CABAZON, CALIF.  – At 28, Ivan Redkach (17-0, 13 KOs) is a five-year pro who is regarded as one of the sport’s top upcoming young talents.  A power-punching and relentless pressure fighter, Redkach is ranked No. 5 by the IBF and No. 13 by the WBC at lightweight and closing in on a world title shot.

The Los Angeles-based Ukrainian makes his 2015 debut this Friday against the always-dangerous, hard-hitting lightweight contender Yakubu Amidu (19-5-2, 17 KOs) in the main event of ShoBox: The New Generation, live on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) during the premium network’s Free Preview Weekend.

During the Free Preview Weekend SHOWTIME is available to over 70 million households.   For additional details and a full schedule of programming, go to SHO.com/freepreview.

The tripleheader is promoted by DiBella Entertainment from Morongo Casino Resort in Cabazon, Calif., and will immediately follow the premiere of ALL ACCESS: Stiverne vs. Wilder at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT.

In a matchup of unbeaten prospects in the co-feature, former amateur standouts Patrick Day (9-0-1, 5 KOs), of Freeport, N.Y., and Alantez “SlyAza” Fox (13-0-1, 4 KOs), of Forestville, Md., will collide in an eight-round junior middleweight bout.  Former amateur sensation Ievgen “Ukrainian Lion” Khytrov (7-0, 7 KOs), of Brooklyn, N.Y. by way of Ukraine, will take on undefeated-yet-untested Maurice “The Natural” Louishomme (8-0-1, 4 KOs), of Colorado Springs, Colo., in the eight-round middleweight opener.

Below is a Q&A with Redkach as he aims for a breakout 2015.

Are you looking to make a statement in 2015?

“This is my year.  This is the year I’m going to break out and earn that title shot.  This fight is on SHOWTIME so I know all the boxing fans will be watching.  I need to put on a good performance.”

This is your first fight training with Robert Garcia in Oxnard what has that been like?

“I love training with Robert Garcia. The work we get there and his sparring is amazing. He has taught me a few of his own tricks.”

What is the atmosphere like at Robert Garcia’s Gym?

“I’m comfortable there.  It feels like home.  I enjoy everyone that I spar with there and they have become like family to me.  It’s the best environment that I’ve trained in.  I can’t wait to show how I’ve improved.”

Can you talk about your current sparring partners and how they have improved your preparation for this fight?

“I have been sparring with many great fighters.  I spar with the best. I’ve been sparring with Jessie Vargas, Brandon Rios and Ray Beltran.  The move to Oxnard has been great for my career.”

From your experience, how is the training different in the United States than in Ukraine?

“The training here in the U.S. is a much more traditional style of boxing, which has made me a much better boxer. Back home, the training is very different.”

Your opponent, [Yakubu Amidu,] trains out of the famed WildCard gym and has fought a lot of top talent in his career. What do you know about him and what weaknesses can you exploit?

“I have sparred with him [Amidu] before and he is a very strong opponent. He punches very hard, but he can’t maneuver.  He only punches straight and does not have the technique that I have.”

You haven’t fought in roughly seven months; do you think ring rust will be a factor?

“I took a break for three weeks after my last fight [June 27, 2014]. Since then, I have been training and sparring every day without a break. I have been training every day, three times a day for six months.”

After this fight, if you come out with a victory, what is next for you and do you have any opponents you would like to fight going forward?

“I want to fight for the WBC title. I would like to fight Jorge Linares.”

What is your biggest strength? Are you looking for the knockout or do you believe you can go 10 rounds and get the victory that way?

“I am going to try to knock him out so I can get closer to a championship fight in 2015. No matter what, we are both very strong fighters and I don’t think it will go 10 rounds.”

What is it like for you to be living in Los Angeles permanently? Are you going to have any family or friends attend the fight?

“Yes, I have tons of friends that will come with me.  Russians, Mexicans, I’ve met a lot of people through boxing in Los Angeles and they’ll be out on Friday to support me.”

Ievgen Khytrov is also on this card and you both are from Ukraine. What do you know about him and will it be special to be on the card with him?

“We were in the same training school back in Ukraine, but Ievgen left a little bit earlier. I don’t know much about him, but he is strong and has good character. I wish him the best of luck.”

What have the Klitschko brothers, who are also from Ukraine, meant to your career as well as other young professional boxers in Ukraine who are trying to be successful boxers in the United States?

“There are many young boxers in Ukraine who look up to the Klitschko brothers. I know that people look at them as motivation and see that it is possible to have a career in boxing.”

How did your experience with the Ukrainian Olympic National Team in 2008 impact your career?

“I needed a little luck in the Olympics because I kept losing to strong hitters. I wasn’t confident enough back then. I have learned to be a better boxer since then.”