HOLLYWOOD,FL–Don King Productions did it again with another action packed night of professional boxing the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood Florida. A night full of excellent knockouts and a star studded crowd left the fans on their feet cheering for more Don King Boxing.
And the new NABF heavyweight champion is Tony “TNT” Grano 20-2-1(16KO) after a big knockout win over DaVarryl Williamson 27-7(23KO). Williamson landed a big right hand early in the fight but Grano did not let it disturb his gameplan. Grano landed a huge right hand and dropped Williamson in the third, however the heavy handed Williamson was able to get through the round. The fourth round started a bit slow and ended with a huge right hand that dropped DaVarryl and he was counted out at 2:27 of the fourth. After the fight Grano said “ “DaVarryl caught me with a good right hand in the second round. I didn’t want to get caught again, so I started moving to my right and resetting before he had a chance to try and tag me with those long arms. “I had him in big trouble and tried to take him out in the third round. To be honest, I expended a lot of energy, so I regained my composure in the fourth and caught him right on the button with a right hand for the knockout. “I think I showed everyone tonight that I have a knockout punch. I’d like a shot at Vitali Klitschko before he retires. Right now I can’t wait to get back to Connecticut to celebrate.”
Junior MIddleweight prospect Omar “Oh” Henry 12-0-1 (9 KOs) looked impressive while beating Tyrone “Solja Black” Selders 8-3(6KO) for 10 rounds and picking up his twelfth win as a pro. Henry hit him with everything, a number of times, and the iron chinned Selders kept coming and throwing punches. Henry showed great control and landed bombs all night on Selders iron chin unable to take the game Bayou Brawler out. This was the first time Henry went past four and he showed great conditioning. Selders, who slipped to 8-3(6KO) was fighting out of Baton Rouge, LA, and fought a very valiant fight having taken the fight on short notice. Omar was quoted at the post fight press conference, “I tried to knock him [Tyrone Selders] down but he was a tough guy. I was full of speed tonight. I was prepared well and felt great. I loved putting on a great performance for the fans. I turned it up at the end of each round because I wanted to finish strong for the judges. “I’d like to fight K9 Bundrage or Cory Spinks after they fight for a world title one week from tonight. I will fight anyone at 154 pounds. “I tweaked my right hand but I’m sure it will be alright.”
Local favorite American born Cuban Joe “Twinkle Fingers” Hernandez 22-1-1(12KO) stopped tough Brandon “The Business” Baue at of the fourth round. Hernandez felt out Baue in the first three rounds landing an occasional straight left hand. A late round flurry exchange in round three set up an exciting fourth round in which Hernandez was fueld by some in-ring tactics by the Missouri fighter Baue. This was a nice TKO win for Hernandez officially stopped at 1:11 of the fourth. Don King said after the fight that Hernandez is ready for any junior middleweight out there and mentioned a potential match with the winner for the upcoming Cory Spinks and K9 Fight. “I was a little flat in the beginning but I found my groove quickly. “A lot of people tell me I look a lot like Victor Ortiz but I sure have bigger balls than he does. I heard he quit on his stool tonight in Los Angeles. Now Canelo Alvarez needs an opponent, so if he wants to fight a young lion, I’m here in Miami. I’m calling out all the junior middleweights”
Undefeated and emerging lightweight contender Angelo “La Cobra” Santana (13-0, 10 KOs), a Cuban fighting out of Miami, passed the toughest test of his career tonight when he stopped former WBC Silver featherweight champion Justin “Le Voodoo” Savi (26-2, 18 KOs), from Cotonou, Benin. There were a number of early round headbutts that quickly but and badly swollen the eye of Savi. Santana, a two-time Cuban national champion as an amateur, knocked down Savi in round two, while his own gloved touched the ground in what appeared to be a no call knockdown. Santana pressed early in round three landing a huge straight left hand that rocked the Benin Fighter. Savi went down from the pressure and was able to rise to beat the count however was assaulted by La Cobra immediately at which time Frank Gentile stepped in the call a halt to the fight a 1:51 of round three.
Thomas Snow 16-1, (9KO) won by knockout over Ernie Marquez 9-11-2, (3KO) in round 4 of a super flyweight bout.
Super Lightweight prospect Amir Iman (5-0, 4KO) remained perfect with an excellent knockout win over Kelvin Williams Williams (1-2, 1KO) The end came quickly at 2:59 of the first round.
Trevor Bryan 4-0(3KO) made quick work of Hector Hodge 1-1 with great first round knockout.
In the opening bout, Esaie ‘Slick’ Estimar won by a brutal 1st round knockout of Xavier Lugo in a bout of pro debuters.
The full show was broadcast live on Pursuit Channel, as part of a last minute deal reached between the network and King.
Notable Boxing figures in attendance were Larry Holmes, Francisco Palacios, Evander Holyfield, Guillermo Jones, Francisco Palacios, Andriy Kotelnik, Cory Spinks, BJ Flores, and Randall Bailey