- 5/24/2025
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00:00Ladies and gentlemen, from Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, this is Showbox, the new generation.
00:14Ain't nobody gonna give you nothing for nothing. You gotta work for what you get.
00:20You gotta get them shots off. Left hook, right hand, both hands up, both hands up. Let's go.
00:26Go out there, focus on the job that has to be done.
00:30This is what it takes to be a champ. This is what it takes. Right here, baby.
00:33Opportunity only in ninety-one. Let's go.
00:51Tonight, from Mohegan Sun, Connecticut, it's the start of a fresh year of fights on Showbox, the new generation.
00:59We ended 2004 with a Fight of the Year candidate.
01:03Tonight, we begin our fifth calendar year of Showbox on a winter night in the Northeast.
01:09We're back with a boxing doubleheader on Showtime.
01:16Hello again, everybody. I'm Nick Charles, and welcome to a ringside seat.
01:21Our main event tonight spotlights undefeated welterweight Chris Smith.
01:25This is a guy who's made steady progress in his career.
01:30Now it's time, though, for his trial by fire against David Estrada,
01:36who's making his third Showbox appearance for good reason.
01:40Let's bring in my broadcast partner and pal Steve Farhood to talk about a matchup, Steve, full of intrigue.
01:46What a key fight this is for both men.
01:49Chris Smith's never been beaten. David Estrada couldn't care less.
01:52Nick, if attitude were talent, David Estrada would be Roy Jones Jr.
01:57Now Estrada doesn't care that Chris Smith is undefeated. Why should he?
02:01Estrada's fought undefeated guys before, including Nurhan Suleyman, who Estrada spanked right here on Showbox.
02:08Estrada should be respectful of Chris Smith, the fighter, because Chris Smith fights just like David Estrada does.
02:15He throws a lot of punches, he puts pressure on his opponent, and he fights the last round of his fights as if they were the first round.
02:22There aren't that many good young welterweights that are out there.
02:25Smith can take a huge step tonight.
02:27But in Estrada, he's fighting not only the best opponent of his career, but the toughest, too.
02:33Just how good is Chris Smith? We're going to find out tonight.
02:36Now is David Estrada a top ten welterweight?
02:39If you go by his loss on Showbox to Ishe Smith, the answer is no.
02:42But if you go by his win on Showbox against Suleyman, the answer is yes.
02:46Estrada is what he is, tough, strong, determined.
02:48And you know, any fighter who's a disciple of Angelo Dundee is going to be well-schooled.
02:53Estrada promises to take it right to Smith, push him back.
02:57He needs to start fast, never slow down, and throw 100 punches per round.
03:01Nick, if these guys combine to throw 1,000 punches, are you going to be able to keep up?
03:07Steve, that's why they pay me the big bucks. I better be.
03:10If not, I'll ask for help.
03:12Chris Smith gets it on against David Estrada.
03:15It's our 12-round welterweight main event later in the hour.
03:21We open the show with a junior middleweight bout.
03:25Unbeaten Saku Powell's back on Showbox, ready to take on Patrick One-Punch Thompson in a fight scheduled for eight.
03:33Saku Powell's a four-time amateur champion who just missed making the 2000 U.S. Olympic team.
03:39He won 147 of 156 fights before turning pro in 2000.
03:43Powell's a southpaw and still unbeaten, but when we saw him last summer on Showbox,
03:49he had to climb off a canvas to win.
03:51Powell got hit with a combination from Brady Brewer in the fifth,
03:55and went down for the first time in his pro or amateur career.
03:59He was dazed, but he survived his biggest step up in class
04:03and won a disputed eight-round split decision.
04:07After the fight, Powell fired his trainer, and since then,
04:10boxed effectively to win a 10-round unanimous decision over Showbox alum George Armenta last September.
04:1625-year-old Saku Powell is 14-0 with nine knockouts.
04:20Steve, what's behind the numbers?
04:22Well, Nick, Saku Powell has a stance advantage.
04:24Powell's a lefty.
04:26Thompson has never faced a southpaw.
04:28Big advantage, Powell.
04:30Growing pains.
04:32In his two most recent starts, Powell has gotten off the floor to win
04:34and gone 10 rounds for the first time.
04:36For a prospect, those are invaluable experiences.
04:38And defining his game, since moving up in class,
04:41Powell has scored two decision wins.
04:43The knockouts will still come,
04:45but he's clearly more of a boxer than a puncher.
04:48Well, tough Russian Aslanbak Kadzoyov was supposed to fight Powell,
04:52but pulled out several other junior middleweights,
04:55then passed on the opportunity to be on Showbox,
04:58if it meant facing an undefeated southpaw.
05:01Patrick Thompson, though, jumped at the chance,
05:04and that's why he's here tonight, even though he's never fought a left-hander.
05:06He's thirty-one and from Lincoln, Nebraska.
05:09Got a late start in boxing, turned pro two and a half years ago
05:12after thirty-three amateur bouts.
05:14Thompson's been busy, fighting mostly on the road
05:17against local prospects and house fighters.
05:20He dropped controversial decisions to Giovanni, Lorenzo,
05:23and most recently Matt Banda two months ago in Minnesota.
05:26Patrick Thompson can be aggressive, but says he can also box.
05:30Eight, three and one, with four KO's.
05:33Steve, take us behind those numbers.
05:34Well, Nick, for Thompson, it's been close, but no wins.
05:37When he's moved up, he's been competitive,
05:39despite almost always fighting on the other guy's turf.
05:42Against three opponents with a combined record of 39-0-1,
05:45he lost a split decision and a majority decision,
05:48and fought to a draw. Not bad.
05:50Playing catch-up, Thompson and Powell have about the same amount of pro experience,
05:54but at thirty-one, Thompson is six years older.
05:57He turned pro at twenty-nine, and he's been learning on the job.
06:00And consider the fact that Thompson had thirty-three amateur bouts
06:02to Powell's 156. Huge advantage, Powell.
06:06Not much pop. Thompson has only four KO's in twelve fights.
06:10More significantly, he's never stopped a fighter who had a winning record.
06:14Can he threaten Powell?
06:16And so it's Brooklyn left-hander Saku Powell
06:19looking to stay unbeaten and to win impressively tonight
06:22against upset-minded Patrick Thompson.
06:25Let's get the formal introductions now from ring announcer Joe Antonacci.
06:29Ladies and gentlemen!
06:33Welcome to the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut,
06:38where it's Showbox, the new generation.
06:42Brought to you by DiBella Entertainment
06:45in association with Turner Construction, Showtime,
06:49and by Mel's Diesel Service of Lincoln, Nebraska,
06:53owned by Mel and Judy Isley.
06:56Tonight's show is brought to you by
06:59and tonight's action is sanctioned by
07:02the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulations,
07:05Mark Brown, chairman of the Mohegan Tribe.
07:08Introducing our three judges scoring at ringside.
07:12They are George DiGabriele, Steve Epstein, and Tom Kazmarek.
07:17And our referee, Mr. Mike Ortega.
07:24Boxing fans, this bout is scheduled for ten rounds of action
07:27in the junior middleweight division.
07:30Presenting first, fighting out of the blue corner.
07:33He enters the ring wearing white trunks with red trim.
07:36He weighed in at 152.75 pounds.
07:40His record stands at eight wins, three losses, one draw,
07:44four wins by knockout.
07:46Please welcome, all the way from Lincoln, Nebraska,
07:50Patrick One-Punch Thompson!
07:57And his opponent, fighting out of the red corner.
08:00He wears black trunks with silver trim,
08:03and weighed in at 155 pounds.
08:06He enters the ring with a perfect professional record
08:09of 14 victories, no losses, nine wins by knockout.
08:13He hails from Brooklyn, New York.
08:16Please welcome, the Iron Horse, Saku Howell!
08:28Eight rounds, junior middleweights.
08:35Gentlemen, we went over the rules.
08:38I want a good, clean fight.
08:40Protect yourself at all times.
08:42Obey my commands at all times.
08:44Good luck to both of you. Touch them up.
08:46Taylor Tate, despite having only two and a half weeks' notice,
08:50Thompson came in at 152.75.
08:53The lightest he's been in five fights.
08:55As always, he's in really good shape, Nick.
08:57And a couple of keys when we look at the rules.
08:59No three knockdown rule.
09:01The three knockdown rule is in effect in this,
09:03but the standing eight count is not.
09:05Referee, you just saw Michael Ortega,
09:08the guy in the middle, third man in the ring.
09:10He is about to get him started now.
09:12This one's scheduled for eight. Saku Howell is the left-hander
09:15in black. And it's one punch.
09:18Patrick Thompson, in the white with red stripe.
09:22Backing up right now.
09:24Steve Powell, flat out to me, has to be more aggressive
09:27than the last time we saw him.
09:29He was very cautious against Brewer.
09:31Yeah, how much of that was because he got dropped
09:33in that fight?
09:35You know, he's a boxer first.
09:37And Thompson's best weapon is his right hand,
09:41which usually is a good weapon against a southpaw.
09:44Let's see if Thompson can land it.
09:46Powell definitely coming forward.
09:50Powell, the slightly bigger guy.
09:53Weighing in at 155.
09:55Thompson only 152 and 3 quarters.
09:59May not seem like a big difference,
10:01but it's Thompson boxing off the back leg now,
10:04trying to poke that body and penetrate the left-hander.
10:08And that's the key, Steve.
10:10How to solve the southpaw riddle.
10:12Oh, Nick, this guy's never fought a lefty before.
10:15Oh, he gets tagged with a beautiful counter
10:17as Powell goes right down the pike.
10:19No surprise, the power of the lefty
10:22is that Powell will land his left hand.
10:24If you've never fought a southpaw,
10:26that left hand seems like it's coming out of nowhere.
10:28You don't see it coming as an orthodox fight.
10:30Absolutely, and he's working it nicely behind the jab.
10:32He fainted there, backed up.
10:34And it looks like Thompson's trying to come forward now
10:37for the first time in this fight
10:39as he eats a quick combination from Powell,
10:42who looks as sharp as we have seen him.
10:46Anthony Thompson,
10:48good counter right hand from him.
10:50His hands are up.
10:52They admit he's got to work on that defense.
10:56So far, again, he's taking a lot of shots from Powell.
11:00He's fighting it beautifully in control, Steve,
11:03but with authority and aggression.
11:06He looks very comfortable in there.
11:08He looks very relaxed in there.
11:10And remember, the last time Powell,
11:12the one time Powell was on Showbox,
11:14remember he had a delay in the ring
11:16before the start of this fight?
11:18He really screwed him up.
11:20And that happened to the other guy as well, of course.
11:22But I don't know if he ever recovered mentally.
11:24And here he is in the corner,
11:26a place his corner doesn't want him to be.
11:30Why not use his movement and speed and mobility
11:33to confuse Thompson?
11:35They like his legs.
11:37This guy really has good wheels, Steve.
11:39Well, Powell's last fight,
11:41a very impressive boxing win over George Armenta,
11:43and that was the only complaint his corner had,
11:46stay off the ropes.
11:51What do you think of Thompson's defense?
11:53Taking a lot of shots, but adequate at least, Steve?
11:56You know, I really don't think he's just not accustomed
11:58to that left hand coming.
12:00He doesn't see it when Powell leads with his right
12:02and then follows with the left.
12:04He doesn't see it.
12:06Spirited first round as Powell cracks again
12:09with that overhand left.
12:11And again, just before the bell.
12:13For Patrick Thompson, this is a leap
12:16literally into the great unknown.
12:20I've never fought a lefty.
12:22I've sparred plenty of them.
12:24The thing you do is you stay away from the power hand.
12:27Keep that left foot outside of theirs
12:30and throw the right hands at him.
12:33Turn your right hand into your jab hand
12:36and try to hook off the jab.
12:37I'm not really a classic southpaw.
12:39I like to go both ways.
12:41Sometimes I like to move to the right.
12:43Sometimes I like to move to the left.
12:45Depends on the opponent that's in front of me.
12:48You know, and I'm just going to go out there
12:50and do what I do best.
12:52Just box and do what comes natural to me
12:55by reading my guy and taking advantage of all the openings.
13:01We just heard Sekou Powell.
13:03And he knows he's got to exploit his left hand
13:05and he knows he's got to exploit that southpaw stance.
13:08And Thompson, you get all the sparring you want,
13:10Lincoln, Nebraska and such,
13:12it's not the same thing, is it, Steve?
13:14No, hardly.
13:17No offense to Lincoln, Nebraska,
13:19but I don't think that's the sparring capital of the country.
13:26Thompson, though, claims he's always in condition.
13:31Stays in the gym.
13:33And here he comes.
13:35Really pressing forward
13:37as he accelerates his attack.
13:39And now it's Powell
13:41just brushing the ropes with his back.
13:43Content to battle back from the corner.
13:47Now middle of the ring for him.
13:49Powell in black.
13:51Thompson, once again, somewhat in retreat,
13:53trying to set up.
13:55And Powell trying to knock him off his pins
13:57before he can get set.
13:59Thompson's landed two nice right hands this round.
14:01Two more than he landed in the first round.
14:03Left hand seemed to have certainly
14:05hit Thompson flush,
14:07whether it stunned him or not.
14:09He's not showing any evidence
14:11of having his world rock.
14:13Now his gloves are off,
14:15but he's trying to penetrate
14:17and find that opening.
14:19And Powell finally with a body shot
14:21to give Thompson something else to worry about.
14:23You know, Powell will land some big shots,
14:26maybe even score a knockdown or a knockout
14:28if he puts his punches together.
14:30If he starts looking for one left hand,
14:31it won't come.
14:33That's a good point.
14:35I already love his aggression
14:37compared to the last time we saw him again.
14:39He was so cautious against Grady Brewer.
14:43Now he knows he had ten rounds
14:45under his belt against Armentat.
14:47As you said, he boxed beautifully in that one.
14:49But here he comes.
14:51He knows he's got to win
14:53in Dazzling Fashion State.
14:55There's no question about it.
14:57Guys, 8-3-1.
14:59I mean, give Thompson credit,
15:01because if Powell was set
15:03for the biggest fight of his life
15:05against Kadzoev and fell out
15:07and he's fighting a sub,
15:09he doesn't want to score
15:11his third consecutive decision win.
15:13So in terms of mind games,
15:15how do you avoid a letdown?
15:17Certainly you'd suffer one.
15:19He knew Kadzoev would be purportedly
15:21a bigger fight, maybe put him on the map.
15:23But if you don't look good in this one,
15:25you fall off the map as well.
15:27Nick, you know, motivation comes easy,
15:29I think, for Powell,
15:31and I think he's got the motivation right there.
15:33Well, he looks like it now.
15:35Plenty of drive from Sakuraba
15:37as he hammers a charging Thompson.
15:39So he gets to nail Thompson
15:41while he's reaching.
15:43But I got to give Thompson credit.
15:45Steve, he's game as they come.
15:47He's coming forward, really into this fight,
15:49not holding on at all,
15:51and really forcing Sakuraba to fight.
15:53Oh, I think if Thompson gets backed up,
15:55he has no chance of winning.
15:57Trying that jab against the left hander.
15:59Didn't want to abandon it.
16:01Talked about moving to his left
16:03away from Powell's power.
16:05And that's what he's doing right now,
16:07doubling the jab for a change
16:09as we close out round two
16:11and Powell scores with an exchange.
16:13Time!
16:21You're doing OK.
16:23A lot better that round, OK?
16:25Really.
16:27A lot better that round, OK?
16:28But, hey, you got to keep him moving, though.
16:30OK?
16:32Keep him moving so he can't set up on you.
16:34All right?
16:36OK, 3-D.
16:39Again.
16:42See, he's trying to pick you now.
16:44See what I mean?
16:46Like most southpaws,
16:48Powell's left hand is his big shot.
16:50The ropes might have kept Thompson up there.
16:52Another look at the same punch.
16:54Interesting that Powell led with a hook
16:56instead of a jab.
16:58Either way, the left hand landed flush.
17:04OK.
17:06All right.
17:08Pretty relaxed corner.
17:10Midge Miner is the man.
17:12He and Thompson,
17:14far from any hop entourage.
17:16It's a duo and that's it.
17:18We head to the third.
17:20This is scheduled for eight,
17:22so both men realize they had to start fast.
17:24Thompson so used to fighting
17:26the so-called house fighter
17:28and once again he finds himself
17:30a fast underdog.
17:32A crisp exchange
17:34as Powell lands,
17:36showing that hand speed.
17:38Thompson trying to read him,
17:40trying to see,
17:42but he's got to get off
17:44and not wait, Steve.
17:46Powell does have fast hands.
17:48There's no doubt about it.
17:50And when you see it,
17:52when he punches in combination.
17:54Right there.
17:55And he's been punching in combination all night.
17:56And that's what he does
17:58as he led with that uppercut to the jaw.
18:01So a right lead uppercut
18:03from Powell.
18:05Now he's moving to his left as he said.
18:07He's unconventional in that sense.
18:09Not always moving to the right
18:11the way a lot of lefties do.
18:13There's that left hand,
18:15that right hand low though, Steve.
18:17We talked about that against Brewer.
18:19Don't hit behind the head.
18:21Very creative offensively so far, Powell.
18:23You know what, Nick?
18:24You might as well chop off the right hands.
18:26They don't use them.
18:28Powell is using his right hand, hooks.
18:30Uppercut.
18:32And Thompson slipped a little bit there.
18:34Don't think it was from a punch,
18:36but he's...
18:38on the receiving end of Moore
18:40as Powell is outworking him badly in this round.
18:43Halfway through the third,
18:45scheduling 4-8
18:47here in Uncasville, Connecticut
18:49here at Mohegan Sun
18:51on a cold winter night.
18:53Sharp left hand from Powell.
18:58Body looks open
19:00as Thompson has his gloves high
19:02and Powell is looking that way.
19:06Haven't seen much work to the body
19:08by either guy, really.
19:10Powell probing there now.
19:17Thompson has been down
19:19one time in his career,
19:20if you're wondering about his chin.
19:22Powell down one time as well.
19:24That was on Showbox.
19:28Oh.
19:30Punching at once.
19:32Thompson not being deterred.
19:34He took a shot to land one.
19:36Now going to Powell's body
19:38with that right lead.
19:41Powell gets on the jab again.
19:44Lead left hand.
19:46And, Nick, you look for growth in fighters.
19:48That's why we have repeat fighters
19:50in this fight.
19:52You've got to admit,
19:54Powell looks a lot more relaxed
19:56than he did in Laughlin, Nevada.
19:58Now, in that fight,
20:00he got dropped by Grady Brewer,
20:02who was a better fighter than Thompson.
20:04But nonetheless,
20:06Powell's showing why he's a prospect.
20:08Putting his punches together.
20:10Good hand speed, nice movement.
20:12He's controlling the fight.
20:14Thompson putting his shots together now.
20:16He's got Powell in retreat,
20:18but certainly not unglued
20:20when it comes to the right.
20:22It's OK.
20:24You remember when the guy
20:26come with your combination?
20:28The teacher give me the hook.
20:30Because if you're working hook,
20:32you remember to have more combination.
20:34Not just say one, two, three.
20:36More, more.
20:38Yeah, fast one.
20:40You forget the body.
20:42The guy coming with the right hand.
20:44Fast, touching the body.
20:46OK? You good?
20:48OK, listen, Sekou.
20:50The hook is the key, OK?
20:52Only throw the uppercut
20:54when he comes to you, OK?
20:56But the hook is the key.
20:58All right?
21:07That's Francisco Guzman,
21:09now the head trainer for Sekou Powell.
21:12Gone is Angel Rivera,
21:14but in the corner, Al Mitchell,
21:16who is an amateur,
21:17a tremendous amateur career as a coach,
21:19has been with Powell
21:21for nearly 10 years, Steve.
21:23Yeah, Mitchell comes in
21:25from Michigan for the fights.
21:27Al Mitchell worked with Vernon Forrest
21:29and he's an Olympic, U.S. Olympic coach.
21:31But the change in trainers to Guzman,
21:33a good move because the previous trainer
21:35was more of a personal trainer,
21:37a conditioner.
21:39But Francisco Guzman,
21:41he's worked with Yolan Guzman,
21:43world champion at 122 pounds,
21:45more of a pro trainer.
21:47Well, Thompson has just gotten
21:49into gear, Steve,
21:51with that right hand to the body.
21:53And man, this guy is difficult
21:55to discourage.
21:57Taking a lot of shots,
21:59but really wants to make this a brawl.
22:01Just keep punching,
22:03and not get lucky,
22:05but maybe tag Powell
22:07on that second and third shot.
22:09But he's got to let his hands go,
22:11and that was Guzman's essential instructions
22:13to Powell between rounds.
22:15Let your hands fly,
22:17let your hands fly.
22:26You know, I like the fact
22:28that Thompson hasn't abandoned the jab.
22:30It's not been terribly effective,
22:32but he is trying to come in
22:34behind that against the lefty.
22:36I'm not touching that, Nick,
22:38because we've had arguments,
22:40and arguments and arguments
22:42about the jab against the southpaw.
22:44Hey, I admit, sometimes it works,
22:45but sometimes it doesn't.
22:49Maybe if he feints a little more
22:51coming in, he could get Powell
22:53to come in and maybe counter him
22:55with that right hand.
22:57That's, you got it, that's the ticket.
22:59Thompson has to land the right hand.
23:01That's clear.
23:03He has a better chance of doing it
23:05if Powell is moving his left hand
23:07to clear a path to the chin.
23:12Yeah, Powell's landed his best shot.
23:14Powell very much in control,
23:16in the black.
23:19Just pot-shotting Thompson
23:21on the way in.
23:26Thompson's nose is bloodied now.
23:28He's getting busted up, Nick.
23:30He's swelling.
23:32He's taking a lot of shots
23:34right in the middle of the face,
23:35hard shots.
23:37Yeah, Powell, hard shots the key, Steve.
23:39I agree with you.
23:41Really punching with conviction.
23:43He's got a good snap on his shots.
23:46And Powell on showbox
23:48when he fought Brady Brewer.
23:50He looked tentative.
23:52There's a big left hand.
23:54Oh, as solid as they come.
23:56His next fight, his last fight,
23:58he fought George Amento,
24:00and he boxed his way,
24:02and he didn't show a lot of power.
24:04He's doing, really combining
24:06his boxing and the power punching
24:08tonight much better.
24:10He's a good mover, isn't he?
24:11Hit the end of the fourth,
24:13scheduled for eight.
24:15Time.
24:22It's an all-junior welterweight card
24:24on the next new installment
24:26of Showbox The New Generation.
24:28First up, 18-1 Oscar Diaz
24:30against 16-1-1 Al Speedy Gonzalez.
24:33Then, undefeated professional
24:35and former U.S. Olympian David Diaz
24:37takes on once-beaten Kendall Holt.
24:39Watch promising prospects
24:41and tension on Showbox
24:43The New Generation,
24:45Friday, February 4th,
24:47at 11 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.
24:56Okay.
24:58You let him get off first on you.
25:00Give him a chance to set up.
25:02Okay? How you feel?
25:04Okay.
25:06When he throw that jab,
25:08throw your hook. Okay?
25:09Throw your hook.
25:12Got it.
25:16Steve Thompson definitely worse for wear here
25:19halfway through, but what's he doing best?
25:22I think you said it earlier in the fight.
25:24He's not getting discouraged.
25:26Yeah, he's determined.
25:28He's determined to come forward.
25:30Hey, he's not gonna outbox Akupo.
25:32He needs to knock him out or knock him down a couple of times.
25:34The only way he's gonna do that
25:36is if he's in punching range,
25:37if he's still in the fight,
25:39if he gets lucky or gets good with a big right hand,
25:41he'll at least be in position to land it.
25:44He's got more power in there.
25:46I know that Powell's obviously landed more blows.
25:48Oh! That was a slip.
25:50Yeah.
25:52No knockdown.
25:54No knockdown.
25:56Good call.
25:58That looked like a broad jump, didn't it?
26:00Like a long jump.
26:05Boy, back comes Thompson.
26:07Body attack.
26:09Mitch Miner, his trainer,
26:11wants him to throw that left hook as a counter.
26:14There it was.
26:16At least he fired there behind the right hand.
26:19Oh! Great, great.
26:21Stay in the corner.
26:23No knockdown. No knockdown.
26:26Both men on the canvas,
26:28but no knockdowns here in the fifth.
26:30Well, the lead feet,
26:32the lead foot of each fighter is, of course,
26:34they're on top of each other.
26:35They step on each other's toes quite a bit.
26:37Watch your feet, guys. Watch your feet.
26:39Exactly, as Mike Ortega just called it, Steve.
26:41It's inevitable, Nick.
26:43There's nothing you can do about it.
26:46Oh, nice shot and a button from Powell.
26:48Now he backs up, resets.
26:51Thompson trying to load up here.
26:54And you see what a difference amateur experience.
26:57You know, I know the pro game is different,
26:59but Powell is just a little sharper with his punches,
27:01and Thompson's trying.
27:03The determination is there,
27:05but he doesn't seem to really know
27:07how to set up his shots or counterpunch.
27:09When he wings his shots, first of all,
27:11they're not as straight and crisp as Powell's,
27:13and they don't seem to be coming at the right time,
27:15and that's why he's not landing them far.
27:17Great point.
27:19Also, I haven't seen Thompson fight effectively inside.
27:23And Powell deserves some of the credit for that, Nick,
27:25because I don't think Powell wants to fight inside.
27:27So he's just creating...
27:29He's setting the distance, right?
27:31Controlling range?
27:33Yeah. It's easy to do if you move your feet.
27:35He's trying to sucker Thompson in
27:37by dropping that lead hand.
27:40And as Thompson plunges forward,
27:42he leaps with the other left hand.
27:45All along the ropes,
27:47here's Thompson's best opportunity.
27:50Now we'll see if he can mug him at all.
27:53Body him around.
27:55Not a lot of steam on those punches
27:57as Powell drives him off
27:59with a flurry of his own.
28:01Crowd getting into it big in the fifth.
28:04Thompson starting to wing shots.
28:09Time.
28:19Pat, next time,
28:21you got to do what you got to do.
28:24All right.
28:26Okay. Got you.
28:28All right.
28:30All right.
28:31Okay. Got you.
28:33Deep breath.
28:35Look here.
28:37When he jabs, I want you throwing that hook.
28:39Okay?
28:41And you got to...
28:43You got to feint more.
28:45You got to feint more
28:47and then punch behind the feints.
28:49Okay? Here.
28:51Action from round five.
28:53Watch the feet. Whoa!
28:55You saw Thompson's left foot
28:57was totally on top of Powell's right.
28:59See it again.
29:02And then later in the round,
29:04it happens again.
29:06That time the knee's locked.
29:08You know, it's really amazing, Nick,
29:10it doesn't happen more often
29:12with southpaws and right-handers.
29:14What do you think of that strategy, Steve,
29:16in terms of basically Midge Miner wants...
29:18He wants Patrick Thompson to wait
29:21and let Powell commit and counter.
29:23He's... How do you...
29:25I mean, through five rounds,
29:27Thompson knows he can't be ahead.
29:29No, it's a shutout for Powell.
29:31The counterpunch idea is actually,
29:33I think, a pretty good idea.
29:35But I wouldn't counter with the left hook.
29:37I'd counter with the right hand,
29:39counter Powell's left hand.
29:41Right.
29:43Powell getting off fast again.
29:45Pulled his punch there.
29:47His shots have been straight up the middle,
29:49as opposed to, as you mentioned,
29:51Patrick Thompson's looping blows.
29:54See Powell, only two and two.
29:56But neither fighter has any KOs
29:58in fights six rounds or more.
30:01We're in round six.
30:03The graphic would suggest we're going eight.
30:13See Powell looking to counter with the left hand.
30:15You can just see, there it is.
30:17Yeah. Very quick.
30:19As he puts his hands into play,
30:21trying to lure Thompson forward
30:23and nail him as he comes forward.
30:26And now when Thompson refuses to take the lead,
30:29Powell is content.
30:31He'll stick that jab in his face.
30:33And now, three-punch combination.
30:39Powell, left hand low.
30:41Thompson can't track him down.
30:45Patrick Thompson, just his 13th professional fight.
30:49But Powell in for only the 15th time in his career.
30:53Wrapped with a right hand is Thompson.
30:56Back comes Powell as he lets the hands go.
30:59And Thompson looks a little hurt here.
31:01He's got to get back in here, Steve.
31:03Best punch of the fight for Powell.
31:05Interesting it was a right hook.
31:07He should hold on, it seems.
31:09But I'm glad he's really come to fight.
31:12But Thompson going for broke now.
31:17Powell content...
31:21to cover up.
31:24Under a minute to go here in the sixth.
31:27Thompson's all heart.
31:29You can see his feet, his legs are not
31:31coming forward.
31:35Every step he takes, Nick, his calves,
31:37his legs are shaking.
31:39He's just not right. He's still hurt.
31:41And look at him coming forward.
31:43He doesn't know any other way.
31:45Oh, Powell rifles that uppercut.
31:47Now sticks the jab.
31:52Powell just looking to pick his shots now.
31:55There's the right hook.
31:57Once, twice, elusive measures from Powell.
31:59And now he's on the attack again.
32:02He's able to punch when he wants, Steve,
32:04and rest when he wants.
32:06Very focused.
32:08Powell is very focused, Nick.
32:17Time.
32:20Duck.
32:22Take a look at him.
32:29Uh-huh.
32:31Come on.
32:33Let me get the bucket in, please.
32:37You okay?
32:38You all right?
32:41Hey.
32:44How you feeling?
32:46You okay?
32:47All right. Breathe in.
32:49Breathe in.
32:51You bring the water?
32:55No.
32:58Can't operate with you in my way.
32:59Can't operate with you in my way.
33:01Action from round six.
33:03All fight long, Powell's been landing
33:05in combination.
33:07You don't see one punch from him.
33:09One, two, three.
33:11And the third shot, the right hook, is what landed.
33:13Look at the same.
33:15That was the best punch of the fight.
33:17You see Thompson rocking on his legs there.
33:19Again, combinations.
33:21Left uppercut, and now they all come
33:23because Powell knows he has his man hurt.
33:25Nothing coming back from Patrick Thompson.
33:27Let's go, Bucks.
33:29Well, that was a lot of criticism.
33:31I thought Powell should have just jumped all over him.
33:33It seemed that Thompson was very much dazed.
33:36He backed off and reset.
33:38Yeah, that was a chance for Powell to stop him.
33:40He may still do that.
33:42He's landed flush right here.
33:44For five rounds, it was a boxing match.
33:46It was a boxing lesson.
33:48In round six, it started turning into a beating.
33:54Thompson's never stopped trying,
33:56but he's getting outclassed here
33:57by Sikul, Powell, and Black.
33:59Powell looking for openings,
34:01ripping those shots, avoiding the return fire.
34:07Thompson bloodied.
34:14Powell slips out of danger.
34:16And I'll tell you, Nick, you really think about it.
34:18Thompson is getting better,
34:20presumably because he's more experienced,
34:22didn't have the amateur background.
34:24The three toughest guys he fought,
34:25Matt Vander, Dennis Sharp, Giovanni Lorenzo,
34:28he was competitive with all of them.
34:30He really hasn't been competitive in this fight.
34:32And that's definitely a big plus
34:34when you consider where Sikul, Powell is as a prospect.
34:37Good point.
34:39And that's how we would assess his performance.
34:44You don't need knockouts to look impressive.
34:46Sure, it's more dazzling.
34:48But I think Powell has sparkled so far.
34:51Cracking with that lead left hand.
34:52Man, Thompson continues to plow ahead.
34:57Trying to feint his way in,
34:59not really throwing Powell off stride in the least.
35:04Well, now the question,
35:06really the only question left in this fight,
35:08can Powell score a stoppage?
35:10It would be nice, because he's had
35:12two consecutive decision wins.
35:14He's beating him up.
35:16He doesn't have to stop him, but
35:18I'm sure he'd like to.
35:23Oh, waiting, waiting, searching.
35:26Finding a home with that left again.
35:29Boy, he's been drilling his shots.
35:31Straight, crisp.
35:34Good, accurate punching from Sikul, Powell.
35:39And I think Powell has had so much success
35:41in accurately punching at the face and head,
35:44that he hasn't really used much of a body attack,
35:46either.
35:48And I think that's a big plus.
35:49And maybe that's something that
35:51if you're going to find the criticism,
35:53and it's hard, he's won every round,
35:55but if you're going to find the criticism,
35:57I would like to have seen a little bit more
35:59body work from Powell.
36:02Boy, he's getting it done.
36:04An almost complete performance.
36:11Thompson a little tired,
36:13gets driven back with that straight left.
36:15But here he comes fighting back
36:16with a charge of his own.
36:18Time.
36:21One round to go here at Mohegan Sun.
36:27It's OK, they're coming to you.
36:29Hey, put it in his ear.
36:31Go ahead, get in.
36:40Yeah, it's the last round.
36:42You ain't coherent.
36:43OK.
36:45I hope you feel good on your left.
36:47All right.
36:49Get some water.
36:51Put me next to you, OK?
36:53That's the reason I didn't give you the school.
36:55You're in shape.
36:57This is your last round.
36:59Put it together.
37:01The only reason he's in this world
37:03is because you're not doing the job.
37:05Stop.
37:07You're giving too much love.
37:09Give me 3D.
37:11Mouthpiece.
37:13Let it loose.
37:16Last round.
37:18Last round.
37:21Steve, I just love what Al Mitchell
37:23just told Suku Powell.
37:25The only reason this guy's basically still around,
37:27you're giving him too much respect.
37:29I like it. Go for it.
37:31I'm sure he's got a 7-0 lead.
37:33He's gonna win this fight by decision, hands down.
37:35But I like that.
37:37Don't just back off and look OK
37:39and not take any chances.
37:43Certainly, again, as I always say,
37:45don't fight stupid.
37:47But that's a slip.
37:49Blood streaming from the nose of Thompson.
37:51No knockdown.
37:53Let's go.
37:55Let's go.
37:57Boy, Thompson just tons of heart.
37:59But, Nick, your point is a good one
38:01because Powell doesn't only have to win.
38:03He's a young fighter.
38:05You have to sell yourself.
38:07When you're an older fighter,
38:09winning is all it's about.
38:11When you're a young fighter,
38:13winning is all it's about.
38:15And that last fight on Showbox
38:17stuck in his craw.
38:19There's no doubt he took the criticism
38:21with a lot of class, Powell,
38:23but it definitely stung.
38:25And he knows it.
38:27He knew he had to step it up here tonight.
38:29And he's done it.
38:31And he's not the first fighter on Showbox
38:33who did not look great his first time on the air
38:36and then came back and looked much better.
38:38Of course, Kermit Cintron comes to mind.
38:40David Estrada.
38:41That's a good point.
38:43So sometimes you give a guy a second chance
38:45and you see the real fighter.
38:47Oh, looping left lands from Powell.
38:49Now he strings the combinations together.
38:51Thompson battling back,
38:53but that left eye is beginning to close.
38:55Halfway through this final round
38:57as Powell zeros in on a waiting target.
39:02And even though it's the eighth and final round,
39:04the body shot or two would bring the guard down,
39:06make it easier for Powell to land the money shot.
39:08That's a good point.
39:10Man, I give Thompson credit.
39:12He's got what I always call hard bark on him,
39:14doesn't he, Steve?
39:16Tough guy.
39:18Oh, yeah.
39:20Too hard for his own good, huh?
39:22Yeah.
39:24One minute now.
39:26Mitchell just barked.
39:28He got a minute left.
39:30Just jab and box.
39:32And don't take any chances.
39:34But I hope that's not the case.
39:36Powell looking for openings.
39:37Thompson not willing to oblige.
39:39He walked into a shot there.
39:43Patrick Thompson,
39:45bloodied and clearly beaten here
39:48as Powell puts that combination together
39:51and pokes it home once again.
39:54Thompson's face is a hideous mask of blood
39:58and Powell looks like he's just jogged a mile
40:01in a health club in Brooklyn.
40:03I mean, he looks like he hasn't been hit once.
40:06And Nick Powell's a Yankee fan,
40:08so how bad?
40:10You know, you've got to love him just a little bit.
40:12Just because somebody's sitting next to him,
40:14he's a Yankee fan.
40:16Step back.
40:18Once again, make it clear.
40:20Patrick Thompson took this fight
40:22on relatively short notice.
40:24Knew that he didn't have the experience by any means.
40:27Knew that he was the older fighter
40:29and that there's no time to wait.
40:31And if he doesn't,
40:32you've got to take a shot.
40:34And he took a huge risk taking on this man,
40:36Sekou Powell,
40:38who took him to school tonight.
40:40Just a matter of outclassing him
40:42as he flat out pitched a shutout in this, Steve.
40:46I think it would be pretty clear to say.
40:54That's a warrior.
40:57I think Powell appreciated Thompson's effort.
40:59How could you not at one Friday to the other?
41:01No question.
41:03Take a run.
41:05Take a breather.
41:06Just have a seat.
41:08Just have a seat for a second, all right?
41:10I'm all right, pal.
41:14Never just another night at the office in boxing,
41:17is it, Steve?
41:19There's no casual Fridays, are there?
41:21No.
41:24Excellent.
41:26Excellent.
41:28Excellent.
41:30Let's get this stuff off.
41:32You've got to take, you've got to stand.
41:34Yeah, they like the performance
41:36in the corner of Sekou Powell.
41:38I saw the weights, Dave.
41:408-0 on my card, 80-72.
41:42Very effective punching.
41:44Good movement.
41:46We've got another one on the belt.
41:49Yeah.
41:51Brownsville, Brooklyn, stand up.
41:53Stand up.
41:55Stand up for my team, please.
41:57Elias Ford, Al Mitchell,
41:59Randall Ramirez,
42:01Chico,
42:03Murda Guzman, everybody.
42:05Much love.
42:06Eli Skelly, much love.
42:08Sekou Powell, Brooklyn, New York,
42:09shines tonight, Steve.
42:11And all the highlights in this fight
42:12were Sekou Powell.
42:14Watch, every time he lands a shot,
42:15a good shot,
42:16it's in combination.
42:171-2 right there.
42:181-2.
42:19All the punches, too.
42:21Not just the straight right
42:22and the straight left,
42:23but uppercuts,
42:25right hooks,
42:26and not that many southpaws
42:28have that big array of punches.
42:31And all those punches,
42:32well, the effect of them,
42:34all you gotta do is look at Thompson's face
42:36and it tells you all you need to know
42:37about this fight.
42:39But Joe Antonacci
42:40makes this one official now.
42:42Boxing fans,
42:44after eight rounds of action,
42:46we go to the judges' scorecard.
42:49Judge George D. Gabriel
42:51seized about 79-73.
42:54Judge Tom Kazmarek
42:56seized about 80-71.
42:59And Judge Steve Epstein
43:01seized about 80-72.
43:04For your winner,
43:06by unanimous decision,
43:08the Iron Horse,
43:10Sekou Powell!
43:15No surprises there,
43:17as Sekou Powell
43:19fought with the kind of fire
43:21we were waiting to see here on Showbox.
43:24He was aggressive.
43:26He created openings.
43:29He kept the heat on.
43:31And he pitched
43:32a clear shutout.
43:36Excellent performance by Powell.
43:38A junior middleweight, Nick,
43:39that we want to see again
43:40and we want to see against
43:41better opposition.
43:52Showbox comes to you tonight
43:53from Mohegan Sun in Connecticut,
43:54where our main event is next.
43:58Undefeated Chris Smith
43:59battles David Estrada
44:01in a twelve-round welterweight bout.
44:04It's cold outside here,
44:05but inside the heat is on
44:07for two welterweights,
44:08each in the most crucial fight
44:10of his career.
44:17But first, we want to remind you
44:18that Showtime Championship Boxing
44:202005 premiere is Saturday night,
44:22February 5th,
44:23when welterweight champion
44:24Corey Spinks
44:25puts his three major titles
44:26on the line in the rematch
44:27with top contender Zab Judah.
44:29For Spinks,
44:30his bloodlines might indicate
44:31he was meant to be a champion,
44:33but his battle to the top
44:34has still been amazing.
44:36Al Bernstein has more
44:37with the king of the
44:38welterweight division.
44:42Corey, today was an interesting day.
44:45You got to go back to the school
44:47where you went to high school.
44:48It was a wonderful experience.
44:49Well, I always have fun
44:51when I go back
44:52to visit my old high school.
44:54I try to show my face there
44:56like at least once every month
44:59or something like that.
45:00When we were walking
45:01on the block where you grew up
45:03and looking at your house,
45:05how did that make you feel?
45:06Oh, it made me feel great.
45:08I thought about the good
45:09and the bad times
45:10that I had in that house
45:11and what I've been through
45:14to get to this point.
45:16The area we was in
45:18was one of the roughest areas
45:20in St. Louis.
45:22It was all about survival.
45:26You had a dad who,
45:28while he was an absentee dad,
45:30had a famous name,
45:31and you were walking around
45:32with people understanding
45:34that that was your dad.
45:35Did that make life
45:36more difficult for you
45:37at the time in some ways?
45:38Some people would
45:39try to test you,
45:40but I didn't get many of those.
45:43I did have street fights,
45:46but other than that,
45:48it was fine.
45:49How'd you build
45:50the relationship back
45:51with your dad?
45:52How much had to come
45:54from inside you to say,
45:55okay, I want to do this,
45:57and how much came from him?
45:59He started to pay
46:01more attention
46:02and be in my life
46:04a little more,
46:05so I just opened
46:06my heart to him.
46:08We was some jokesters,
46:10and he liked to make people laugh,
46:12and that's what I do.
46:14Is there anything you'll do
46:15differently in this fight
46:16from the last one
46:17against Judah?
46:18Well, you know,
46:19I'll stick to what I do
46:20in this boxing.
46:21I know what I have to do.
46:22I have to go in there calm,
46:24just like I go into
46:25any other fight,
46:26calm and ready
46:27to handle my business.
46:29Will Spinks hold on
46:30to his title,
46:31or can Judah
46:32finally come through
46:33in a high-stakes showdown?
46:34Find out February 5th
46:35at 9 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.
46:37The first Saturday
46:38of every month
46:39is America's Fight Night
46:40on Showtime.
46:43And fight fans will know
46:44about this late breaking news
46:46in boxing.
46:47The Jose Luis Castillo-Chico
46:49Corrales fight
46:50scheduled for March 5th
46:51on Showtime
46:52is off for now
46:54because of infighting
46:55in the Corrales camp.
46:57Castillo will look
46:58to meet Julio Diaz instead
47:00on that card
47:01March 5th on Showtime.
47:02Corrales now
47:03will probably not have
47:05a meaningful fight
47:06until September or October.
47:08You'll remember
47:09his last fight
47:10was last summer
47:11when he TKO'd
47:12Aselino Fridas.
47:13So Corrales-Castillo
47:15off for now.
47:16Castillo looking
47:17for Julio Diaz
47:18as his new opponent
47:20March 5th on Showtime.
47:22But back to the moment at hand.
47:24It's a Friday night
47:25here on Showtime
47:27as we come to you
47:28from Mohegan Sun
47:30in Connecticut.
47:37Cold, crisp night outside.
47:41Our first show of 2005.
47:45And it's main event time
47:46on Showbox.
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