Philippines, 28 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


RUBEN VILLA CONTINUES TO IMPRESS WITH UNANIMOUS DECISION VICTORY ON SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION FRIDAY ON SHOWTIME®

PhilBoxing.com




Taras Shelestyuk Records Dominating Unanimous Decision Win; Zhora Hamazaryan and Sulaiman Segawa Fight To Split-Decision Draw in Lightweight Matchup

Catch The Replay Monday, February 3 At 10 p.m. ET/PT On SHOWTIME EXTREME®

SHREVEPORT, La. – January 31, 2020 – After his fourth consecutive victory in a little more than 12 months on ShoBox: The New Generation, Ruben Villa is ready to graduate from the 19-year prospect series.

The undefeated featherweight Villa put on a boxing clinic in a dominating unanimous decision win over Alexei Collado. The judges scored the fight 99-91 and 98-92 twice in the main event Friday night from George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum in Shreveport, La.

The 22-year-old Salinas, Calif., native Villa (18-0, 5 KOs), who entered the ring paying tribute to the late Kobe Bryant by wearing his No. 8 Lakers jersey into the ring, called his performance “solid” against a “tough and aggressive fighter.”

“He was challenging throughout the fight,” said Villa. “I feel like I put on a good show. He was a big knockout puncher and he’s no pushover. He brought out the best in me.”

Villa, who was the was also the 2014 and 2016 National Golden Gloves Champion, is currently ranked No. 5 at 126 pounds by the WBO and No. 13 by the WBC. He said after the fight he’s ready for the best his division has to offer.

The 31-year-old Cuban Collado (26-3, 23 KOs) who lives in Miami, lost for the first time in seven bouts. “It was a good fight,” said Collado, who won the 2006 Junior World Title in the flyweight division. “We both brought everything. We put on a good show for the fans. He moves a lot and he’s a smart fighter. I feel like when I threw a lot I hit him but I wasn’t active enough.”

Villa said he stayed disciplined training during the holidays. “Now I’m going to take a few weeks off and then get right back in the gym,” he said.

In the co-featured bout, undefeated Ukrainian and 2012 Olympic Bronze medalist Taras Shelestyuk (18-0, 10 KOs) recorded a dominating unanimous decision victory against Argentina’s Luis Alberto Veron (18-2-2, 9 KOs). The judges scored the 10-round welterweight fight 97-93 and 98-92 twice.

Shelestyuk, who overcame a bad fifth-round cut on his forehead, had boxed just 10 rounds in the last three years.

“It was a good fight,” Shelestyuk said. “I hit him with some good shots, and controlled the fight. I have been out since March, and I feel that I performed well. I am happy to be back on television.

“The cut didn't bother me. This is professional boxing, and these things happen. I want to be back in May or June. If I come back in the next several months, I want to fight a big name – guys like Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia.”

In the telecast opener, late replacement Sulaiman Segawa (12-2-1, 3 KOs) looked impressive in his ShoBox debut seemingly out-boxing Zhora Hamazaryan (9-1-2, 6 KOs) and recording the better stat sheet, but the close lightweight fight was called a split-decision draw. One judge had Segawa winning 78-74, another 77-75 for Hamazaryan and the third judge called it even, 76-76.

ShoBox analyst Steve Farhood had the fight scored 77-75 Segawa, while Barry Tompkins and Raul Marquez both saw it 78-74 in favor of Segawa.

“I won the fight,” said Segawa, who took the fight on just four days’ notice. “I maintained him and his aggressiveness. I came up to his weight and dictated the action. I staggered him a couple of times and he was not touching me.”

Segawa earned the better stats in nearly every category. Hamazaryan was more active (57.5 punches per round to Segawa's 53.6) but Segawa outlanded him 130-100 overall, 42-14 jabs and 88-86 power and was more accurate in all phases (30%-22% overall, 28%-8% jabs, 31.3%-31.1% power). Segawa even led 25-22 in body connects

Segawa, 28, moved to Silver Spring, Md., two years ago and is originally from Kampala, Uganda. He has won six times against previously undefeated opponents with his two losses also to undefeated fighters.

Hamazaryan, who was making his third ShoBox appearance, returned to the ring after 16 months as he returned to his native Armenia to get his physical education degree.

“It was a good fight,” the 23-year-old Hamazaryan said. “I started slow because of the switch in opposition and felt rusty. I’m going to go right back to the gym and keep on learning. And I will be better.”

It was the second consecutive split draw for Hamazaryan, who also recorded a split draw against Thomas Mattice in his last ShoBox appearance in September of 2018.

Friday’s fights were promoted by Banner Promotions, Thompson Boxing and Bishop Promotions LLC. The full telecast will replay on Monday, February 3 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available on SHOWTIME ANYTIME® and SHOWTIME on DEMAND®.

Hall of Famer Barry Tompkins called the action from ringside with fellow Hall of Famer Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

# # #

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 81 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Errol Spence Jr., Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Jesse Espinas and Leboy Atencio Ready to Rumble in Thailand, LIVE on TrillerTV (Weigh-in Photos)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Matchroom Boxing announces new long-term contract extensions for two top UK fighters
    , Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Thananchai Decisions "Lucky Boy" Alicaba
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 28 Mar 2026
  • Suslenkov to defend WBA continental title against Mann at IBA.PRO 16 in Serpukhov
    , Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • SBA Builds the Future of Billiards with SBA Next and Official Pool Hub Network
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • Don King Productions Announces Challenger for Reigning WBC Cruiserweight World Champion Noel Mikaelian
    , Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • 11-0 Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor developing his skills at Deontay Wilder and Andrii Novytskyi
    , Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • IBA welcomes the victory of common sense in the IOC policy on protecting women
    , Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • Genetic Testing will be required in Olympic Games
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 27 Mar 2026
  • “Lucky Boy" Alicaba Ready for Action Friday in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 26 Mar 2026
  • WBO & WBA World Champion René “El Chulo” Santiago Hosts Open Media Workout Ahead of April 3 Title Defense in Tokyo
    , Thu, 26 Mar 2026
  • Former WBA FEDELATIN President Panamanian Aurelio Fiengo passes away
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 26 Mar 2026
  • The 19th edition of the Kamatyas Rapid Open and Kiddies Chess Tournament on March 28, 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 26 Mar 2026
  • WIG-WHAM! MILLER PLANS ‘OLD SCHOOL’ BEATING OF PERO IN LAS VEGAS
    , Thu, 26 Mar 2026
  • ProBoxTV Bringing a Storm of Flying Leather to Thunder Studios This Saturday, March 28, as Bryan Acosta Collides with Ronny Rios in Crossroads Bantamweight Slugfest
    , Thu, 26 Mar 2026
  • Vito Mielnicki Jr. Training Camp Quotes
    , Thu, 26 Mar 2026
  • Remembering Mr. Elorde: Still the Gold Standard
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026
  • House of Representatives say yes to the Boxing Revitalization Act and it is now sent to the Senate
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026
  • Ryan ‘The Polish Prince’ Kielczweski To return after 4-year layoff to fight at home on Granite Chin’s ‘Rumble at the Rink II’ card
    , Wed, 25 Mar 2026
  • Ellaine Summer Abanco wins silver medal on tiebreak
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026
  • Catubig, McDowell win in DC Athletic 4
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026
  • Team Juna wins first competition in IRONMAN 70.3 Davao
    By Kim delos Reyes-Teves, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026
  • Round 12: Without Promoters there is no Boxing
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026
  • Mexican female IBF Champion Irma Garcia to defend on April 5 in England
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026
  • 14-0 super middleweight prospect Tommy ‘The Governor’ Hyde to headline April 18th at home in Cork, Ireland
    , Wed, 25 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.