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Friday, Feb. 1, 2008, at 11 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME

Grand Casino Hinckley, Hinckley, Minnesota

HINCKLEY, Minn. - It was a cold night in Minnesota, but there were two action packed, sizzling fights on Friday night’s ShoBox: The New Generation. 

Alfredo Angulo stormed into the ring against Ricardo Cortes an undefeated prospect fresh off an impressive first round TKO with another tough challenge in front of him.  He walked out victoriously once again, his unblemished record intact, with another knockout in the first stanza and world title hopes in his near future. 

In the co-feature from the sold out Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, Minn., undefeated prospect and 2004 United States Olympian Mickey Bey, Jr. remained unbeaten by defeating late replacement Roberto Acevedo with an 8-round unanimous decision. 

Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, presented the exciting doubleheader, which aired on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).

Angulo (12-0, nine KOs), matched against a tough opponent with an impressive record, was the aggressor from the outset.  Less than a minute into the fight, the 25-year-old, Mexican-born prospect staggered Cortes (22-2, 15 KOs) with a left then knocked him down with a powerful right.  Angulo continued with great left, right combinations, and Cortes had trouble keeping up with ferocious attack.   Another powerful right hook from Angulo sent Cortes to the canvas for the second time, ending matters at 1:59 of the first round.

“I wanted to get as much work as possible in there and gain more experience,” Angulo said.  “But it happened so fast and I am very happy.

“Cortes had a great record and I knew he was a tough fighter.  I trained hard for him so I was really comfortable in there.  I want to go back to the gym and get ready for my next fight.” 

Angulo did all the right things, violating Cortes’ space and landing a flurry of devastating punches to his opponents head.  He hopes to fight again on SHOWTIME, and a convincing win against a veteran opponent who may try to use Angulo’s aggressive style against him could catapult him into title contention. 

The 27-year-old Cortes of San Jose, Calif., by way of Mexico, felt that he got up in time and that referee Mark Nelson should have let the fight go on.   

            “I absolutely could have kept going,” a confident Cortes said.  “He stopped the fight too quickly.  I was back up and ready to go.”   

            While the Angulo-Cortes match-up was slugfest from the start, the Bey and Acevedo bout was an aggressive struggle for Bey who couldn’t hit stride against the southpaw.   

            The 24-year-old Bey (10-0, six KOs) was effective in the early rounds, landing a handful of sweeping left hooks that staggered Acevedo.  As the fight continued, the boxers’ styles clashed and the two either locked up or Acevedo (5-4-3) ducked when Bey got aggressive and tried to engage him.  

            “I don’t blame him for trying to duck out,” said Bey, of Cleveland.  “That’s just boxing and that’s his style.  But I came here to fight and I came to win.   

            “I tried to make it a good fight, but he just wanted to fight dirty.  The judges saw right through him and I came out victorious.  Be on the look out for Mickey Bey, Jr.  I’ll be back on SHOWTIME.”  

The 21-year old Acevedo, of Puerto Rico, took the fight on a few days notice and disagreed with Bey’s verbal shots. 

“That’s just my style; I was just trying to win.” Acevedo said.  “He wasn’t the cleanest fighter either.  He hit me on the back of the head a few times.” 

Popular play-by-play announcer Nick Charles and expert analyst/boxing historian Steve Farhood called the action from ringside. The executive producer of ShoBox is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

Friday’s bouts will re-air this week as follows: 

            DAY                                                                CHANNEL

Saturday, Feb. 2, at 1 a.m. ET/PT                    SHOTOO 

Monday, Feb. 4, at 8 p.m. ET/PT                     SHO EXTREME

Tuesday, Feb. 5, at Midnight ET/PT                 SHO EXTREME

Thursday, Feb. 7, at 10 p.n. ET/PT                   SHOTOO

Available On Demand starting Monday, Feb. 4 and ending Monday, March 3. 

2-1-2008