Griffin’s Dominant Victory
On a thrilling Thursday night at Sony Hall in New York, unbeaten welterweight Avious Griffin (17-0, 16 KOs) showcased his prowess by stopping Jose ‘El Guero’ Luis Sanchez (14-5-1, 4 KOs) in the eighth round. The bout, scheduled for 10 rounds, was for the vacant WBC USA Welterweight title. Griffin’s relentless aggression and precise strikes left Sanchez struggling to keep up, ultimately leading to the referee’s intervention.
Early Show of Force
From the outset, Griffin was the aggressor. In the first round, he landed a powerful left hook followed by a right to the chin, sending Sanchez down for an eight-count. Despite Sanchez’s resilience, he managed to reach the end of the round by covering up. The second round saw Griffin dropping Sanchez again with a right to the chin, this time for another eight-count. Griffin continued to dominate, drawing blood from Sanchez’s nose with a final right in the closing seconds of the round.
Unrelenting Pressure
Griffin’s dominance continued into the third and fourth rounds. In the third, he maintained his aggressive stance, outworking Sanchez and keeping him on the defensive. The fourth round saw Griffin driving Sanchez into the ropes with a combination of punches. Towards the end of the round, a clash of heads prompted Griffin to complain, but it was Sanchez who landed the final punch of the round, a right to Griffin’s chin. However, this minor success was insufficient to turn the tide.
Sanchez’s Resilience
In the fifth round, Griffin’s relentless pressure continued, though Sanchez showed signs of resilience. Despite trailing, Sanchez landed his best punch of the fight—a right to Griffin’s body—just before the final twenty seconds. The sixth round saw Sanchez making a more significant effort, even slipping to the canvas in the final seconds. The ring physician examined Sanchez, but he was cleared to continue.
Final Rounds and the Knockout
The seventh round was no different, with Griffin rocking Sanchez with a right to the chin in the final seconds. In the eighth round, Griffin’s relentless assault finally led to the referee, Shawn Clark, stepping in to stop the fight at 2:46. Griffin’s performance was a testament to his skill and determination, securing the WBC USA Welterweight title in decisive fashion.
Undercard Highlights
The evening also featured other notable bouts. Junior welterweight Jason ‘The Joker’ Castanon (2-1, 1 KO) secured a majority decision over Stephen Barbee (0-3) in a closely contested four-round match. Despite Barbee’s aggression and the presence of former world IBF Lightweight champion Paul ‘The Pittsburgh Kid’ Spadafora in his corner, Castanon managed to edge out the victory with a flurry of punches in the final minute.
Previously unbeaten junior welterweight southpaw Koby Khalil Williams (4-1, 3 KOs) faced a tough challenge against Nick ‘The Truth’ Isaac (6-0, 4 KOs). The scheduled six-round bout, originally planned for four, saw Isaac outworking Williams with a more effective jab and busier approach. Isaac’s dominance was evident in the final round, leading to a unanimous decision in his favor.
The night’s action was announced by ‘Marvelous’ Matt Compatelli, with commentary provided by Randy ‘The Commish’ Gordan, matchmaker Eric Bottjer, and Henry Deleone. The event was a showcase of raw talent and fierce competition, leaving boxing fans eagerly anticipating the next exciting bout on the horizon.
