SHOBOX on Showtime 

Raiymkulov vs. Gogoladze

Pavlik vs. Beaupierre

 

March 4, 2005

Silver Star Hotel & Casino

Pearl River Resort

Choctaw, Mississippi

 11:00 PM ET/PT*

 

 

Line-up:

Lightweight Bout (10 Rds)

Kid DiamondAlmazbek Raiymkulov (19-0, 11 KOs) vs. KobaThe CobraGogoladze (17-0, 7 KOs)


Middleweight Bout (10 Rds)

KellyThe GhostPavlik (23-0, 20 KOs) vs.  DorianThe Quiet StormBeaupierre (12-2-2, 6 KOs)
 

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 “ShoBox: The New Generation To Feature Lightweight Tussle And Middleweight Donny Brook
 

NEW YORK  - “ShoBox: The New Generation” presents three undefeated fighters during one exciting night of

boxing action on Friday, March 4, 2005. In a battle of unbeaten lightweight boxers in a scheduled 10-round

main event, World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 10/World Boxing Organization (WBO) No. 12/World Boxing

Association (WBA) No. 13 contender, Almazbek Raiymkulov, will make his SHOWTIME debut against

Koba Gogoladze at the Silver Star Hotel & Casino Convention Center at Pearl River Resort in Choctaw,

Mississippi. In the co-feature, WBO No. 8/WBC No. 10/International Boxing Federation (IBF) No. 11

contender Kelly Pavlik will trade leather with Dorian Beaupierre in a 10-round middleweight bout.

 

SHOWTIME will televise the Top Rank Inc. doubleheader at 11 p.m. ET/PT (tape delayed on west coast).

The telecast represents the 58th in the popular “ShoBox” series, which debuted on SHOWTIME in July 2001.

 

Raiymkulov (19-0, 11 KOs), of Kyrgyzstan, was the 2000 Olympic representative for Kyrgyztan at 132

pounds. He has a law degree and speaks five languages. Now fighting out of Las Vegas, Raiymkulov got his

nickname, “Kid Diamond,” because “Almaz” means ‘Diamond’ in his native language.

 

In his last fight, Raiymkulov floored Lamar Murphy in the third and knocked out the former two-time world

title challenger with a punishing right hand in the fifth on Nov. 27, 2004, in Las Vegas. Murphy was counted

out at 2:02.

 

Raiymkulov debuted at the age of 24 on April 27, 2001, in Las Vegas, and scored a third-round TKO over

Adriano Dos Santos. Prior to turning pro, Raiymkulov won more than 280 of his 300 amateur contests.

 

Gogoladze (17-0, 7 KOs), of Tblisi, Republic of Georgia, is nicknamed “The Cobra” for his ability to strike at

any time. Gogoladze became one of the world’s top amateur fighters by capturing numerous titles, including

the Soviet Union national championship in 1989, ‘90 and ’98, and The Republic of Georgia national title seven

times (1991, ‘92 and ‘94-‘98). In 1996, Gogoladze won two bouts at the Atlanta Olympics, including a victory

over the heavily favored Cuban, Julio Gonzales.

 

As a professional, Gogoladze has captured the World Boxing Federation (WBF) International, North

American Boxing Organization (NABO) and International Boxing Association (IBA) Continental lightweight

titles. “The Cobra” won his “ShoBox” debut on June 5, 2003, with an eight-round split decision over Carl

Johanneson in Detroit. In a tightly contested bout, each fighter scored a knockdown and took turns inflicting

damage. In the end, the judges scored the bout 77-73, 77-74 and 74-76.

 

Pavlik (23-0, 20 KOs), of Youngstown, Ohio, captured the 1999 U.S. National under-19 amateur

championship, the 1998 National Junior Golden Gloves amateur championship and the 1998 National Junior

P.A.L. amateur champion, all at 147 pounds.

 

In his most recent outing on Nov. 27, 2004, Pavlik earned an eight-round unanimous decision over Ross

Thompson. Pavlik dominated, consistently outworking Thompson and landing the harder punches. The

judges scored the bout 80-72 twice and 79-73.

 

“When I am in the ring, I always give my best,” Pavlik said. “You owe yourself and your fans nothing less

than your absolute best. I will not disappoint when I make my SHOWTIME debut on March 4.”

 

Beaupierre (12-2-2, 6 KOs) of Roseau, Dominica, had won eight consecutive bouts when he fought to a 10-

round draw against Daniel Edouard March 18, 2004, on “ShoBox” from Santa Ynez, Calif. Beaupierre

seemed to do enough in the eyes of most ringsiders to win. He used the ring well, fought smart and was the

much sharper puncher during the fight’s second-half. One of the judges had him ahead by 97-93, but the

other two judges scored the good action fight, 95-all. More than one month later on April 23, 2004, in

Brockton, Mass., the two fought to another 10-round draw.

 

A 1999-2000 New Jersey State Golden Gloves champion and 2000 New Jersey Amateur Boxer of the Year,

Beaupierre was ranked No. 4 in the United States at the highpoint of his amateur career. Exactly one month

shy of his 25th birthday, the promising prospect won his pro debut by scoring a second-round TKO over local

favorite Rodney Weston on Jan. 5, 2001, in Biloxi, Miss.

 

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

http://www.sho.com/boxing.
 

*Tape Delayed on the West Coast

 

- Press Release issued by Showtime's Shobox (with a little editing from us - color,  highlights).

 

(2/16/05)