Nearly two months after O’Shaquie Foster became the 88th SHOBOX: The New Generation alumni to win a world title, two young super lightweight prospects will battle it out on the prospect-oriented series as returnee Shinard Bunch (20-1-1, 16 KOs) from Queens, N.Y., takes on Mexico’s Bryan Flores (23-0-1, 13 KOs) in a 10-round super lightweight contest Friday, April 7 at 10 p.m. ET/PT live on SHOWTIME® from Cache Creek Casino in Brooks, Calif.
The SHOBOX® tripleheader pits six fighters with a combined record of 95-2-1 and 62 knockouts.
In the co-main event, Neri Romero (16-0, KOs) of Argentina takes on Frency Fortunato (15-1, 11 KOs) of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in a 10-round super featherweight bout. The telecast opener pits Raul Garcia (12-0, 10 KOs) of the Dominican Republic against Robert Terry (9-0, 3 KOs) of Jersey City, N.J., with both fighters putting their unbeaten streaks to the test in an eight-round super welterweight bout. They all hope to one day follow in the footsteps of Foster, who out-dueled Rey Vargas on February 11 on SHOWTIME to capture the WBC Super Featherweight World Championship after he fought four times on SHOBOX.
WHAT TIME IS BUNCH – FLORES?
Date: Friday, April 7
Start time: 1 a.m. GMT / 8 p.m. ET
Main event ringwalks (approx): 4 a.m. GMT / 11 p.m. ET
The fight takes place at Cache Creek Casino in Brooks, California.
The fight is LIVE on Showime The event is set to get underway at 1 a.m. GMT / 8 p.m. ET with the main event ringwalks scheduled for 4 a.m. GMT / 11 p.m. ET. These timings could change due to the length of the undercard fights.
The card is promoted by Sampson Lewkowicz and his Sampson Boxing promotion company.
“We are excited to put on our third SHOBOX event over the first four months of the year that will once again feature step-up battles for each fighter,” said Gordon Hall, executive producer for SHOBOX: The New Generation. “Our main event is an elevated SHOBOX bout with Shinard Bunch facing Bryan Flores in their toughest test with the winner on the verge of becoming a contender. That’s the essence of SHOBOX – the winner punches their ticket and moves a step closer to becoming a champion while the runner-up gains exposure and a learning experience to grow on and stay in the hunt.”
Here is more on each of the three bouts:
Bunch vs. Flores – 10-Round Super Lightweight Main Event
Managed by International Boxing Hall of Famer, J. Russel Peltz, the 23-year-old Bunch suffered a controversial split draw in his SHOBOX debut against the tough and undefeated Janelson Figueroa Bocachica. Following the draw, he reeled off five consecutive wins, including his last fight in December, a unanimous decision against Henry Lundy. Since turning pro in 2019, Bunch fought five times in 2020 and eight times in 2021 before slowing down a bit with three bouts in 2022. Bunch’s only pro loss came in 2019 in just his third fight, a unanimous decision loss to SHOBOX alum and amateur standout Paul Kroll. Bunch started his boxing path at age 7 and had more than 400 amateur fights, earning a No. 3 national ranking from the 2016 Nationals and a spot on the USA Boxing national team. A native of Queens, N.Y., Bunch currently lives and trains in Trenton, N.J.
“It’s a blessing to be back on SHOBOX,” said Bunch, who was on the same USA National team as Errol Spence Jr., and Shakur Stevenson. “Not only on SHOBOX, but as a main event. I’ve always dreamed of this. I have a great opponent who is very tough, and I know he’s coming to fight. He’s 23-0 looking to make a statement, so this is definitely going to be a war. This fight should come down to who wants it more.”
Flores was a Mexican national champion as an amateur in 2010 and 2011 and a bronze medalist in 2012. He fought 90 times in the amateur ranks suffering just eight defeats. Flores has fought almost entirely in Mexico, except for one bout in Carson in December of 2021 when he knocked out Tyrone Luckey in the first round.
“I think my opportunity has arrived, I am very motivated,” Flores said. “I am happy for the opportunity and I want to give everything in each training session. I feel that I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
Undefeated New York super welterweight Jahyae Brown will face intriguing Argentine prospect Guido Schramm in a newly added 10-round co-feature as part of an exciting SHOBOX tripleheader on Friday, April 7 at 10 p.m. ET/PT live on SHOWTIME® from Cache Creek Casino in Brooks, Calif.
The bout replaces the super featherweight bout between Neri Romero and Frency Fortunato that fell out due to an injury suffered by Romero. The main event will feature Shinard Bunch (20-1-1, 16 KOs) from Queens, N.Y., taking on Mexico’s Bryan Flores (23-0-1, 13 KOs) in a 10-round super lightweight contest. The telecast opener pits Raul Garcia (12-0, 10 KOs) of the Dominican Republic against Robert Terry (9-0, 3 KOs) of Jersey City, N.J., with both fighters putting their unbeaten streaks to the test in an eight-round super welterweight bout.
The 23-year-old Brown (13-0, 9 KOs) is a former FedEx driver who has committed himself full-time in his quest to someday be a world champion. Promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, Brown hails from Schenectady, N.Y., and went 80-4 in the amateurs winning the New York Silver Gloves. In 2015, Brown won the Elite National Silver Gloves Championship and a year later reached the semifinals of the U-19 Nationals. He advanced through the Junior Olympic Trials and competed in the USA National Junior Olympic Tournament. He turned pro in 2019.
The 27-year-old Schramm (15-1-1, 9 KOs) is promoted by Sampson Lewkowicz’s Sampson Boxing. Known as a pressure fighter who comes forward, Schramm started boxing late at 17 and finished his amateur career with a record of 45-4 and won six overall amateur titles in Argentina. For the past three years, Schramm has trained in Los Angeles under Lionel Lara, and at one time trained alongside former world champion Brian Castaño and his team.
Garcia vs. Terry – Eight-Round Super Welterweight Bout
An excellent puncher with fast hands, 24-year-old Garcia of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, had over 150 amateur fights before turning professional in May 2021 and quickly rattled off a dozen impressive victories over domestic competition, including taking the undefeated “0” of countryman Francisco Ernesto Sanchez. He was last seen in December 2022, stopping then 22-3 veteran Angel Yomar Mateo in six rounds. Garcia says he began to dream of becoming a world champion after meeting the great Oscar De La Hoya as a young amateur.
“This will be my first trip to the U.S. to fight, and I want to show that I deserve this big opportunity,” Garcia said. “I know that many fighters who start on SHOBOX reach my dream of becoming a world champion. I hope to reach the heights of my idol, Oscar De La Hoya someday.”
Terry began boxing at age 14 and won five New Jersey Golden Glove titles, including four at 152 pounds. He was a 2017 National Golden Gloves finalist at 165 pounds. Born and raised in Jersey City, N.J., Terry had approximately 65 amateur fights and fought in Ireland in 2010 as an amateur.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to fight on SHOBOX,” Terry said. “I see this as a chance to showcase my talent in front of a national audience and I’m hopeful that this win could lead to bigger opportunities for me. I have a great team that I trust and I can’t wait to execute the game plan on April 7.”
International Boxing Hall of Famer Barry Tompkins will call all the blow-by-blow action for SHOBOX with fellow Hall of Famer Steve Farhood joining remotely as the unofficial scorer. Former junior middleweight world champion Raul Marquez and veteran combat sports reporter and MORNING KOMBAT co-host Brian Campbell will serve as expert analysts. The executive producer of SHOBOX: The New Generation is Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Chuck McKean directing.
BUNCH VS. FLORES CARD
Shinard Bunch vs. Bryan Flores, For the IBF USBA super lightweight championship
Jahyae Brown vs. Guido Schramm, junior middleweights
Raul Garcia vs. Robert Terry, junior middleweights
Manuel Avila vs. Alberto Torres, featherweights
Sachery Sam vs. Anel Dudo, featherweights
Kevin Montano vs. TBA, junior lightweights
