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Photo by: Tom Casino/Showtime

Undefeated middleweight prospect and hometown favorite Fernando Guerrero weighed in at 160 pounds and Chicago’s Michael Walker tipped the scales at 161 during Thursday’s weigh in at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center in Salisbury, Md. Guerrero (17-0, 14 KOs) will put his undefeated record on the line against Walker (19-3, 12 KOs) in a 10-round bout in the main event of ShoBox: The New Generation on Friday, April 16, live on SHOWTIME ® (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

Promising, unbeaten Shawn Porter (13-0, 10 KOs) of Cleveland, Ohio, measured 150 ½ pounds. Hard-hitting Colombian Raul Pinzon (17-4, 16 KOs) did not make the contracted weight and will weigh in tomorrow at 9 a.m. ET. The two will square off in a junior middleweight eight-round co-feature fight on SHOWTIME.


FERNANDO GUERRERO:

“I train like I’m fighting for a world title every time. Walker is dangerous, but I can handle him.

“I’ve grown up as a fighter, I’m finding myself. I know I hit hard, but I no longer think I have to knock everybody out.

“It’s important for me to win, but I don’t need a KO.

“I had a great camp. Next year, 2011, is going to be my breakthrough year but I have to win all my fights in 2010 first.

“I’ve been knocked down but it taught me that when you get knocked down you get back up.”


MICHAEL WALKER:

“I’ve sparred with some southpaws so I’m ready.

“I can’t wait to get in there. I’m more ready than I’ve been in a while. I’ve been in the gym and I want to surprise the fans.

“I want to shut the crowd up. I want to send them home crying.

“After this win I’m going to go on a roll. I’ve put the work in the gym and now I’m ready.

“I’m going to do whatever it takes to win this fight.”


SHAWN PORTER:

“My last fight being 10 rounds was a huge step up for me. I hadn’t gone 10 rounds before and it was nice to know that I can go the distance, even though I was 60 percent of what I could have been.

“I look to show some of the things we’ve improved on since my last fight.

“We’ve got a game plan for tomorrow and we need to stick to it.

“I feel good getting down to 147. I look more ripped and a little smaller in the mirror. I think I’ll have an edge at that weight.

“The camp was tremendous. I couldn’t be happier.

“We’d like to fight for a world title at 147, that’s the plan.”

RAUL PINZON:

“I came in late, but I’m about 95 percent. I’m ready. I was already in the gym training for another fight.

“Porter is fast, but he can’t punch. I’m looking for a KO. Out of 17 fights I’ve had 16 KOs, so I hope to get another one tomorrow night.

“My conditioning is good for this fight, I’m in good shape.

“In my losses I hadn’t had much notice, but I had to take the fights. I’m going to surprise him. I’m not just an opponent. I’m ready for war.”

The doubleheader is co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Prize Fight.

Nick Charles will call the action from ringside with Steve Farhood and Antonio Tarver serving as expert analysts. The executive producer of ShoBox is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

For information on SHOWTIME Sports Programming, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please go the new SHOWTIME Sports website at http://www.sho.com/sports.