The four boxers who will fight on ShoBox: The New Generation live on Showtime tonight Friday, Feb. 24, made weight on their first attempts Thursday at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
In the 10-round main event on ShoBox, one of the boxing’s top young prospects, unbeaten welterweight Jessie Vargas (17-0, 9 KO’s) of Las Vegas, will be opposed by Lanardo Tyner (25-6-2, 15 KO’s) of Detroit. Junior middleweight DeAndre Latimore (22-3, 17 KO’s) will return to the ring for the first time in 10 months when he takes on Colombia’s hard-hitting Milton Nunez (23-3-1, 21 KO’s) in the 10-round co-feature.
Nunez has stepped in on short notice to replace Ryan Davis who was forced to withdraw from his fight against Latimore this Friday night due to a failed medical exam.
- Vargas weighed 146½ pounds on Thursday; Tyner 147 pounds.
- Latimore tipped the scale at 156 pounds, Nunez 157 pounds.
Weigh-in Pictures
Fighter Quotes
JESSIE VARGAS
“I’m looking for a win and I’m looking to win impressively but, yes, I look at it as a challenge to be the first to knock down or stop Tyner.
“I feel much stronger at 147. I had been fighting at or around 140-143 pounds since I was 17 so it is definitely time to move up in weight.
“My last fight against (Jose) Lopez was close, but I definitely felt I won, no doubt about it. I landed many more punches than he did, but it was also a great learning experience and I am always looking to progress and improve. It meant a lot to me to know that I could go 10 hard rounds.
“My dream is to become a great fighter and this is the next step. He may be the shortest guy I’ve ever been in with, but we brought guys in like him for sparring so I’m ready.’’
LANARDO TYNER
“I’m really in good spirits and ready for a fight. The key, as always with me, is to relax.
“I’ve had some fights that I have legitimately lost in my mind and others that I know I won but got robbed in them. That’s why I am so glad that this fight is on SHOWTIME. That way, if they take the decision from me, the world will see it. Some of my fights, no one except those in the arena have seen.
“I don’t know a lot about this guy, but I like to fight the guys with the bigger names. I’m used to fighting taller guys so that will not be a problem.
“I come to fight and try hard to win. I’ve never been hurt or knocked out. I’m really jealous of guys like Vargas, someone who has a big promoter and has a good but built-up record. That’s why I want this fight so badly. I want to get a promoter so I can be in that position, too.’’
DEANDRE LATIMORE
“For the first time, I really feel I am back on track. I have a new promoter (like Vargas, Mayweather Promotions) and a new trainer (Jeff Mayweather). I am ready to keep pushing like never before and go get that world title belt. The past is past and nothing I dwell on anymore.
“I expect to fight a few times a year instead of once or twice. I’m happy to be fighting again and I know I need to fight more so when the title fight comes again, I’ll be ready.
“Jeff is really bringing out the best in me. For this fight, I think composure is a key and that I need to be patient. Jeff is getting me to try and box more, but if I have to brawl, you know I will.’’
MILTON NUNEZ
“I took this fight on short notice, but I had been in the gym training for a fight, so I feel I am almost 100 percent.
“This is a big opportunity for me and I feel they’ve made a mistake by fighting me. I consider him an ‘A’ fighter but I’m confident and believe I am good enough to win this.
“A win and I will be right back in line for a world ranking and another shot at a world title.’’
The doubleheader, which will take place at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, is brought to you by Mayweather Promotions and sponsored by Corona.
Tickets, priced at $100, $60, $30, $25, along with a limited number of VIP suite seats priced at $125, are available for purchase at the Hard Rock Hotel Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
