By Laz Izada – A packed house of 3,958 fans came out to take in the VIVA DON KING 2 show held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fl. In the anticipated heavyweight showdown main event Tony “TNT” Grano (20-2-1, 16 KO’s) took on veteran DaVarryl “Touch of Sleep” Williamson (27-7, 23 KO’s) for the vacant North American Boxing Federation’s (WBC) Heavyweight belt.
Thirty one year old Grano from Hartford, Conn with a huge northeast following was making his first appearance in Florida with Don King as his promoter.. Williamson at forty three years of age with an outstanding amateur and respectful pro heavyweight career was looking for one last title run.
The 1st two rounds started out slowly. In the 2nd round Williamson did connect with a strong right on Grano. Grano at the press conference said that after that he “didn’t want to get caught again, so he started moving to his right and resetting before Williamson had a chance to try to tag him with those long arms”. Grano’s strategy worked as in the 3rd round he stepped up the pace and connected with at least three hard rights leaving Williamson holding Grano waiting for the bell to ring. At 2:27 of the fourth round the fight came to an end as Grano connected with an impressive, strong, devastating right putting “Touch of Sleep” out for the count.
Grano mentioned, at the after fight press conference, that he “believes that he showed that he has a knockout punch, and that he would like a shot at Vitali Klitschko (WBC Champion) before he retires”. This victory for Grano should propel him to the top 15 rankings within the WBC heavyweight division, and bring him better and bigger fights with Don King at his side.
In a brief note that I feel is of relevance to the heavyweight division, I connected with heavyweight Chauncy Welliver (ranked No. 6 by the WBC) at 2:00 am eastern time, in Macua, China via facebook as he is preparing to fight rugged heavyweight Sherman Williams Thursday night. Welliver mentioned to me that he would “like to win the NABF title and move up the WBC ladder”. Nothing official with (Grano), just thoughts, but must past Williams test first (Thursday night)”.
The good think that is happening out there, in the game, is that younger ranked heavyweights that have never had a world title shot such as Grano, Welliver, and Seth Mitchell are making their moves within the division.
“TNT I’m Dynamite, TNT I’ll win the fight”, Congratulations to Tony “TNT” Grano on his impressive victory becoming the new NABF Champion. Can’t wait to see him action again.