ShoBox returns to Showtime on Jan. 20, kicks off 20th anniversary year

The 20th anniversary year of ShoBox: The New Generation will begin on Wednesday, Jan. 20, with a four-fight (knock on wood!) lineup set to take place at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.

The main event will be a 10-round junior middleweight bout between Puerto Rico’s Patrick Cora (10-0, 7 KO) and Uzbekistan’s Hurshidbek Normatov (10-0, 3 KO), who is pictured up top on the article. The 28-year-old Normatov was a good amateur and has the experience edge here, while Cora, 21, looks like the more explosive, higher-ceiling fighter, at least on paper.

Also set for action:

• 28-year-old Colombian Yeis Gabriel Solano (15-0, 10 KO) takes on Mykquan Williams (15-0-1, 7 KO), a 22-year-old from Connecticut you may have seen going to a draw with Tre’Sean Wiggins in Oct. 2019, as he’s been featured on DiBella’s Broadway Boxing series. That’ll be eight rounds at junior welterweight.
• 22-year-old Panamanian Jose Nunez (11-0-1, 4 KO) will face 29-year-old Armenian Aram Avagyan (10-0-1, 4 KO). Avagyan pulled a minor upset over Francisco Esparza on the Canelo-Jacobs card in May 2019, coming off the canvas in the second round to win a 10-round decision. That one’s set for eight rounds in the featherweight division.
• 23-year-old featherweight Martino Jules (10-0, 2 KO) will meet 26-year-old Puerto Rican Pedro Marquez Medina (12-1, 8 KO) in another eight-round featherweight clash.