NEW YORK (Dec. 14, 2004) - Blue-collar boxer Christopher “The Mechanic” Smith will attempt to

dismantle David Estrada in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) elimination bout for the No. 2 ranking

Friday, Jan. 21, on the SHOWTIME boxing series, “ShoBox: The New Generation.” In the 10-round

co-feature, unbeaten junior middleweight contender Sechew “Iron Horse” Powell will make his second

 SHOWTIME and “ShoBox” appearances as he takes on Aslanbek Kodzoev.

SHOWTIME will televise the DiBella Entertainment doubleheader from the Mohegan Sun Casino in

Uncasville, Conn., at 11 p.m. ET/PT (tape delayed on west coast). The telecast represents the 55th in the

popular “ShoBox” series, which debuted on SHOWTIME in July 2001.

Smith (19-0-1, 12 KOs), originally of Mandeville, Jamaica, received his nickname “The Mechanic” because he

takes people apart in the ring. The high-energy fighter made his professional debut nine days after his 23rd

birthday on Feb. 24, 1998, and scored an opening-round TKO over Leon Rouse in Ledyard, Conn. The

unbeaten and well traveled boxer has fought in 10 different states in just 20 bouts. The native Jamaican, now

residing in Queens, N.Y., utilized a crushing body attack to score a ninth-round TKO over Marlon Haynes

on Sept. 12, 2002, to win the interim North American Boxing Association (NABA) welterweight title.

In his initial title defense, Smith controlled the early going before eventually tallying a 10th-round TKO over

veteran Sam Garr on Feb. 14, 2003, in Louisville, Ky. After Smith rocked his opponent with a lead right hand

to the jaw in the 10th, Garr retreated. Moments later, Smith nailed the veteran with a long right cross that

landed square on Garr's jaw. Garr's legs wobbled as he bent forward and then slid down the ropes coming to

rest on one knee.

The former New York Golden Gloves Champion has successfully defended his NABA title three additional

times. Following a non-title victory over Grover Wiley in May 2003, the hard-hitting Jamaican erupted for an

eighth-round TKO over Frankie Sanchez on Aug. 23, 2003, in Biloxi, Miss.

In his next title defense nine months later, Smith engaged in a wild slugfest with Luis Hernandez on June 4,

2004, in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Smith floored Hernandez in the second, ninth and 12th rounds before a ringside doctor waved the fight off

with 29 seconds remaining. The final knockdown sent Hernandez to the canvas, and his momentum carried

him under the bottom rope and out of the ring. The exhausted fighter landed on the scorer's table and

climbed back into the ring.

Most recently, Smith stopped his sixth opponent in seven outings when he recorded a 10th-round TKO over

Dillon Carew on Oct. 14, 2004, in New York.

“I am an action fighter,” Smith says. “I give fans what they want to see. If that means throwing 100 punches a

round, then that is what I will do.”

Estrada (17-1, 8 KOs), of Chicago, compiled a 50-10 amateur record, while winning several local Chicago-

area titles and the 1998 Texas State Golden Gloves. After making his mark in the amateur ranks, Estrada

made his pro debut and registered a four-round decision over Tyrone Handy on Oct. 28, 1999.

In his second SHOWTIME and “ShoBox” appearance, Estrada dealt previously undefeated Nurhan

Suleymanoglu his first defeat and captured the vacant United States Boxing Association (USBA)

welterweight crown with an impressive 12-round unanimous decision by the scores 120-108 and 117-111

twice July 15, 2004, in Santa Ynez, Calif.

Estrada’s, only loss came in his “ShoBox’’ debut when he dropped a 10-round decision to undefeated Ishe

Smith on July 31, 2003, in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Estrada is trained by the world-renowned Angelo

Dundee. When he is not punching for pay, Estrada teaches individual and group boxing classes as an

instructor at the South Florida Boxing Gym.

Powell (14-0, 9 KOs), of Brooklyn, N.Y., got floored and was nearly knocked out in the fifth round of his

SHOWTIME and “ShoBox” debuts on June 17, 2004, in Laughlin, Nev., but managed to survive the round and

triumph by the scores 76-75 twice and 75-76 after the eighth.

In Powell’s last outing, Sept. 30, 2004, in New York, N.Y., he scored a unanimous decision over George

Armenta, outboxing his aggressive opponent. Powell fought most of the fight backing up and fighting off the

ropes. He was a very effective counter puncher against the orthodox Armenta.

At Brooklyn’s Prospect High School, Powell excelled in both basketball and swimming while capturing three

“Under 19’’ national titles, the Junior World Championship in Russia, the Everlast U.S.

Championship, and both the New York and the National Golden Gloves. During a nine-year amateur career,

Powell compiled a 147-9 record, but suffered a heartbreaking disqualification loss in the 2000 Olympic Trials.

In his pro debut, Powell registered a second-round TKO over Aundalen Sloan on Aug. 17, 2002, in Atlantic

City, N.J. Powell dominated by utilizing a stiff jab and quick, hard combinations. After a hard left hand sent

Sloan stumbling to the ropes later in the first round, Powell dazzled the crowd with an eight-punch

combination. Late in the second, he continued the onslaught by landing a six-punch combination that

staggered Sloan. Moments later, the referee halted the bout.

Kodzoev (14-1-1, 9 KOs), of Ingushetia, Russia, captured the Russian middleweight title with a 12-round

decision over Sergey Tatevosyan on Feb. 16, 2002, in Novosibirsk, Russia. In his next outing, the once-

beaten Russian captured the World Boxing Council (WBC) International 160-pound crown with a 12-round

decision over Jerry Elliot on April 27, 2002, in Riesa, Germany. Kodzoev sent Elliot to the canvas in rounds

three, four and six.

Currently riding a six-fight winning streak, Kodzoev was on the canvas in the third, fifth and sixth rounds

during a bout against Julio de la Cruz on Philadelphia. However, two of the knockdowns were aided in part by

Kodzoev slipping on the beer logo at the center of the ring. The resilient Russian went on to tally a ninth-

round TKO to win the affair.

Kodzoev’s parents and girlfriend, Dardina, still remain in Russia. Kodzoev, who turned 24 on Dec. 15, took

up residence in south Philadelphia in 2001 for the purpose of advancing his boxing career. After Kodzoev

fights, he often hops on a plane and returns to Russia for months at a time. With his personal and

professional life often at odds, Kodzoev is still attempting to find a way to get his family to America.

Nick Charles will call the action from ringside, with Steve Farhood serving as expert analyst. The executive

producer of the telecast is Gordon Hall, with Richard Gaughan producing.

For information on “ShoBox: The New Generation” and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts,

including complete fighter bios, records, related stories and more, please go the SHOWTIME website at