Due to a cut sustained over IBF Junior Middleweight World Champion Ishe Smith’s right eye while preparing for his title defense against Carlos Molina, their Friday, July 19 bout at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas has been postponed. The SHOWTIME televised card will proceed as scheduled as a ShoBox: The New Generation televised event showcasing a doubleheader featuring undefeated prospect Mickey Bey against former world title challenger John Molina in a 10-round lightweight fight and unbeaten 2008 Olympian Badou Jack stepping up to face Philadelphia’s Farah Ennis in a 10-round super middleweight bout.
Former amateur star Mickey Bey Jr. (18-0-1, 9 KO’s) just missed out on making the 2004 United States Olympic team, but has since made an impressive name for himself as a professional, winning 18 fights with no losses. A talented athlete with technique and power, Mayweather Promotions’ Bey can outbox any opponent, making him a dangerous foe for anyone on fight night.
When it comes to danger in the ring, Covina, California’s John Molina (25-3, 20 KO’s) is a menacing puncher with 15 knockouts in three rounds or less. A former world title challenger, the 30-year-old Molina is on a mission to get another shot at a lightweight world championship, and if he shows the same form he did in his January knockout of Dannie Williams, the sky’s the limit.
A 2008 Olympian for Gambia, Swedish-born Las Vegas resident Badou Jack (14-0, 10 KO’s) has become an international boxing sensation in recent years and the 29-year-old is just approaching his fighting prime. A pro since 2009, Jack can bang to the head or body and, after his third round knockout of Michael Gbenga in his last fight on the undercard of his promoter Floyd Mayweather’s fight against Robert Guerrero, “The Ripper” is looking for another quick finish on July 19.
Currently sporting a four-fight winning streak that includes an exciting 10-round win over longtime contender Anthony Hanshaw last month, Philadelphia’s Farah Ennis (21-1, 12 KO’s) is fired up about the opportunity to get right back in the ring to face the highly-regarded Jack. A seven-year pro who has garnered plenty of positive press back on the East Coast, the 30-year-old Ennis is looking forward to his Las Vegas debut.
Information on the rescheduling of Smith vs. Molina will be released at a later date.
Bey vs. Molina & Jack vs. Ennis will take place on Friday, July 19 at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event is presented by Mayweather Promotions, sponsored by Corona and will be televised live on ShoBox: The New Generation on SHOWTIME beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). Doors open at 5:25 p.m. PT and the first fight begins at 5:30 p.m. PT.
Tickets priced at $125, $100, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and service charges, are on sale now and are available for purchase at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
