FREDDY HERNANDEZ OUTPOINTS FRIAS, UNBEATEN FONSECA RALLIES TO TKO SEEGER ON SHOBOX

In the telecast's opening bout at Laredo Entertainment Center, undefeated Victor "Vitino" Fonseca rallied to register a ninth-round TKO over Al "The Quiet Storm" Seeger in a fast-paced, hard-fought battle of world-ranked super bantamweights. After Seeger hit the canvas from the bout's lone knockdown, the referee halted matters at 1:41.

The victory was the 10^th in a row for Hernandez (26-1, 18, KOs) and earned him the World Boxing Council (WBC) Latino welterweight title. Hernandez, who was born in Mexico and resides in Lynwood, Calif., triumphed by the scores of 98-92 on the three judges' scorecards. The Cuban-born Frias (16-2, 7 KOs) of Miami, Fla., had a 12-fight winning streak end.

Fonseca, of Barranquitas, Puerto Rico, improved to 17-0 with eight knockouts. Entering the ninth round of a scheduled 10 for Seeger's North American Boxing Federation (NABF) and the vacant North American Boxing Organization (NABO) 122-pound belts, Fonseca was behind on two of the scorecards (77-75 and a seemingly out of line 79-73) and even on the other (76-76).

The WBC's No. 10-ranked contender going in, Seeger (28-5, 22 KOs), of Savannah, Ga., was taken to the hospital afterward for precautionary reasons.

Hernandez had mostly dominated the initial nine rounds against the southpaw Frias, but he got caught early in the 10^th and was clearly stunned. "He definitely got me with a good shot," said Hernandez, who hurt Frias to the body on countless occasions. "I am happy with the win but I really wanted to knock him out. I wish I could have connected more.

"But Frias is a tough guy with an awkward style and those kinds of guys are hard to look good against. I have to go through those kinds of fighters, though, if I want to become world champion."

So why didn't Frias, so lethargic for much of the evening, wait until the 10^th round to let his fists go? "That's my question, too," he said. "I really felt I was stronger than him."

Southpaw Fonseca could hardly believe he was trailing on points after eight completed rounds. "I thought it was a close fight, but I was definitely winning," the International Boxing Federation (IBF) No. 7- and World Boxing Association (WBA) No. 8-ranked contender said. "I give Seeger a lot of credit. He was definitely the toughest fighter I've been in against. I am very happy to get this victory."

Friday's bouts will re-air as follows:

            DAY                                                                            CHANNEL

Thursday, Oct. 28 at 11 p.m. ET/PT                          SHOWTIME 2

The ShoBox telecast also will be available On Demand beginning Tuesday, Oct. 26, and running through Nov. 22.

SHOWTIME Boxing Schedule: Next Saturday, Oct. 31, exciting, hard-hitting Joseph King Kong Agbeko (27-1, 22 KOs), of Ghana by way of Bronx, N.Y., will defend his IBF bantamweight belt against undefeated, mandatory challenger Yonnhy Perez (19-0, 14 KOs), of Colombia  via Santa Fe Springs, Calif., on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast). 

In the SHOWTIME co-feature at Treasure Island Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, WBC No. 1-ranked lightweight Antonio DeMarco (22-1-1, 16 KOs), of Tijuana, faces former WBA lightweight titleholder Jose Alfaro (23-4, 20 KOs), of Nagarote, Nicaragua, for the WBC interim 135-pound crown. Tickets, all priced at $200 each, plus tax and fees, are on sale and can be purchased through the Treasure Island box office or by calling (800) 392-1999 or (702) 894-7723. 

On Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., the Super Six World Boxing Classic will resume when WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel "Viking Warrior" Kessler (41-1, 31 KOs) of Denmark defends against unbeaten local favorite and 2004 Olympic Games gold medalist Andre "S.O.G." Ward (19-0, 12 KOs) of Oakland.

A special Saturday edition of ShoBox will take place on Nov. 28 (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

In a terrific battle of unbeatens in the Saturday, Dec. 12 main event at Aqua Caliente Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast), World Boxing Organization junior welterweight champion Timothy "Desert Storm" Bradley (24-0, 11 KOs) of Palm Springs, Calif., will defend against Lamont "Havoc" Peterson (27-0, 13 KOs) of Washington, D.C.