Undefeated Dunne Bests Valdez With 10-Round Unanimous Decision, Velardez Scores Eighth-Round Knockout Over Local Hero Vanda on a 'ShoBox: The New Generation' Doubleheader From Aldrich Arena, Maplewood, Minnesota.

MAPLEWOOD, Minn., Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Bernard "Ben" Dunne got it done against Adrian Valdez with a unanimous decision by the scores of 97-93, 96-94, and 96-95, Thursday on SHOWTIME. In the "ShoBox: The New Generation" co- feature, Armando Velardez stunned previously undefeated Matt Vanda by knocking him out in the eighth round. The doubleheader, which took place at Aldrich Arena, was co-promoted by Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing and Team Freedom and aired at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). It was the 49th fight show in the popular "ShoBox" series, which debuted on SHOWTIME in July 2001.

Dunne (14-0, eight KOs), of Dublin, Ireland, entered the ring along with his corner dressed all in Irish green, trainer Freddie Roach donning an oversized leprechaun hat. Dunne was the more aggressive fighter throughout the 10 rounds, stalking Valdez into the ropes in almost every round, forcing Valdez to clench. A member of Roach's world famous Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, Calif., Dunne is a gifted featherweight from Ireland. In his professional debut on Dec. 19, 2001, a then-21-year-old Dunne scored a second- round TKO over Rodrigo Ortiz in Oroville, Calif.

Valdez (14-3-3, six KOs), of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, opened a cut on Dunne's forehead in the first round. In the ninth round, Valdez got the best of vicious exchange, but was unable to ride the momentum to victory. Valdez made his professional debut Aug. 27, 1999 against Juan Mendez, and registered a four-round decision in Juarez, Mexico. On March 28, 2003 Valdez got a shot at the WBC Mexican super bantamweight title and tallied a first-round knockout over Sammy Ventura.

Velardez (18-3, nine KOs), of San Bernardino, Calif, had hardly a person rooting for him in his opponent's hometown. Despite the boos and Vanda's cheers, Velardez nearly floored Vanda in the seventh round before knocking him down twice in the eighth round, the second ending the fight. Velardez was able to land his left hook with regularity throughout the contest. Three years after turning pro, Velardez captured his first title, the FECARBOX 154- pound crown, by scoring a sixth-round TKO over Paulino Avitia on July 26, 2002, In Las Vegas.

Vanda (31-1, ...