After dropping an August 2021 showdown
against former champion Rau’shee Warren, Vázquez returned to
the ring in March by stopping Francisco Bonilla Zambrano in
three rounds. He will be opposed by the 28-year-old Borres
(12-8-2, 6 KOs), who has fought professionally since 2014.
Representing Catarman, Camiguin, Philippines, Borres most
recently dropped an April clash against unbeaten Abraham
Perez.
The non-televised undercard lineup will feature
Philadelphia’s Jesse Hart (28-3, 22 KOs) facing Argentina’s
Elio Trosch (15-10-2, 7 KOs) in a 10-round light heavyweight
clash, Washington, D.C.-born prospect David Whitmire (2-0, 1
KO) stepping in for a four-round super welterweight bout
against Jordy Tientcheu (0-1) and unbeaten super
middleweight Daniel Blancas (6-0, 4 KOs) battling New York’s
Devaun Lee (11-9-1, 6 KOs) for six-rounds of action.
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