Half-Brothers Conwell, Steen Set To Headline Oct. 7 ShoBox

ShoBox: The New Generation returns with a battle of unbeaten 154-pound prospects Charles Conwell and Wendy Toussaint on Wednesday, October 7
Charles Conwell on the undercard of Usyk-Weatherspoon in October 12, 2019 at the Wintrust Arena. Photo by Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing USA

The last live boxing event to air before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down boxing, and entire the sports world, was a ShoBox: The New Generation event in Hinckley, Minn. Showtime Boxing made its return back on August 1, and the network plans to bring back its popular proving grounds series Wednesday, October 7.

The first ShoBox since March 13 is a four-fight card headlined by exciting, undefeated Super Welterweight prospects Charles Conwell and Wendy Toussaint in a 10-round feature bout live on Showtime (9 p.m. ET/PT) from the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn.

When people see me, they will see Aaron Pryor, Mike Tyson and Andre Ward rolled up into one! – Charles Conwell

The four-fight telecast’s line-up features six undefeated boxers, plus another two prospects who collectively represent a professional record of 109-4-3.

Conwell (12-0, 9 KOs) represented the U.S. at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. He is 22-years old, lives in Cleveland, Ohio, and this assignment marks his second ShoBox appearance.

Isaiah Steen (14-0, 11 KOs) , Conwell’s half-brother, is slated to face unbeaten Super Middleweight Kalvin Henderson (12-0-1, 8 KOs) in the co-main event. The ShoBox event will open with two eight-round Welterweight showdowns as Detroit’s Janelson Bocachica (15-0, 10 KOs) takes on fellow Puerto Rico native Nicklaus Flaz (9-1, 7 KOs), and hard-hitting Brandun Lee (19-0, 17 KOs) returns to ShoBox in the telecast opener against Jimmy Williams (16-3-2, 5 KOs).

“Charles Conwell is the quintessential ShoBox fighter,” said Gordon Hall, executive producer for ShoBox: The New Generation since its inception in 2001. “He had a successful amateur career and he has shown real promise in his pro campaign. Now, he’ll face his first undefeated opponent in Haitian-born Wendy Toussaint who should be a tough test. In the co-feature another battle of unbeatens in Steen vs. Henderson and rounded out by promising prospect Janelson Bocachica and rising star Brandun Lee. These are the type of fight cards that make this series unique and important for the development of young fighters on both sides of the bout sheet.”

The event is promoted by Tony Holden Productions.

Charles Conwell stopped Manny Woods after three punishing rounds in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, December 22, 2020 at the PromoWest Pavilion. Photo by R.L. Woodson
Charles Conwell vs. Wendy Toussaint – 10-round Super Welterweight Main Event

Rising prospect Conwell relies on a combination of smart, relentless pressure and power. He is currently ranked No. 9 by the IBF in one of boxing’s deepest divisions at 154 pounds. The pandemic claimed a Split-T Management organized card slated for early-April that Conwell was expected to headline. With each victory he stays on the heels of the likes of Jermell Charlo, Jeison Rosario, Tony Harrison, Erickson Lubin, Julian Williams, Terrell Gausha and Jarrett Hurd.

Conwell was 116-14 as an amateur and was the National Golden Gloves Champion in 2015. In his last fight in February, Conwell scored a fifth-round stoppage over Ramses Agaton. He is co-promoted by Tony Holden of Holden Productions and Lou DiBella of DiBella Entertainment.

The 22-year old earned the first decision of his career in his debut appearance on ShoBox, a hometown six-round bout versus Roque “Rocky” Zapata in 2017.

“I am happy to be back on ShoBox, and I am going to put in a good performance and do what I do best,” said Conwell. “My opponent is undefeated, and he will come to win, but I think that I am just better overall and all around.  I am a very smart boxer with fast hands and power. When people see me, they will see Aaron Pryor, Mike Tyson and Andre Ward rolled up into one! I am happy to be headlining ShoBox and being able to show my talent to the whole world.”

Nicknamed “Haitian Fire”, Toussaint, 28, is a native of Haiti who currently trains in Huntington, New York – the site of eight of his 12 pro fights. He is promoted by Hall of Fame New York promoter Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.

Wendy Toussaint
Wendy Toussaint defeated Isiah Jones via unanimous decision in the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, August 22, 2020. Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Following Haiti’s catastrophic earthquake in 2010, Toussaint departed his homeland for France. He is now a firefighter on Long Island. He also serves as the primary sparring partner of the WBO’s No. 1-ranked Light Heavyweight world title contender Joe Smith Jr. Toussaint has won his last five of seven fights by knockout. Joining Smith on the undercard of his WBO Light Heavyweight eliminator bout against Eleider Alvarez on August 22 in Las Vegas, Toussaint won a wide eight-round decision over Isiah Jones.

“I would like to thank my trainer Frankie Globuschutz, my promoter Joe DeGuardia and Star Boxing for this great opportunity to shine in a ShoBox main event,” Toussaint said. “I am ready to fight. I have always been ready to fight. Nothing changes for me, and I am bringing the Haitian Fire.”

Isaiah Steen vs. Kalvin Henderson – 8-round Super Middleweight Co-Feature

This is my first fight on TV so it’s going to be a big one. – Isaiah Steen

Like his half-brother Conwell, 24-year-old Steen of Cleveland also had a successful amateur career with a record of 85-15. In his last fight, an outing on the same card as Conwell back in February, Steen needed less than a round to stop Kenneth Council in Hammond, Ind. Steen is also co-promoted by Holden and DiBella and managed by McWater.

“This is my first fight on TV so it’s going to be a big one,” said Steen. “This is a big stage to show everybody what I am coming for and I am very excited to be fighting on Showtime. This is a major step-up fight. I am just going to keep to my game plan and keep my distance. It’s amazing to be able to be on a television card with my brother.”

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Henderson currently resides and trains out of Fayetteville, Ark., where he was a six-time Arkansas state champion in the amateurs. Following high school, Henderson got a full-ride music scholarship to the University of Arkansas as a percussionist graduating with his bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 2012. The 30-year-old Henderson is promoted by Marshall Kauffman’s Kings Promotions.

“I am ready to get back to what I do great,” said Henderson, who is married with four children and a fifth on the way. “My opponent is undefeated, but on October 7th, he will have his hands full. I am excited to finally showcase by skill-set on a national level as the co-main event.”

Janelson Bocachica vs. Nicklaus Flaz – 8-round Welterweight Bout

A native of Puerto Rico and fighting out of Detroit, Mich., Bocachica is just 21 years old and already has four years of pro experience. He began boxing at age eight, won four consecutive Ringside Championships (2011-14), the National PAL Championships and the 2015 Detroit Golden Gloves. He boasts an amateur record of 55-5. He is trained by his father, Nelson Figueroa. Bocachica is managed by McWater of Split T-Management and promoted by King’s Promotions.

“I am fighting another Puerto Rican fighter which will surely produce fireworks and an exciting, all-action fight,” Bocachica said. “He is a power puncher and a brawler. He seems to be very confident, and I like fighting guys like that. If he wants a brawl, he will get a brawl, but if he wants to box, I will outbox him. I am versatile like that.”

Puerto Rico’s Flaz is part of current WBA and IBF 154-pound World Champion Jeison Rosario’s camp under the guidance of Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. Flaz has knocked out his last two opponents and competed in two 10-round bouts during his pro career, which has included six wins against fighters who had winning records.

“It’s a great opportunity for me to showcase my skills,” Flaz said. “I know he’s an undefeated guy and a good opponent but I’m going to put some punching power on him. You can expect me to come in and be explosive. It’s going to be a great fight.”

Brandun Lee vs. Jimmy Williams – 8-round Welterweight Bout

Just 21 years old, the knockout artist Lee from La Quinta, Calif., has KO’d all but two of his opponents (89.5 percent), including 11 in the first round, four in the second and two in the third. The third-year pro is making his third ShoBox appearance. In March, Lee scored an impressive third-round TKO over 33-year-old challenger Camilo Prieto. This is Lee’s third fight of 2020 as he knocked out Miguel Zamudio in a non-televised January 17 bout in Sloan, Iowa.

I am looking forward to being back on ShoBox and I will come to perform. The audience wants knockouts, and that is what I am here for. – Brandun Lee

Lee had a decorated amateur career with an estimated record of 196-5. He was the 2015 U.S. Junior National Champion, taking home the gold medal at 145 pounds. With lightning quick hands that pack power, the exciting Lee has sparred with Mikey Garcia, Devin Haney, Mauricio Herrera, Timothy Bradley Jr., and Thomas Dulorme.

“I am ready to go,” said Lee, a full-time college student who is trained by his father Bobby Lee and managed by Cameron Dunkin of D&D Boxing. “I was supposed to fight on September 19th, and now I have an extra three weeks of training, so that will be great for me. My opponent is bigger and has fought at higher weights, and he was ranked in the Top-15. This is a step up and it is exactly what I need for my career. I am looking forward to being back on ShoBox and I will come to perform. The audience wants knockouts, and that is what I am here for.”

A pro since 2013, Williams is a former college football standout who has yet to fight in 2020. Williams grew up in Plainfield, N.J., before moving to New Haven, Conn., and played wide receiver at Southern Connecticut State University.

Promoted by Jimmy Burchfield of CES Boxing, the 34-year-old Williams has battled adversity as his father passed away from cancer, and his mother was murdered in what is still an unsolved case.

Header photo by Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing 

RL Woodson

I'm all over the place, literally. Click on something and I'll explain it all. A Tribe Called Quest fan, Good Will Hunting, HTTR and Michigan athletics... #DLTCYO

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