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Tonight's edition of ShoBox: The New Generation is live at 11 p.m. EDT on Showtime from the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, Calif., with a double-header featuring a former lightweight titlist in the main event.
Miguel Acosta (29-5-2, 23 KO) will look to get his career back on track against prospect Art Hovhannisyan (14-0-2, 8 KO) in the main event, the sort of crossroads fight that ShoBox does well. Acosta, 34, is probably best-known to most U.S. fans for his loss to Brandon Rios in February 2011, and he also lost to Richard Abril in his last bout, which came in October 2011. The slick Venezuelan is in the back end of his career, but could still be very dangerous tonight.
Hovhannisyan, 30, scored a win last year over hyped prospect Archie Ray Marquez, dominating and putting Marquez down three times before knocking him out in the sixth. It was an eye-opener win, and put Hovhannisyan on a lot of "fighters to watch" lists. He hasn't fought in 11 months, though, since a technical draw against Cristobal Cruz in August of last year.
(Photo by Tom Casino/Showtime)
In the co-feature, 20-year-old super bantamweight Roman Morales (10-0, 6 KO) will be showcased (hopefully) against Alexis Santiago (11-2-1, 5 KO). Morales has been impressive thus far as a pro, and a lot of folks think he's got high-end potential. Santiago, 21, has losses to Randy Caballero and journeyman Evaristo Primero, but has not been stopped.
We'll be here with live coverage of ShoBox immediately following ESPN Friday Night Fights. Join us for the always-fun double-shot of Friday night boxing.