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Three Undefeated Prospects In Tough Tests Highlight 250th
Edition Of ShoBox Jan. 17
Three talented, undefeated prospects will put their
unblemished records on the line in the 250th edition of
ShoBox: The New Generation, the prospect-oriented series
that has featured 81 future world champions, Friday, January
17 live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT) from WinnaVegas Casino
Resort in Sloan, Iowa.
In the 10-round main event, Vladimir Shishkin (9-0, 6 KOs),
the fast-rising super middleweight prospect currently ranked
as the WBC No. 12 contender, will return for his second
consecutive test on ShoBox against the unbeaten Ulises
Sierra (15-0-2, 9 KOs).
Shohjahon Ergashev (17-0, 15 KOs), ranked No. 6 by both the
WBA and IBF at 140 pounds, will face Adrian Estrella (29-4,
24 KOs) in the 10-round super lightweight co-featured bout
of the first ShoBox telecast of 2020. In the opener, Detroit
native Ja’Rico O’Quinn (13-0-1, 8 KOs) faces Nevada’s Oscar
Vasquez (15-2-1, 3 KOs) in an eight-round super flyweight
contest.
“Vladimir Shishkin was a stellar amateur with over 300
bouts. We believe he is destined to become a world
champion,” said Gordon Hall, who has been the Executive
Producer and steward of ShoBox: The New Generation for all
19 years and 250 editions of the cornerstone boxing series.
“Shohjahon Ergashev was on prospects to watch lists in 2018
and has lived up to lofty expectations. His aggressive style
and punching power make him a fighter who boxing fans want
to see. 2020 will be a big year for both fighters. This
series was built on giving young, talented fighters national
television exposure and we are excited to get a first look
at Ja’Rico O’Quinn, a U.S. amateur standout who is an
all-action fighter with high expectations.”
“On January 17, boxing fans are going to see some of the
best prospects in boxing from big to small,” said promoter
Dmitriy Salita. “The card features young, hungry fighters in
the super flyweight, junior middleweight and super
middleweight divisions. Vladimir Shishkin, Shohjahon
Ergashev and Ja’Rico O’Quinn are all undefeated, world-rated
fighters on their way to national recognition and world
titles. First, they have to pass the biggest tests of their
careers.”
The 28-year-old Shishkin shined in his United States and
ShoBox: The New Generation debut in August, registering an
eighth-round technical knockout against then once-beaten
DeAndre Ware. Standing at 6-foot-1, Shishkin was a standout
amateur in Russia where he compiled 301 wins in 330 fights
before turning professional in 2016. He has won his last
four contests – all scheduled 10 or 12 round fights – via
knockout, including a 10th round TKO of former world title
challenger Nadjib Mohammedi prior to his American debut in
October 2018. Currently training in Detroit under Javan
“Sugar” Hill, Steward at the new Kronk Gym, Shishkin is
looking to continue his ascent up the rankings in the super
middleweight division with a second consecutive statement
win on ShoBox.
“Training with Sugar Hill at Kronk Gym is going really well,
and I can guarantee that I will be ready and I will put my
newly learned skills to use,” Shishkin said. “I hope for
another emphatic victory that impresses the American boxing
fans. I’m looking forward to putting on a great fight and
letting the champions at 168 know that this is my year.”
The 30-year-old Sierra, from San Diego, Calif., is riding an
eight-bout winning streak including a unanimous 10-round
decision over Fidel Hernandez for the vacant WBC Silver
Super Middleweight Championship in April. The son of former
San Diego Padres pitcher Ulises “Candy” Sierra, he has
sparred with future Hall of Famers Andre Ward and Canelo
Alvarez and former world champion Peter Quillin. Prior to
Sierra’s career-best win in April, he won four straight
contests in Mexico, including three by knockout.
“I’m happy for the opportunity to face a good opponent and
I’ll use him as a steppingstone to get where I want to get,”
said Sierra. “I still have a month of preparation to get
into the best shape of my life. I know Shishkin is
undefeated and has a Russian amateur pedigree. It’ll be the
hardest fight of my career, but I will do anything and
everything to come out victorious.”
Hard-hitting super lightweight Shohjahon Ergashev (17-0, 15
KOs), of Uzbekistan, is ranked in the top-15 in three of the
four major sanctioning bodies. The 28-year-old is coming off
an impressive fourth-round knockout of veteran Abdiel
Ramirez this past August on ShoBox. In his previous
appearances on the prospect developmental series, the former
member of the Uzbek national team scored a third-round
knockout against then top-10 rated Sonny Fredrickson, and a
10-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Mykal
Fox. The powerful southpaw currently trains alongside
stablemate Shishkin in Detroit.
“I am adding new dimensions to my game and plan on making a
big statement in the first ShoBox of the year,” said
Ergashev. “2020 is going to be my year and I am going to set
the tone in my fight with Estrella.”
Estrella, who hails from Monterrey, Mexico, turned
professional in 2010 and won 22 consecutive fights before he
suffered his first setback in 2015. With just seven of his
33 pro fights going the full distance, Estrella is an
all-action fighter typical of his Mexican roots. He earned a
career-best win, a closely-contested split decision over
Oscar Duarte, in his U.S. debut in February. Estrella will
face his fourth undefeated prospect in his last five fights
as he looks to get his career back on track with a win over
the highly-regarded Ergashev.
“This is an opportunity I’m going to take full advantage
of,” said Estrella. “I’ve been in camp for the last two
months, so I’ll be in perfect shape to go in there and do my
thing. I know Ergashev is a southpaw and a hard puncher with
a big KO record, but I’ve been in this situation before. I
have too much experience for him. Knowing that if I win this
fight I could get a world title shot is all the motivation I
need.”
The 24-year-old O'Quinn is rated No. 10 in the world by the
WBO. Ranked as the No.1 amateur bantamweight in the country
compiling a record of 130-18 before turning professional in
2015, O’Quinn boasts blazing-fast hands and an ability to
throw effortless combinations. A fan favorite in his
hometown of Detroit, he was last seen winning a unanimous
decision over James Smith of Flint, Mich., in October.
“The time has finally come,” said O’Quinn. “It’s my time to
show the world who the king is on live TV. For those that
don’t know, January 17, I’m going to show the world
greatness in is purest form. They are going to see charisma,
skills and explosiveness. I know I’m fighting a tough
competitor. He’s not coming to lay down. I’m coming prepared
for war. It’s going to be a great night for boxing in the
super flyweight division. I’m putting all the champions on
notice.”
Vasquez, from Reno, Nev., is a former streaking prospect in
the super flyweight division. After losing his third
professional fight, the 5-foot Vasquez rattled off thirteen
consecutive wins between 2012 and 2017 and was well on his
way to making a name for himself in the division before a
unanimous decision loss to once-beaten Ricardo Sandoval in
May 2018 halted his momentum. After a year-and-a-half
layoff, Vasquez returned by fighting Gilberto Mendoza to a
majority draw in October. At 32 years old, the hungry
Vasquez finds himself in a do-or-die fight against O’Quinn.
“Training in Reno is going amazing,” said Vasquez. “It’s
such a tremendous opportunity for my life. I’m trying to get
to a high ranking and it’s a dream come true. I know O’Quinn
is undefeated. He’s a boxer who likes to grab a lot. He
doesn’t like pressure. I’m hoping I will tire him out. I
think he’ll eventually give in as the fight goes on if I put
on a lot of pressure. In the later rounds, he won’t even
want to come out of his corner.”
Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside
with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez
serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon
Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips
directing.
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