Up-and-coming, undefeated heavyweight Travis Kauffman (18-0, 15 KOs) of Reading, Penn., has rendered unconscious his last eight opponents, but figures to get his sternest test to date when he faces confident, upset-minded, once-beaten Tony Grano (15-1-1, 12 KOs) of Hartford, Conn., in the 10-round main event tomorrow/Friday, Sept. 18, on ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET
After a retirement lasting 21 months, Floyd Mayweather Jr. returns to the ring on Saturday when he meets Juan Manuel Marquez in a catchweight PPV 12-rounder at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. No title is at stake in a bout made at 144 pounds, but the prize for the winner could be a blockbuster fight against Manny Pacquiao — always assuming Pacquiao can defeat Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14
In what could quite possibly be the fight of the night, Vicente Escobedo (21-1, 13 KO’s) will face the always-exciting Michael Katsidis (25-2, 21 KO’s) in what many perceive to be a knock down, drag out battle.
For Escobedo, this will be his first shot at a world title. Katsidis currently is the interim WBO lightweight champion but Escobedo is well prepared for this opportunity to fight on the biggest stage of his career thus far.
“Come Saturday night I am extremely happy that you will be seeing a new world champion against a great fighter like Michael Katsidis,” said Escobedo’s trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain via translator.