Friday's ShoBox Results Release & Photos: Hovhannisyan, Morales Win

SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (July 21, 2012) - In a thrilling fight in the main event of an exciting doubleheader Friday on ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME®, unbeaten Art Hovhannisyan (15-0, 8 KOs), of Glendale, Calif., turned back a determined bid by former World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight champion Miguel Acosta (29-6-2, 23 KOs), of Caracas, Venezuela, to win a hard-fought 10-round split decision.

In the co-feature at Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif., talented, unbeaten super bantamweight Roman Morales (11-0, 6 KOs), of San Ardo, Calif., registered an impressive eight-round unanimous decision over Alexis Santiago (11-3-1 5 KOs), of Las Vegas, Nev.

Hovhannisyan, making his first start in 11 months, was victorious in a hard-hitting, fast-paced scrap by the scores of 95-93 twice and 92-96. Each slugger went down one time, Acosta late in the opening round, Hovhannisyan in the fifth.

"Both (blow-by-blow announcer) Barry (Tompkins) and I said that this was the kind of fight that you could make a case for for either guy,'' ShoBox expert analyst Steve Farhood said afterward. "It was a great, interesting fight. It could have ended early (after Hovhannisyan dropped Acosta with a sweeping overhand right hand with approximately 10 seconds to go in the first round). If the knockdown had come earlier in the round it might have since Acosta seemed like he was saved by the bell.

"But, ultimately, he wasn't saved by the judges.''

Hovhannisyan, 30, was a tad surprised at the scoring. "I knew it was a little close, but I definitely thought I won,'' he said. "After I dropped him, I kept trying for the spectacular knockout. My corner was telling me between rounds to calm down, but I thought I had him for sure. He was lucky the bell rang when it did.

"I'm very happy to get the win. Acosta can still fight. I think my conditioning played a great role in my performance, but at this level you need to be good in all facets. This fight was definitely a great learning experience for me.''

The more experienced Acosta, 34, who moved well throughout and decked Hovhannisyan with an overhand right hand, thought he'd done enough to get his hand raised. "I was very sure I won,'' he said. "Although he caught me in the first round I landed more punches throughout the fight. I knew my conditioning was good and it would carry me though the fight. I felt I was robbed.''

Among those rooting on Hovhannisyan was popular women's Mixed Martial Arts superstar, Ronda Rousey, who trains at the same Glendale gym as the boxer and has the same trainer, Edmond Tarverdyan.

"Fighting is a lot less nerve wracking that just sitting and watching,'' said Rousey, who was interviewed between fights and will be the subject of the latest "ALL ACCESS" on SHOWTIME before her next fight. "I'd much rather be the one in there. But I'm really happy for Art.''

"ALL ACCESS: Ronda Rousey'' premieres on Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. Rousey defends her STRIKEFORCE bantamweight championship against Sarah Kaufman on Saturday, Aug. 18, on SHOWTIME.

Morales, 23, scored a knockdown in the third en route to winning by the scores of 80-71 twice and 79-72.  Going eight rounds for the first time in a career that began in February 2011, the switch-hitting Morales showed excellent poise and composure in his ShoBox debut, and appears to be a prospect to watch.

"I thought this was a good performance,'' he said. "I'm glad I could go eight hard rounds because that is what I expected. I got a little tired but I knew I had to keep working. I'll be back in the gym soon and I'll be ready to fight whoever my team wants me to.''

The Roger Mayweather-trained Santiago, 21, offered no excuses. "I thought it was a close fight, a tough fight. I got dropped but it was just a flash knockdown. I was never hurt. I felt good the whole time."

The Gary Shaw Productions doubleheader will re-air this week as follows:

DAY                                                                   CHANNEL

Tuesday, July 24, 10:30 p.m. ET/PT                  SHO EXTREME

  

Friday's fights will be available ON DEMAND beginning Sunday, July 21.

Tompkinscalled the action from ringside alongside Farhood. The executive producer of ShoBox is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

*photo credits: Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

ART HOVHANNISYAN VS. MIGUEL ACOSTA

  A 10-ROUND BOUT LIVE ON SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION

June 28, 2012 - Gary Shaw Productions in association with Thompson Boxing Promotions will bring another exciting night of professional boxing to the Chumash Resort Casino in Santa Ynez, Calif., on July 20, when undefeated Armenian, Art Hovhannisyan (14-0-2, 8 KOs) and Venezuelan, Miguel Acosta (29-5-2, 23 KOs) fight in the 10-round main event. The lightweight bout will be televised live on ShoBox: The New Generation (SHOWTIME® 11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

Known for having power in both hands, Hovhannisyan boosts an undefeated record and a great chin as he's never hit the canvas as a professional or amateur.  In his last fight against former world champion, Cristobal Cruz (39-13-3, 23 KOs), an accidental head butt stopped their bout after a cut over Cruz's right eye was deemed too bad to continue from the referee.  Hovhannisyan will look to rebound with a victory and move up the rankings. 

"Acosta was on his way to beating Brandon Rios until he ran out of gas," Hovhannisyan said. "Everyone knows he can fight at the championship level so when I beat him, I too will be considered viable at the championship level.  A win against Acosta gets me closer to that world title shot."

"If Hovhannisyan catches Acosta on that chin it's good night," promoter Gary Shaw said. "Acosta is very skilled and has a fun style the fans will enjoy. This is another great fight that SHOWTIME is binging to the fans.  Hovhannisyan punches hard and the fans are going to see some fireworks."

Acosta is a proven warrior that comes to fight every time he steps in the ring.  Having victories against three previously undefeated fighters gives Acosta confidence in his ability to come out victorious.

"I've been in this situation before, fighting an undefeated fighter with all his fans attending,'' Acosta said.  "What they don't realize is that I'm going to spoil the party.  Hovhannisyan is a good fighter, but he's not on that championship level.  I'm motivated to end his unbeaten streak.  The fans will see great action in this fight."

Light middleweights headline the eight-round co-main event that feature's Philadelphia's unbeaten rising star, Julian "J-Rock" Williams (9-0-1, 4 KOs) against Nevada's Said El Harrak (10-2, 5 KOs).  Williams, known for his great boxing skills, wants to let the fans know he's the real deal.

"I come to fight every time I step in the ring," Williams said. "I'm going to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity fighting on ShoBox.  I want to thank Gary Shaw for believing in me and I promise to put on a great show."

The rest of the undercard: Talented undefeated prospect, Roman Morales (10-0, 6 KOs), of San Ardo, Calif.,  faces Alexis Santiago (11-2-1 5 KOs), of Phoenix, Ariz., in an eight-round super bantamweight bout; local fan favorite Ruffino Serrano (12-4), of nearby Santa Maria, Calif., will fight for the first-ever Central Coast Title against Seattle's Rob Diezel (8-4, 3 KOs) in an eight-round featherweight contest; Chumash Resort Casino hometown hero, lightweight Francisco Santana (12-3-1, 6 KOs), of Santa Barbara, Calif., will face an opponent to be announced and undefeated lightweight Jonathan Maicelo (16-0, 9 KOs) and featherweight Roy Tapia (3-0-1, 2 KOs) are also slated to meet opponents to be announced.

Tickets priced $35, $45, $55, $70, and $85 are on sale and can be purchased at the Chumash Resort Casino Box office or online at www.startickets.com.