FloBoxing Fight Night: Rob Brant Official Preview And Predictions
FloBoxing Fight Night: Rob Brant Official Preview And Predictions
FloBoxing columnist Jonathan Moreland gives his official preview and picks for FloBoxing Fight Night: Rob Brant.
The wait is over.
Boxing fans, who seemed universally underwhelmed by the sport's overall showing in 2016, are about to enjoy a three-month stretch of fights that will offer more consistent, significant action than any period in the past year.
Here at FloBoxing, we're excited to join the fun by launching our "FloBoxing Fight Series." These programs will feature many of the top fighters, prospects and promotions from across the boxing industry -- and it debuts tomorrow, and you can watch it live from Grand Casino in Hinckley, MN exclusively on FloBoxing.
Let's take a look at the card and what we can expect from some of the matchups:
Rising prospect Brant will headline FloBoxing's inaugural "Fight Night." The 26 year-old Minnesota native stayed busy in 2016, notching KO victories in all of three of his fights -- most notable of which was this devastating, one-punch destruction of DeCarlo Perez in a "ShoBox" main event:
Brant will look to deliver a similarly scintillating performance in front of his hometown crowd. His opponent, Hloros, seems tailor-made for such an outcome. The 37-year-old has been on the wrong end of his most noteworthy career highlights, having been stopped in the second round by James Kirkland in 2011 and Demetrius Andrade in 2012. Come Friday, it seems likely that he'll be added to the win column of another blossoming star's resume.
My prediction: Brant via KO Rd 3
What Vue lacks in raw knockout power, he makes up for with pure heart. He'll channel the support of his Hmong community, who are expected to turn out in large numbers for the fight, as he seeks to preserve his undefeated record against Williams.
Living his "Lay 'em Down" moniker to the fullest, only one of Williams's 13 fights has gone the full distance. He's lost five of his last six fights though, so it might be his turn to hit the canvas again. It will be interesting to see whether the slick-but-soft-hitting Vue can take him out.
My prediction: Duarn Vue via UD
Hernandez joins the ranks of fellow undefeated, Midwestern fighters on this FloBoxing card. The 27 year-old native of Cleveland will look to keep his spotless record intact against Gavino Guaman. Hernandez seems to have the heavier hands -- he has knocked out 7 of 8 foes, compared to the KO-less Guaman -- and slightly steeper career trajectory.
My prediction: Ramiro Hernandez TKO3
This feels like a bit of a crossroads fight, which typically leads to a bad result for one fighter, but a great outcome for the crowd.
Both combatants are quick and athletic. Both fighters also suffered their first career losses in 2016. Fair or not, the unforgiving boxing world tends to treat crooked numbered losses as scarlet letters. The loser here might need to go back to the drawing board, while the winner will take a big step towards revitalizing their status amongst the US welterweight ranks.
(Fun fact: both Caraway and Wilson lost decisions to Gilbert Venegas in 2016. Wilson was defeated by Venegas Jr. on a PBC telecast, while Caraway lost to Venegas Sr., his father.)
My prediction: -- Coin flip, but this won't go the distance
Halili is the epitome of a TV-friendly prizefighter. He has brutish punching power and a 100% knockout rate. On the other hand, he also seems flawed defensively and extremely easy to hit.
Halili looks to continue to his four-fight winning streak (all by stoppages) against Barber. At first glance, this appears like a run-of-the-mill, developmental bout. However, if you think back to Halili's June 2016 barnburner against Jason Thompson -- in which an opponent with a similarly unimpressive record floored the Kosovo native twice in Round 2, before Halili rallied and dispatched his foe with a massive right hand seconds later -- you'll know that his penchant for pugilistic pyrotechnics works both ways. This should be fun while it lasts.
My prediction: Skender Halili via KO Rd 2
Accomplished amateur Adrian Taylor (2-0) takes on Matt Chavez (0-1) in a Cruiserweight tilt.
Journeymen Jose "Homar" Rios (1-3 1KO) and Matt Murphy (1-8 1KO) square off in a Lightweight scrap.
Danyelle Williams (2-0), who has fought 12 times in pro MMA competitions, takes on Jesse Vice (2-2-1) in a Heavyweight bout.
By Jonathan Moreland/FloBoxing
Boxing fans, who seemed universally underwhelmed by the sport's overall showing in 2016, are about to enjoy a three-month stretch of fights that will offer more consistent, significant action than any period in the past year.
Here at FloBoxing, we're excited to join the fun by launching our "FloBoxing Fight Series." These programs will feature many of the top fighters, prospects and promotions from across the boxing industry -- and it debuts tomorrow, and you can watch it live from Grand Casino in Hinckley, MN exclusively on FloBoxing.
Let's take a look at the card and what we can expect from some of the matchups:
Main Event - Robert "Bravo" Brant (21-0 14KOs) vs. Alexis Hloros (18-5-2 12KOs) - 10 Rounds - NABA Middleweight Championship
Rising prospect Brant will headline FloBoxing's inaugural "Fight Night." The 26 year-old Minnesota native stayed busy in 2016, notching KO victories in all of three of his fights -- most notable of which was this devastating, one-punch destruction of DeCarlo Perez in a "ShoBox" main event:
Brant will look to deliver a similarly scintillating performance in front of his hometown crowd. His opponent, Hloros, seems tailor-made for such an outcome. The 37-year-old has been on the wrong end of his most noteworthy career highlights, having been stopped in the second round by James Kirkland in 2011 and Demetrius Andrade in 2012. Come Friday, it seems likely that he'll be added to the win column of another blossoming star's resume.
My prediction: Brant via KO Rd 3
Co-Main Event - Duarn "The Storm" Vue (10-0-2 3KOs) vs. Lance "Lay 'Em Down" Williams (7-6 7KOs) -- 8 Rounds - Super Featherweights
What Vue lacks in raw knockout power, he makes up for with pure heart. He'll channel the support of his Hmong community, who are expected to turn out in large numbers for the fight, as he seeks to preserve his undefeated record against Williams.
Living his "Lay 'em Down" moniker to the fullest, only one of Williams's 13 fights has gone the full distance. He's lost five of his last six fights though, so it might be his turn to hit the canvas again. It will be interesting to see whether the slick-but-soft-hitting Vue can take him out.
My prediction: Duarn Vue via UD
Gavino Guaman (4-1) vs. Ramiro Hernandez (8-0 7KOs) -- 6 Rounds - Featherweights
Hernandez joins the ranks of fellow undefeated, Midwestern fighters on this FloBoxing card. The 27 year-old native of Cleveland will look to keep his spotless record intact against Gavino Guaman. Hernandez seems to have the heavier hands -- he has knocked out 7 of 8 foes, compared to the KO-less Guaman -- and slightly steeper career trajectory.
My prediction: Ramiro Hernandez TKO3
Delorien "Lord" Caraway (7-1 5KOs) vs. Deonte "Bomaye" Wilson (5-1 3KOs) - 6 Rounds - Jr Welterweights
This feels like a bit of a crossroads fight, which typically leads to a bad result for one fighter, but a great outcome for the crowd.
Both combatants are quick and athletic. Both fighters also suffered their first career losses in 2016. Fair or not, the unforgiving boxing world tends to treat crooked numbered losses as scarlet letters. The loser here might need to go back to the drawing board, while the winner will take a big step towards revitalizing their status amongst the US welterweight ranks.
(Fun fact: both Caraway and Wilson lost decisions to Gilbert Venegas in 2016. Wilson was defeated by Venegas Jr. on a PBC telecast, while Caraway lost to Venegas Sr., his father.)
My prediction: -- Coin flip, but this won't go the distance
Skender Halili (12-1 12KOs) vs. Romon Barber (7-12 6KOs) -- 6 Rounds - Jr Middleweights
Halili is the epitome of a TV-friendly prizefighter. He has brutish punching power and a 100% knockout rate. On the other hand, he also seems flawed defensively and extremely easy to hit.
Halili looks to continue to his four-fight winning streak (all by stoppages) against Barber. At first glance, this appears like a run-of-the-mill, developmental bout. However, if you think back to Halili's June 2016 barnburner against Jason Thompson -- in which an opponent with a similarly unimpressive record floored the Kosovo native twice in Round 2, before Halili rallied and dispatched his foe with a massive right hand seconds later -- you'll know that his penchant for pugilistic pyrotechnics works both ways. This should be fun while it lasts.
My prediction: Skender Halili via KO Rd 2
The Best of the Rest
Accomplished amateur Adrian Taylor (2-0) takes on Matt Chavez (0-1) in a Cruiserweight tilt.
Journeymen Jose "Homar" Rios (1-3 1KO) and Matt Murphy (1-8 1KO) square off in a Lightweight scrap.
Danyelle Williams (2-0), who has fought 12 times in pro MMA competitions, takes on Jesse Vice (2-2-1) in a Heavyweight bout.
By Jonathan Moreland/FloBoxing