Browne, Gausha, Spence, Warren & Breazeale All Making Professional Debuts
They proudly represented the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games in London this past summer and now it’s time for five of the finest American amateur boxers-Dominic Breazeale, Marcus Browne, Terrell Gausha, Errol Spence and Rau’shee Warren-to begin their quest for gold as professionals. On Friday, Nov. 9, SHOWTIME will present a special edition of ShoBox: The Next Generation featuring their professional debuts from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif.
In the evening’s main event, unbeaten featherweight contender and 2008 United States Olympian Gary Russell Jr. will battle Vyacheslav Gusev in a 10 round fight.
As a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, top featherweight contender Gary Russell Jr. (20-0, 12 KO’s) knows what it’s like to be in the shoes of the 2012 Olympians and he’s a shining example of what talent, desire and determination can achieve once you enter the professional game. Unbeaten and one of the premier 126-pound fighters in the game, the 24-year-old southpaw from Capitol Heights, Maryland was in top form in his last fight, a June stoppage of Christopher Perez. Now, he is closing in on a world title shot and looking to join the impressive fraternity of boxers, some 44 and counting, who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to win world titles.
“The ShoBox series has introduced our audience to the new generation of world champions throughout its 10-year history,” said Gordon Hall, Executive Producer ShoBox and Vice President of Production, SHOWTIME Sports. “We are proud to showcase these young fighters as they begin their journey from prospects to contender.
“With an Olympian turned prospect and now moving toward contender status in Gary Russell, Jr.,” Hall continued. “these Olympians need look no further than the main event to see the path that they must take.”
Prokopyevsk, Russia’s Vyacheslav Gusev (20-2, 5 KO’s) is a nine year professional who has started to fulfill his world championship potential in the ring. A decorated competitor with several regional titles to his name, the 26-year-old began making his mark in 2010 as he began a four-fight winning streak that he will bring into the ring with him on November 9. In his most recent fight on April 30, he rose from the canvas to decision Padjai Yongyuthgym and he plans on handing Russell his first defeat this fall.
A former quarterback for the University of Northern Colorado, 27-year-old Dominic Breazeale only began boxing three and a half years ago, but the 6-foot-6 heavyweight made an immediate impact, winning a U.S. national championship and earning a spot on the 2012 Olympic team. Opting to stay with the sweet science instead of returning to football, Breazeale has the raw talent and determination to give the United States a serious heavyweight threat in the coming years.
Three-time New York Golden Gloves, 2012 national and 2010 PAL champion Marcus Browne is a versatile light heavyweight southpaw who learned his craft in Staten Island, New York under the tutelage of Gary Stark Sr. and Teddy Atlas. Able to box or bang, the affable 21-year-old has the skill and charisma to make plenty of noise in the 175-pound division.
Cleveland’s Terrell Gausha was a two-time U.S. national champion before earning his spot on Team U.S.A. at the London Games. Gausha defeated Armenia’s Andranik Hakobyan by referee stoppage in his first Olympic fight. Now taking his talents to the professional game, the 24-year-old middleweight is seen as one of the most promising young fighters to emerge from the 2012 games.
Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, 22-year-old Errol Spence began boxing at the age of 15, and he won three consecutive U.S. amateur championships before securing a spot in the London Olympics, where he won fights over boxers from Brazil and India before a quarterfinal loss to Russia’s entrant knocked him out of medal contention. Disappointed, but not discouraged, Spence is eager to begin his professional journey in the junior middleweight division on November 9.
The first American boxer to make three Olympic teams, Rau’shee Warren now looks to follow in the footsteps of fellow Cincinnati fighters such as Ezzard Charles, Aaron Pryor and Adrien Broner by earning a professional world championship belt. A 2007 world amateur champion, the 25-year-old Warren won his first fight at the age of eight and he hasn’t looked back, competing in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Now he’s ready to take the next step in his career as a professional bantamweight and make the great boxing city of Cincinnati proud.
“Night Of The Olympians” is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. PT on fight night with the first at 5:30 p.m. PT. The ShoBox: The New Generation telecast will air live on SHOWTIME beginning at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). Tickets, priced at $25, $35 and $45, are available for purchase at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
