The July 11 edition of ESPN Friday Night Fights will feature undefeated Middleweight Mike “Imagine Me” Gavronksi (14-0-1, 10 KOs) and Tureano “Reno” Johnson (14-1, 10 KOs) in the 10-round main event. Friday’s show, from Little Creek Casino in Shelton, Wash., will air live at 9 p.m. ET and is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions.
In-Studio Guest: WBO Lightweight Titlist Terence Crawford:
On the heels of his ninth-round knockout victory over Yuriorkis Gamboa to retain his world title, undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) Lightweight titlist Terence Crawford will appear as an in-studio guest this week on Friday Night Fights and Noche de Combates.
Main Event:
Washington’s Gavronski is coming off a six-round majority decision win over Kevin Hand, while Johnson, a 2008 Olympian for The Bahamas, is looking to rebound from a 10th-round TKO loss to Curtis Stevens.
“Reno (Johnson) has an attitude, and I think he means it,” Johnson’s co-manager Victor Wainstein said. “He thinks every fight is a world title fight and takes every opponent seriously. From the little tape I’ve seen of Gavronski, he looks like a real tough guy. He comes forward, which we love. I think everyone who tunes in is going to see an amazing fight.”
Gavronski said of the fight, “Johnson is one of those straightforward fighters. He’s going to come at you. If he can knock your block off, he will. I have respect for him, for sure – I respect anybody that gets in the ring. I think it’s going to be a fun fight for everybody to watch, and I’m excited to be part of it.”
Co-Feature:
Friday’s 10-round Lightweight co-feature will pit Jonathan “Inca Peruano” Maicelo (17-1, 1 NC, 11 KOs) of New Jersey against California’s Art “Lionheart” Hovhannisyan (17-1-2, 9 KOs). Maicelo is looking to score a victory following a no-contest in his last fight against Jorge Rodriguez. Prior to that fight, Maicelo scored a 10th-round knockout win over Alejandro Rodriguez. In his last outing, Hovhannisyan won an eight-round unanimous decision over Hector Zuniga. Hovhannisyan scored his career-best win in 2012 when he won a 10-round split-decision over former WBA Lightweight titlist Miguel Acosta.
