Santana, Imam Co-Headline Don King’s Feb. 21 ShoBox Card In Cleveland

NEW YORK (Feb. 5, 2014) – The first time Angelo Santana appeared on ShoBox: The New Generation he scored one of the most memorable knockouts of 2012. The second time, he suffered the only loss of his career in a shocking upset. Now, in his third consecutive ShoBox appearance, Santana (14-1, 11 KOs) will look to regain his status as one of the most promising – and feared – boxing prospects of today.

But it won’t be an easy test as he takes on the more experienced Hank Lundy (23-3-1, 11 KOs) in the compelling 10-round lightweight main event of ShoBox on Friday, Feb. 21, live on SHOWTIME^® (10:45 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).  The event is promoted by Don King Productions from the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio.

Opening the telecast will be a 10-round super lightweight bout featuring one of the most exciting prospects in boxing, Amir “Young Master” Imam (12-0, 11 KOs), and Jared “The Quiet Storm” Robinson (14-0, 6 KOs) in a battle of unbeatens. The electrifying, power-punching Imam has won 11 consecutive fights by knockout, all but one inside three rounds.

“My first boxing promotion in Cleveland was on Aug. 28, 1972,’’ said Don King. “It was a charity event for ‘Show For People Care’ to benefit Forest City Hospital and it featured Muhammad Ali in an exhibition match. For our great fight card on Feb. 21, we’re calling it ‘Cleveland Show for People Care: Let’s Do it for Cleveland, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.’

“It’s going to be a terrific night of fights, a dynamite show in Mayor Frank Jackson’s great city of Cleveland, in Gov. John R. Kasich’s great state of Ohio. We will be in a city and a state where people are the most important.

“This ShoBox event features the next generation of young boxers. In Santana and Imam, you have two guys, who, if they win, could be fighting for a world title in their next fight.’’

Tickets to the event – priced at $35, $75, and $125 plus tax and fees – go on sale tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 6, at 5:00 p.m. ET and can be purchased through the Wolstein Center box office and website www.wolsteincenter.com  or by calling Charge-by-Phone 1-877-468-4946.  Doors open at 7 p.m., and a full undercard will be presented prior to the televised matches.

The talented Santana, 25, is seeking to regain his winning ways in his first outing since suffering his lone defeat – a stunning  ninth-round TKO to late substitute and underdog Bahodir “Baha” Mamadjonov last April 12 on ShoBox. Going into the fight, the popular and aggressive Santana was ranked No. 3 in the WBA.

Despite his loss, expectations remain high for the Cuban native. In a career-best performance in his ShoBox debut on Nov. 16, 2012, Santana registered one of the most devastating knockouts of the year – a brutal fifth-round stoppage over previously unbeatenJohnny Garcia in Hallandale, Fla.

Lundy, 30, is a tough out for any boxer and figures to give Santana all he can handle. A dedicated, determined boxer-puncher with good speed and movement and a strong amateur background, Lundy has registered notable victories in his seven-year career, including wins over former WBC lightweight world champion David Diaz (KO 6) in August 2011 and current WBA lightweight world champion Richar Abril (W 10) in January 2010.

“Hank Lundy is one of the most exciting and TV-friendly fighters in the ring today,” said Jimmy Burchfield, President and CEO, CES Boxing. “We appreciate the opportunity for this fight given by Don King and Angelo Santana.  We feel it’s going to be a terrific fight.”

A former NABF lightweight champion whose currently ranked No. 10 in the IBF and No. 13 in the WBC at super lightweight, the switch-hitting Lundy is coming off a lopsided 10-round decision over former top ranked Olusegun Ajose (31-1 going in) on July 19, 2013. Seemingly always matched tough but willing to fight anybody, any place, Lundy dropped a close, questionable 12-round decision to local favorite and still-undefeated Viktor Postol in the Ukraine two outings ago on March 21, 2013.

Imam (pronounced “EE-mom”), 23, an amateur standout and silver medalist at the 2011 U.S. Olympic Trials, fought six times in 2013. This will be his second appearance on ShoBox. He was devastating in his debut, impressively knocking out Jeremy Bryan in the second round of the co-featured bout under Santana vs. Mamadjonov on April 12, 2013. A left hand followed by a colossal right to the chin finished Bryan at 2:13 in what was expected to be Imam’s toughest test.

The only time Imam went the distance as a professional came in November 2011 when he won a four-round decision in his pro debut. His last 10 fights have ended in two rounds or less.

Robinson, 31, a pro since August 2009, fights out of Charlotte, N.C.  He is coming off a sixth-round knockout over Jahaad Wingfield last Aug. 17.

A well-prepared and focused athlete, Robinson hasn’t come close to losing while competing exclusively in the South (North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina).

This opportunity, on a nationally televised event, is one that Robinson, who was the No. 3-rated U.S. amateur in 2008, has longed for and he is confident he will make the most of it.

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with boxing historian Steve Farhood and former World Champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillipsdirecting.