Tonight on Showtime is another presentation of Shobox, and there are two interesting fights on the card. First up is the return of one time hot prospect Mike Anchondo. He has promised to be rededicated to the sport and looks to get on a roll starting with this bout. Then we have a junior middleweight battle between Carson Jones and Tyrone Brunson. Brunson is undefeated with 20 knockouts in 21 bouts but is largely untested.
Playing the role of the experienced, veteran boxer, “Kid” Carson Jones said moments after he weighed in at 154 ¼ pounds that it was his plan to start to talking in Tyrone “The One” Brunson’s ear as soon as he saw him on Thursday.
“Yeah, I started trash-talking because I want to get into his head and obviously it worked and I got into his head because he’s still jawing at me,” said Jones, who sat back and smiled while he listened to Brunson scream something else at him as he walked out of the room.
“I just needed him to hear that I’m not impressed by his fake, fraud 19-0 world record he holds for first-round knockouts,” Jones continued. “No disrespect, but he probably fought you for one of those wins. His team was all about getting that record but by doing that it hurt him because he doesn’t know what it’s like to go into a real fight against a professional.”
Jones (23-7-1, 14 KOs) of Oklahoma City, Okla., and the new kid on the block Brunson, who weighed in at 154 ½ pounds and has the sterling record of 21-0 and 20 KOs, square off in a 10-round junior middleweight fight in both fighter’s main event debut on ShoBox: The New Generation, tomorrow/Friday, Dec. 4 live on SHOWTIME® (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).
In the co-feature, a couple of Southern Californians go at it as undefeated Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera (13-0, 6 KOs) of Riverside, Calif., takes on former WBO junior lightweight world champion Mike Anchondo (29-2, 19 KOs) of La Puente, Calif., in an eight-round junior welterweight bout. Herrera turned pro at the age of 27 and Anchondo is on a comeback after two years off.
The event is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and will emanate from the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif.
FINAL WEIGHTS
- Tyrone “The One” Brunson weighed in at 154 ¼ pounds and “Kid” Carson Jones at 154 ½ pounds.
- Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera weighed in at 143 pounds and Mike Anchondo at 144 pounds.
What the fighters said Thursday:
TYRONE “THE ONE” BRUNSON (154 ¼ pounds)
“I know my opponent doesn’t respect me and the record (19 consecutive knockouts to begin his career). But he’s going to see tomorrow. He will see all that doesn’t matter and I’m the better fighter.
“This is my third fight with Gary Shaw and I owe it all to him. By the grace of God John Benanati (Shaw’s matchmaker) got in touch with me and hooked me up with Gary. Otherwise, I’m not standing here now.
“I’m just going to go in there and box, have fun and do what I do. I just want to show everyone that Tryone Brunson is no one-hit wonder and no rigged up fighter.
“I’m from Philadelphia and we breed great middleweights. Everyone’s going to love me tomorrow. He’s never fought anyone. He’s never seen someone like Tyrone Brunson. I’m not cocky. I’m just telling the truth. I have that much confidence in my skills and my game.
“My first fight with Gary (decision over Marcos Primera) I showed I can go eight rounds and my last fight (third-round KO against Jose Medina) I showed I can take a body shot.
“I fought in October and November and now December. I have no time to take off. But I need that. That’s the way I want it.”
“KID” CARSON JONES (154 ½ pounds)
“When my manager heard I got this fight he was more excited than I was. He told me who I was facing and I knew there wouldn’t be much YouTube video on him. He was literally fighting guys who all they wanted to do was get out of the first round. That’s not a real fighter.
“I’m thinking he’s actually going to be shocked. He’s going up against a real professional tomorrow night.
“I know I have to show him my speed early on and maybe even a little power. Like I said, he’s never been in there with a real professional so he won’t know what’s coming. Whatever he brings I’m going to adapt to it. He’s coming from the very bottom and I’m way up here.”
MARURICO “EL MAESTRO” HERRERA (143 pounds)
“The world can tune in and see what I can do tomorrow. I know I turned pro late (at age 27 two years ago) but I think that only helps me. At 29 now I feel like I’m in my prime. I’ve always been training but it was never the right time. I didn’t have the proper management until now.
“I haven’t been in a lot of wars like some of these guys. I’ve just been sparring and training and getting ready for this day.
“At first I regretted not starting earlier but now I don’t. It’s just my time. People will now see a future talent. I’m done with the barroom fighting and now the world gets chance to see a real boxer go to work.”
MIKE ANCHONDO (144 pounds)
“I took time off to mature. I needed some maturity time and I am mature now. The game and I have been in a love-hate relationship for 22 years now. I swear to God. I’ve been fighting since I was five years old and in any relationship you’re going to have your ups and your downs and that’s pretty much the way it’s been with me.
“But I took two years off and I’ve matured. I’m just going to go out there and do the best I can and that’s all I can ask for. I’ve prepared the best I possibly can and worked so hard for this because I want to be an example to the kids that I work with each day. I want to show them they can do anything they want as long as they put their mind to it.
“I’m so hyped to be on SHOWTIME. I love TV. I’m made for TV. Whenever there’s a camera around I turn into a big ham and you know, why not? Why not enjoy it in front of everyone. I’m just going to be me.
“He’s a tough, strong kid. Wait, he’s older than me. But we’re both going to come to fight and we’re going to put on a show.”