Isaiah Steen to battle Kalvin Henderson, they’ll continue ShoBox tradition

Tremendous middleweight prospects Kalvin Henderson and Isaiah Steen will sq. off on July 23, Showtime introduced Friday.

The ten-round bout will happen at Heartland Occasions Middle in Grand Island, Nebraska and can headline a three-bout ShoBox telecast (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT).

The ShoBox: The New Era card on July 23 will coincide with the 20-year anniversary of the favored sequence, which first aired on July 21, 2001 from Bally’s in Atlantic Metropolis, New Jersey.

In the principle occasion of the two-bout telecast, light-weight Leonard Dorin stopped Martin O’Malley in spherical 9. Dorin would win a world title belt six months later, changing into the primary fighter to look on the favored sequence to win a world title belt. Together with Dorin, 84 fighters who’ve fought on ShoBox would later win a world title belt, together with Andre Ward, Ricky Hatton, Tyson Fury, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire, Carl Froch, Shawn Porter, Timothy Bradley, Gary Russell, Jr, and Kelly Pavlik, amongst others.

The battle between Henderson and Steen was initially scheduled for October, however the battle was postponed after Henderson backed out throughout battle week with an sickness.

Henderson and Steen might or might not battle for a world title belt later of their professional profession, however preventing on a sequence that has helped elevate a fighter’s profile may be very motivating and a victory might translate to contender standing.

“This can be a milestone ShoBox occasion and we couldn’t be extra excited,” mentioned Gordon Corridor, who has served as the chief producer of ShoBox: The New Era since its inception.

“As we have fun 20 years of ShoBox on July 23, we’ll keep true to our ethos to match undefeated, creating prospects robust. In the principle occasion, undefeated 168-pound prospects with embellished beginner pedigrees will search a career-best win.”

In his final bout on June 5, Henderson (14-0-1, 10 knockouts) of Fayetteville, Arkansas, scored a knockout win over Tevin Anderson after spherical 5.

Henderson has received his final two bouts after preventing to a majority-decision draw in opposition to Genc Pllana in December 2019. The 31-year-old, who graduated from the College of Arkansas with a level in music schooling in 2012, is assured he can notch a win over Steen.

Henderson is the underdog on this one, Steen has met stiffer foes than “Scorching Sauce.”

“I do know he has an excellent beginner pedigree and he throws good mixtures,” mentioned Henderson, who’s promoted by Marshall Kauffman.

“He’s bringing it and I’m bringing it. The third time’s a allure to lastly make this battle occur. That is the following step in my profession. Quite a lot of fighters have been on ShoBox and have gone on to superb careers, and now it’s my flip to do the identical.”

Steen (15-0 1 NC, 12 KOs) stopped Juan De Angel in spherical 5 of his final bout on November 6. Steen, who resides in Cleveland, Ohio, has stopped 5 of his final seven opponents and is assured his pedigree can be an excessive amount of for Henderson. “I’ve been going from coaching camp to coaching camp,” mentioned Steen, who’s the half-brother of unbeaten junior middleweight Charles Conwell.

“I’m going to combine it up, and outbox him with a number of jabs. Then once I see his weak point, I’m going to get him out. Kalvin is a come-straight-forward fighter and he punches arduous. I used to be alleged to battle him earlier than, so this battle has been brewing for awhile.”

The 24-year-old Steen is co-promoted by Lou DiBella and Tony Holden and managed by David McWater.

Within the co-feature, welterweight Janelson Bocachica will face Shinard Bunch in a 10-round bout. Bocachica (17-0, 11 KOs), who resides in Detroit, Michigan, defeated Mark Reyes, Jr. by majority choice in his final bout on February 17. The 22-year-old has stopped eight of his final 10 opponents.

Bunch (15-1 1 NC, 13 KOs) knocked out journeyman Diego Perez within the opening spherical of his final bout on Might 8. The 22-year-old, who resides in Trenton, New Jersey, has been very energetic, having fought 5 occasions final yr.

The Bocachica battle will mark Bunch’s sixth battle of this yr.

Within the opening bout of the ShoBox telecast, unbeaten featherweight Martino Jules (10-0, 2 KOs) of Allentown, Pennsylvania will sq. off in opposition to Armenia’s Aram Avagyan (10-0-2, 4 KOs) in an eight-round bout.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October of 2013 and has coated boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper. He may be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing