Opening Bell: Dusty Hernandez-Harrison Fights Ben Ankrah on June 29
Dusty Harrison file photo by Anna John for StiffJab.com
by Gautham Nagesh
Matchmaker Michael Walters informed us this weekend that Stiff Jab 2012 Prospect of the Year Dusty Harrison will return to the ring on June 29th to fight Ben Ankrah at Foxwoods on the undercard of an HBO Boxing After Dark triple header. The main event will feature Kazakh middleweight contender Gennady Golovkin against Matthew Macklin, with Thomas Oosthuizen vs. Brandon “Flawless” Gonzalez at super middleweight serving as chief support.
Hernandez-Harrison is coming off an impressive showing against Eddie Soto last month in front of a strong crowd at UDC. Dusty showed solid growth and impressive composure while taking a step up; Ankrah is another veteran trial horse expected to give Dusty a challenge as he continues to develop.
“I have watched video on Ankrah and he can definitely fight; he’s always active,” Hernandez-Harrison said. ”He’s a tough guy, but that’s what I want so I can keep improving and learning. I want guys that are going to push me and make me fight my best because ultimately that will make me a better fighter.”
The Accra, Ghana native has lost his last four, all to good prospects, including touted Puerto Rican puncher Thomas Dulorme. But Ankrah went the distance in the last three fights and should be there when the final bell sounds.[[MORE]]
Unfortunately the cost and difficulty of getting to Foxwoods will probably prevent us from being ringside, but we’ll bring an update after the fight. Dusty won’t be the only Harrison on the card either, as Stiff Jab favorite Tony “Superbad” Harrison (no relation) of Kronk Gym in Detroit is scheduled to take part in an eight-rounder against an unspecified opponent.
Tony Harrison has the honor of being one of the last fighters honed under the tutelage of the late, great Emmanuel Steward, which means we’ve been following him closely for years. The loss of Steward will surely be a blow, but Harrison has impressed enough people in the boxing fighting on Klitschko undercards that he should eventually get his chance to climb the ladder at junior middleweight.
Floyd Mayweather & Canelo Press Tour Hits D.C.: The biggest fight of the decade so far is signed, sealed, delivered for September 14th, and now Floyd Mayweather and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez are hitting the media circuit to promote their clash for the true junior middleweight championship of the world.
The press tour will begin in New York City at Times Square on Monday at 3 p.m., followed by an appearance at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Washington at the Howard Theater. We can’t promise anything, but we’ll do our best to send a photographer at the least. On Wednesday the fighters hit Floyd’s hometown Grand Rapids, Mich., for a noon appearance at Houseman Field, while the evening finds them in the Windy City at Chicago Theater.
From there things continue South and West, into Mexico and outside of our coverage area. I’m sure Floyd will say or do something to set the fight press a-twitter before the end of the tour, so stay tuned.