Dusty Hernandez-Harrison Beats Thomas LaManna
Washington, D.C. welterweight Dusty Hernandez-Harrison (30–0–1, 16 KOs) scored the biggest win of his career on Thursday night with a thrilling ten-round unanimous decision win over Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna (21–2, 9 KOs) of Millville, New Jersey in the main event of a CBS Sports Network televised card at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.
Hernandez-Harrison, 22, was coming off a disputed draw against Mike Dallas Jr. on May 13 at the DC Armory in a fight many thought Dallas won. LaManna, 24, was riding a five-fight win streak coming into this fight while gradually dropping down in weight after suffering his first professional loss in a middleweight bout by sixth-round TKO to Antoine Douglas on ShoBox in March 2015.
Hernandez-Harrison and LaManna sparred in 2014 and consider each other friends, having known each other for a long time. They put their friendship aside for one night and brawled for the better part of the ten rounds in a very compelling matchup between the young prospects. It was evident both wanted this win badly, knowing the winner would nudge himself closer to being a contender and a big fight, with the loser having to start from square one.
Much like the Dallas fight, Hernandez-Harrison did not let his hands go much in the first couple rounds. The difference in this fight was Hernandez-Harrison used lateral movement and feints to stay out of range of LaManna’s punches in the early going. Against Dallas he stayed stationary and absorbed heavy leather without firing back many shots of his own. Hernandez-Harrison had to get a feel for the taller LaManna’s timing and range, as the 6-foot tall Hernandez-Harrison is not accustomed to being the shorter pugilist inside the squared circle. LaManna used his 6’2” frame to jab effectively and land some combinations while walking Hernandez-Harrison down and trying to cut off the ring.
Hernandez-Harrison swung the momentum in the third round by standing his ground and letting his hands go more. Hernandez-Harrison landed numerous punishing body shots and overhand rights. Hernandez-Harrison became the fighter doing the stalking, as he came forward and got the better of the exchanges on the inside against LaManna. The pair’s punch output was about the same, but Hernandez-Harrison was the quicker and harder-hitting fighter. His punches were sharper and more thudding than LaManna’s throughout the contest, which gave him the edge in most of the rounds.
The action really heated up in the seventh round, with sustained toe-to-toe action for all three minutes, including both being stunned in the round. The frenetic pace continued the rest of the fight. It became a battle of attrition, both testing the others will. The pair hugged to begin the final frame and went right back to trading bombs until the final bell rang. Both combatants face’s showed the signs of the war they just engaged in. There was bruising and swelling around both of LaManna’s eyes and some redness and swelling near Hernandez-Harrison’s left eye.
Hernandez-Harrison won the fight by scores of 98-92, 97-93, and 97-93. It was a nice bounce back win for Hernandez-Harrison after the tough fight against Dallas. He sets himself up for a big fight to either close out 2016 or in the early part of 2017.