BOXING'S BACK ON FREE TV THUNDERBOX FEATURES MORE THAN JUST FIGHTS.

Byline: Nevin Barich Staff Writer

Professional boxing on free television has fallen by the wayside in recent years. One show aims to change that by using more than just fights to appeal to viewers.

``Thunderbox,`` a syndicated heavyweight boxing series shown in 90 percent of the United States, including Los Angeles, attempts to appeal to both old-school boxing fans and a younger audience by featuring forms of entertainment besides conpetitive fights. It's geared to entertain a younger crowd.

Besides boxing, Thunderbox features musical artists, mostly rap and rock, whose audience is composed mainly of people in their teens and 20s. Such artists include Master P, Wyclef Jean, Dragon, Fat Joe and Pimpadelic.

Also, on every show each fighter has the luxury of having a beautiful female ``Thunderbox Manager'' to shout encouragement from ringside.

``The influence behind the show was to figure out a way to bring boxing back to broadcast television by incorporating brand-new entertainment,'' said Jim DiLorenzo, the creator and executive director of Thunderbox, which is also shown in 70 countries worldwide. ``We wanted to use this to bring young people to watch, which would bring in advertising.

``This is my estimation of what today's audience wants for entertainment. Boxing's great, but today's kids are into multiple stimuli for their entertainment.''

The boxing side of Thunderbox, which was developed by DiLorenzo two years ago, is a little more cutting edge as well. The show, which uses a tournament-type setup to eventually determine the ``Thunderbox Champion,'' is bent on putting forth competitive fights. Thunderbox favors aggression from its fighters, showcasing those boxers more, and continuously promotes its quest to find the next ``baddest man on the planet.''

The show has featured several quality fighters in its short existence. Tim Witherspoon, for example, is a former two-time heavyweight champion, one of only eight fighters to have recaptured the heavyweight crown. Also, David Bostice (who lost to Witherspoon on Thunderbox) has fought several big-name heavyweights, including Witherspoon, current WBO champion Wladimir Klitschko and three-time heavyweight title challenger Frans Botha.

And fringe contender Sedreck Fields, who has had some decent showings against name heavyweights, has appeared on Thunderbox on more than one occasion. Fields holds a decision win over heavyweight-title challenger Shannon Briggs and battled former-WBC champion Oliver McCall to a 10-round, split-decision loss.

``We will bring in some name fighters to fight the younger guys,'' DiLorenzo said. ``We want to see if our younger guys can pass the test. But the intention of the show is to make household names of new guys.''

One of those ``new guys'' is Attila Levin, a 6-foot-5, 245-pounder from Miami. Levin (19-1, 16 knockouts) was crowned the first Thunderbox Champion, winning the tournament last December.

``Thunderbox is great, especially for guys like me, those who are up and coming,'' Levin said. ``It gives you a lot of exposure, the chance to fight more names in the sport and gives more opportunity for us.''

Lucia Rijker, a Thunderbox co-host and considered by many experts to be pound-for-pound the best female fighter in the world, hopes the show will eventually expand beyond the heavyweight division.

``I think Thunderbox shouldn't be limited by heavyweights,'' said Rijker, who sports a record of 14-0 with 13 knockouts. ``Other fights in other divisions are exciting as well. But because heavyweight is the big division, that's where Thunderbox focuses on.''

The new season for Thunderbox starts in October.

THE THUNDERBOX BOX

What: Thunderbox

DESCRIPTION: A weekly syndicated heavyweight boxing show focusing on up-and-coming fighters.

Where: Nationwide.

When: Check your local listings.

CAPTION(S):

box

Box:

THE THUNDERBOX BOX (see text)