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8 TALENTED PROSPECTS RETURN TO SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION ON FRIDAY, JULY 14 QUADRUPLEHEADER

NEW YORK (June 8, 2017) – Undefeated super lightweights *Keenan Smith* and
rising adopted local favorite, *Ivan “The Beast” Baranchyk* meet in an
eight-round bout in the main event of a *ShoBox: The New Generation* quadruple
header on *Friday, July 14* live on *SHOWTIME* (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on
the West Coast) from *Buffalo Run Casino* in *Miami, Okla.*

The ShoBox telecast features eight returning fighters with a combined
record of 94 wins against just four losses.

Dangerous southpaw “Killa” Smith, (11-0, 5 KOs), of Philadelphia, Pa. will
make his second appearance on the series as he takes on Baranchyk, (14-0,
10 KOs), a native of Minsk, Byelorussia fighting out of Miami, Okla., who
is making his fifth appearance on the ShoBox series.

In the co-feature, former national amateur champion Kenneth Sims Jr. (12-0,
4 KOs) will look to keep his record unblemished as he meets Rolando Chinea
(14-1-1, 6 KOs) in an eight-round super lightweight scrap. Plus,
undefeated Glenn Dezurn (9-0, 6 KOs) will take on Adam Lopez (16-1-1, KOs)
in an eight-round bantamweight clash. In the telecast opener, Joshua Greer
(13-1-1, 5 KOs) will battle Leroy Davila (5-1, 3 KOs) in an eight-round
super bantamweight bout.

“I am excited to put on another terrific ShoBox card,” said Vito Mielnicki,
founder of GH3 Promotions. “This is the type of card is what ShoBox is all
about. Four evenly matched pairings that have the potential to be action
packed fights. I think the fans who watch this show will come away
thoroughly entertained.”

“I’m happy to have the Four State Franchise back on ShoBox,” said Tony
Holden. “I am happy to have my fighter Ivan Batanchyk in a real step-up
bout against an undefeated fighter southpaw like Keenan Smith. I think this
will be a great fight.”

Tickets for the event promoted by GH3 Promotions and Tony Holden
Productions are priced at $35, $55, $65 and $75 and are available for
purchase now at buffalorun.com.

*KEENAN SMITH vs. IVAN BARANCHYK – Eight-Round Super Lightweight Bout*

Smith, the 2008 National Golden Gloves Champion and 2007 Junior Olympic
National Champion, debuted on ShoBox in November 2016, scoring a
hard-fought unanimous decision over Benjamin Whitaker. The 5-foot-7,
26-year-old, will make his third start of the year after taking 2016 off to
recover from and ACL injury and the loss of both of his parents within six
months of each other. Smith has knocked out both of his opponents this
year, Marquis Hawthorne and Edgar Gabejan.

“This is a very big fight for me,” said the Smith, who turned pro in 2010.
“Perhaps the biggest fight of my career. I’m stepping up in opposition and
I’m ready for what’s to come. I am training three times a day and I’m in
the best shape of my life.

“I know Baranchyk comes to fight, but I also know his weaknesses. I’m
ready for his wild swings. I’m ready to be the main event in a nationally
televised fight. Needless to say, a win will bring bigger and even better
opportunities. I can’t wait.”

As an amateur, Smith went 72-4 with victories over Amir Iman and Abel
Ramos, who fought Baranchyk in a back-and-forth brawl in his last outing.

Baranchyk is an offensive-minded amateur standout that packs power in both
hands. He won nine consecutive fights by knockout before scoring a 10-round
unanimous decisions over Wilberth Lopez and Zhimin Wang on ShoBox. In his
last outing on Feb. 10, Baranchyk edged Abel Ramos in an entertaining
slugfest that was closer than the judges’ scorecards indicated.

“I am very excited and thankful for the opportunity to come back to fight
on ShoBox again,” said the 5-foot-10 Baranchyk. “Smith is a tough fighter
and a ShoBox alum himself, so I will enjoy knocking him out.

“I’m not going to downplay him – he is a good opponent. I’ll be alert and
I’ll pay attention to what he brings on, but I’m battle-tested. He hasn’t
faced anybody like me. I’ll gladly hand him his first loss and move a step
closer in my pursuit of a world title.”

The 24-year-old Baranchyk has scored two first-round knockouts on ShoBox in
bouts that lasted a combines 2:49. All 10 of Baranchyk’s knockouts have
come inside three full rounds, including six in the first. This is his
sixth start at Buffalo Run Casino.

*KENETH SIMS JR. vs. ROLANDO CHINEA – Eight-Round Super Lightweight Bout*

Sims, a 2013 U.S. National Amateur Champion and a 2012 Olympic Trials
semifinalist, continues to step up in level of opposition as he meets one
of the most dangerous opponents of his career in his secondShoBox
appearance.

The Chicago native has stayed active as a pro – he fought four times in
2016 and this will be his third start of 2017. In his last outing, he
stopped Israel Villela with a third-round TKO.

“I have seen [Rolando} Chinea fight twice. He is a pressure fighter,” said
Sims. “He is nothing that I haven’t seen before. I’m ready for him.
Another wins keeps me moving forward to my ultimate goal of being a world
champion one day.

“I wasn’t satisfied with my last performance. I got the win, but I was not
at my best. A win over someone like Chinea will help me prove I’m better
than what you last saw of me.”

The 23-year-old Sims was a sparring partner for Floyd Mayweather (when he
was getting prepared for Andre Berto) and Manny Pacquiao (as he was getting
ready for Mayweather). He is known for his boxing skills and ability to
work the body.
Chinea, a 5-foot-8, 26-year-old from Lancaster, Pa., is returning to ShoBox
after winning an eight-round split decision victory over O’Shaquie Foster
in July of 2016. He went 10-0-1 before the only loss of his career, an
eight-round decision to Ismail Muwendo in April 2015. He’s won four
straight since, including two unanimous decisions over previously
undefeated Ladarius Miller and Mel Crossty.

“I am honored to be back on ShoBox, where I made my first TV appearance,”
said Chinea. “Sims was an accomplished amateur with a deep pedigree. He is
tall with a good reach. He is a very good boxer, but I’m better.

“It’s going to be a rough fight. I am prepared and in great shape. A win
will get me one step closer to some type of title fight down the line. I
am just looking at right now and getting this win. By the end of the year,
I see myself moving into contention if all goes well.”

*GLENN DEZURN vs. ADAM LOPEZ – Eight-Round Bantamweight Bout*

The undefeated Dezurn was a three-sport star athlete in high school and an
amateur standout who compiled an 87-7 record in the unpaid ranks under the
tutelage of Barry Hunter. The Baltimore native is married to female boxer
and U.S. Olympic alternate Franchon Crews, who fought Claressa Shields in
the amateurs and in her pro debut. Dezurn returns to ShoBox after a
toe-to-toe matchup against Leroy Davila on July 14 that could have gone
either way. His former foe, Davila, is featured in the opening bout of the
telecast.

The 5-foot-4, 29-year-old will face his toughest test to date against
ShoBox alum Adam Lopez.

“I’m excited to come back to the ring and I’m extremely focused,” said the
29-year-old Dezurn. “My opponent is experienced and had a good amateur
career but he doesn’t intimidate me.

“Any win takes my career to where I want to go-upwards. It doesn’t matter
that Lopez is more experienced and a regular on ShoBox. My motto is to
keep working hard. I stay focused and I will get where I need to be.
Every win is the same, it’s a step in the right direction.”

Lopez, of San Antonio, Texas, by way Phoenix, Ariz., is a prototypical
ShoBox prospect-turned-contender. He’s 3-1-1 on the series, having
defeated three previous unbeaten boxers: Mario Muniz (11-0), Eliezer Aquino
(17-0-1) and knocking out Pablo Cruz (11-0) in the second round. Lopez
boxed a 12-round draw with Roman Reynoso (18-1-1) on July 22, 2016, and in
his most recent outing he was stopped by Daniel Roman in the ninth in a WBA
Bantamweight Title Eliminator bout.

The 26-year-old now comes back to the series in a must-win situation. He
has left his longtime trainer Ronnie Shields and is now training with
Shakur Stevenson’s trainer Willie “Wali” Moses.

“I am having a good camp, and I’m now training with Wali Moses,” Lopez
said. “He is helping me sharpen my boxing skills and getting me to use my
footwork. I’m happy to have another chance to be on ShoBox and I know I
need to put on a good performance. They are giving me another chance to
prove myself and I can’t let it slip away.

“I saw Dezurn’s win over Davila. He is a rough guy who has a lot of dog in
him. He brings the fight to you and he is a tough. It’ll be a good
fight. A win will propel me close to where I was. I was knocking on the
door of a title shot; now I just want to get this win, redeem myself and
move on.”

*JOSHUA GREER vs. LEROY DAVILA – Eight-Round Super Bantamweight Bout*

Greer is a 22-year-old former Chicago Golden Gloves Champion that has won
10 in a row since his lone loss, a majority decision against Stephen Fulton
Jr. in 2015. He has stopped Cristian Renteria in the fifth round and
previously unbeaten Juan Gabriel Medina via unanimous decision. Nicknamed
“Don’t Blink” after his speed and punching power, Greer returns to ShoBox
after delivering an impressive performance with KO candidate of the year
victory over James Smith.

“I was not shocked about my last KO on ShoBox,” said Greer. “I brought a
pillow with me to the ring because I knew I was going to put him to sleep.

“Davila is an average fighter, but I give him respect. I treat every
opponent as a world title fight. A win would keep moving my career in the
direction I want to go. It keeps me moving up in the rankings. It keeps
me moving as a potential superstar on my way to a world title. Don’t
Blink.”

The two-time national amateur champion and 2006 Olympic alternate Davila is
looking to rebound from his loss to Dezurn on ShoBox in April-a close fight
that could have gone either way.

“I am focused on this fight. I got good feedback from my first ShoBox
appearance, even though I didn’t get the win” said Davila. “Every fight is
the same to me, just a different opponent. I put my work in and do my best.

“Greer is a tough fighter. He looks to throw his right hand, which is
something to watch for. Other than that, I don’t know much about him. A
win will make me feel better as a fighter. I just fight the fights and I
let my team take care of the rest.”

# # #

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 Rich Gaughan producing and Rick
Phillips directing.

For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter
@ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, #ShoBox, or become a fan on Facebook at
www.Facebook.com/SHOSports.

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing
series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough.
The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and
competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects
determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 69
fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles
includes: Errol Spence Jr., Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara,
Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux,
Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy
Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi,
Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams, Errol Spence Jr. and more.

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