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Undefeated Super Welterweights Ardreal Holmes vs.
Mekhrubon Sanginov Headline March 11 On ShoBox
Super welterweight prospect Ardreal Holmes puts his
undefeated record on the line against fellow unbeaten
prospect Mekhrubon Sanginov in another tightly-matched main
event of ShoBox: The New Generation on Friday, March 11 live
on SHOWTIME at 9:35 p.m. ET/PT from Deadwood Mountain Grand
Hotel in Deadwood, S.D.
The main event pairs two amateur standouts trying to seize
the spotlight as Flint, Michigan’s Holmes (11-0, 5 KOs)
takes on Tajikistan’s Sanginov (12-0-1, 9 KOs) in an
eight-round super welterweight contest. Uzbekistan’s
Hurshidbek Normatov (10-0, 3 KOs) faces once-beaten Vernon
Brown (13-1-1, 9 KOs) in an eight-round co-featured
middleweight bout and undefeated lightweight prospect Luis
Acosta (12-0, 11 KOs) takes on the power-punching Edwin De
Los Santos (13-1, 12 KOs). Plus, 2021 National Golden Gloves
Champion Giovanni Márquez, the son of former world champion
and ShoBox commentator Raul Márquez, makes his professional
debut against Dominican Nelson Morales (2-0) in a four-round
super lightweight bout that opens the telecast.
The event is promoted by Holden Productions.
Here is a closer look at the matchups:
Holmes vs. Sanginov – Eight-Round Super Welterweight Main
Event Bout
The southpaw Holmes was a No. 1-ranked amateur at 147 pounds
with more than 80 amateur fights. He won several amateur
tournaments including the 2015 USA National Elite
Championship and was a three-time Michigan Golden Gloves
Champion. He also represented USA in the World Series of
Boxing and was an alternate on the 2016 U.S. Olympic Boxing
Team. Standing at six-foot-two-inches, Holmes has proven to
be a handful since turning pro in 2016. He owns wins over
55-fight veteran Lanardo Tyner and most recently defeated
Jose Antonio Abreu in 2019. He is coached by Joe Bermudez,
managed by David McWater and promoted by DiBella
Entertainment.
“I am excited to jump back in the ring,” said the
27-year-old Holmes. “I am in a good spot, and I will make
the most of this opportunity. I think I should be able to do
anything that I want off the jab. I’m not worried about
anyone slipping on me because I am in a position that people
will get to know who I am really soon. Get ready for a great
night of boxing. Seeing people come up that you know such as
the Dirrell brothers motivated me, and March 11 people will
get to know and remember who I am.”
An exceptional amateur himself, Sanginov amassed a record of
105-14 and became a fan favorite in his native Tajikistan.
He turned professional in 2016 and moved to Las Vegas in
2018 to pursue his dream of becoming a world champion. He
stopped four-of-his-last-six opponents, beating
then-undefeated Quincy LaVallais via split-decision and
fighting then-undefeated Fred Wilson Jr. to a draw. Sanginov
has fought five times since Holmes last stepped into the
ring.
“I am very happy and excited for this opportunity,” said the
26-year-old Sanginov, who is five inches shorter than
Holmes. “ShoBox is a steppingstone to bigger and better
things. I know that a win gets me bigger fights. I don’t
know much about my opponent except his amateur career.
Training camp has been great and I can’t wait to get in the
ring on March 11.”
Normatov vs. Brown – Eight-Round Middleweight Bout
Uzbekistan’s Normatov, who now resides and fights out of
Brooklyn, N.Y., finished his impressive amateur career in
2016 with a 190-40 record. In his first ten fights as a pro,
the southpaw has faced seven fighters with winning records
including two undefeated prospects. He also participated in
the World Series of Boxing, where he fought to a 5-1 record.
Normatov is trained by Andre Rozier, who has trained several
world champions including Richard Commey, Daniel Jacobs and
Sergiy Derevyanchenko. Normatov is also managed by McWater
and promoted by DiBella Entertainment.
“I am very happy to be back in the ring and especially to be
on a big show like ShoBox,” said the 29-year-old Normatov.
“This is a big chance for me to show what I can do. It’s a
great opportunity and I will take advantage of it.”
Brown, a 32-year-old Chicago native, turned professional in
2015 and has competed in a variety of weight classes from
140 to 160 pounds. He won his first seven fights, including
five by way of stoppage, before fighting Jesus Zazueta Anaya
to a split-draw in 2017. He won his next three fights before
dropping a hotly contested 10-round unanimous decision to
talented 154-pound contender Jamontay Clark in a fight many
felt Brown could have won. Brown rebounded with three
straight wins, including a second-round KO in his last time
out in February 2021. He will face his first undefeated
opponent since his 2017 win over then 6-0 Angelo Snow on
March 11.
“I am just ready to fight,” said the 5’7” Brown. “I haven’t
fought in a year, but I have been in the gym, and I am just
ready. My opponent is a crafty southpaw who is tall, but I
have knocked out a couple guys with a similar style as his.
I’m excited to fight on ShoBox and I’m ready to give people
a show. A win will boost my career and will show a lot of
people what I am made of.”
Acosta vs. De Los Santos – Eight-Round Lightweight Bout
The undefeated, power-punching Acosta began boxing at the
age of 16, following in the footsteps of his father, Jose,
and uncle, Mario, who were both professional boxers. As an
amateur, the Houston native Acosta had a record of 57-8 and
won both the Title and Ringside Tournaments. Known as an
aggressive, come-forward fighter, Acosta has stopped
11-of-his-12 professional opponents. Acosta is a graduate of
the University of Houston with a degree in Exercise Science
and Kinesiology and is trained by his father.
“I am very excited for my first televised fight,” said
Acosta, 25. “I feel like I have something to prove. I will
not get caught in the moment and I want to put on a show for
everybody. I know that my opponent is a southpaw and is
taller, and he looks like he is strong early on in the
fight. May the best man win.”
De Los Santos began boxing in his native Dominican Republic
at the age of 12, and by age 14, he had won his first
amateur tournament. Following a brilliant amateur career in
which he fought 265 times and lost just six bouts, he turned
pro in 2018 and made his ShoBox debut in January, dropping a
close decision to William Foster III. Packing one-punch
power, De Los Santos had scored stoppages in his last seven
fights prior to the defeat. Among his most impressive
performances is a first-round KO over then 8-2 Juan Alberto
Garcia Perez and a unanimous decision over then 31-10
Francisco Contreras.
“I am extremely disappointed in my last performance,” said
De Los Santos of his ShoBox debut. “It did not go as I
expected. A lot had to do with the weight loss, which caused
me to get weak and tired after the third round. This is why
I am fighting at 135 pounds in this fight. I will be
stronger than ever so my opponent better watch out.”
Márquez vs. Morales – Four-Round Super Lightweight Bout
Highly regarded super lightweight prospect Giovanni Márquez
will become the seventh fighter in the history of ShoBox to
make their professional debut on the series. The previous
six, including the likes of world champions Gary Russell Jr.
and Errol Spence Jr., were all U.S. Olympians. Houston’s
Márquez is fresh off winning the national Golden Gloves
152-pound championship, where he was also given the
prestigious Outstanding Boxer of the Tournament Award. The
list of current or former world champions to win the Golden
Gloves title at 152 pounds in the past 20 years includes
Spence (2009), Demetrius Andrade (2006-07), Daniel Jacobs
(2004) and Andre Berto (2003). Márquez began boxing at age
12 and finished his amateur career with a record of 75-12.
He is trained by his father, 1992 U.S. Olympian, former
junior middleweight world champion and SHOWTIME Boxing
analyst Raul “El Diamante” Márquez.
“I am very excited to be making my debut on ShoBox,” said
the 20-year-old Márquez. “I am excited to display my skills
and everything that my father and I have been working on in
the gym. I have been envisioning this moment for myself from
a young age. There is footage of me mimicking walking to the
ring in my house. To make that walk is a dream come true.
Being on the show my dad works on is an honor, and I am
definitely up for it. For some, that might be pressure, but
I am embracing it. The audience will see the best of me on
March 11.”
Dominican Republic born, Scranton, Penn.-based 29-year-old
Nelson Morales has two professional bouts under his belt,
including a four-round unanimous decision over Ronny Arana
in August 2021. In his 2019 pro debut, he defeated Kynndale
Prather via majority decision. For the second consecutive
fight, Morales will be facing an opponent making their pro
debut. Morales works as a part-time police officer in the
Pennsylvania boroughs of Clarks Summit, Throop and Dunmore.
“This is a dream come true,” said Morales. “I have been
watching SHOWTIME Boxing for a long time. I have been
dreaming about this for a long time. I know that Márquez has
been around boxing since he was in the belly. I know of his
father Raul, so I know he will bring it. I have been working
very hard and a lot had to happen for me to get this
opportunity, and I won’t waste it.”
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