From young to, well, not as young, DiBella Entertainment (“DBE”) is reveling in a big weekend of victories from some of its top talent. It all started on Friday night when two of the best prospects in all of boxing, super middleweights Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez and Marcus “Too Much” Johnson scored impressive knockout wins on SHOWTIME’s ShoBox: The New Generation series from the Scheels Arena in Fargo, ND. On Saturday, as part of Showtime Championship Boxing, 41 year old Glen “The Road Warrior” Johnson, who is co-promoted by DBE and Warriors Boxing, knocked out Allan Green at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to advance to the semi-finals of Super Six World Boxing Classic.
On the un-televised undercard from Fargo, even more DBE talent came up victorious as welterweight prospect Antwone Smth (19-2-1, 11 KO) and middleweight contender Ishe Smtih (22-5, 10 KOs) notched wins.
The young guns, Rodriguez (17-0, 13 KOs) and Marcus Johnson (20-0, 15 KOs), both stepped in with the toughest tests of their career, with the 25 year old Rodriguez facing James McGirt, Jr. for the WBC USNBC super middleweight title, and Johnson squaring off with hard-nosed veteran Kevin Engel. Rodriguez wore down McGirt, forcing a ninth round stoppage, while Johnson scored a third round knockdown en route to a stoppage at the end of that same round.
“Marcus and Edwin have yet to look anything less than spectacular in their careers,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “They faced the toughest tests of their careers head on and passed with flying colors. It was another impressive step for two impressive prospects.”
Dan Rafael of ESPN.com said Rodriguez “showed poise and maturity as he took his time to break McGirt down” and called Johnson “one of the top prospects in the land” following their respective wins.
Come Saturday, it was the other Johnson’s turn as Glen Johnson finished off an otherwise competitive bout with DBE stablemate Allan Green with a right hand in round eight. With the win, Johnson (51-14-2, 35 KOs) advances to the semi finals of SHOWTIME’S heralded super middleweight tournament, despite having to make the super middleweight weight limit for the first time in a decade.
“Glen proved against a game and determined Allan Green that he’s an extraordinary athlete and a complete anomaly for a 41 year old man,” said DiBella. “He adds dignity, class, and excellence to the semifinals of the Super Six. I thank Showtime and [Showtime Executive Vice President] Ken Hershman for their foresight including Glen in this great tournament.”
