Golden Boy Promotions kicked off its first fight card of 2025 as middleweight prospect Eric Priest (15-0, 8 KOs), of Kansas City, Kansas and Crossville, Tennessee’s Tyler “Hercules” Howard (20-3, 11 KOs) squared off the Golden Boy Fight Night main event on DAZN at the Commerce Casino & Hotel in Commerce, California.
Priest dominated Howard in going the distance ten rounds and winning a unanimous decision.
It was all boxing early on in the fight, Priest and Howard measuring with the jab moving along side to side. Priest kept boxing effectively in the third keeping Howard at a distance. Displaying ring generalship and in control of the fight Priest continued to box effectively as Howard was limited.
In the sixth, Howard’s nose was bleeding as Priest kept boxing and connecting with the jab. Priest looked comfortable fighting through seven rounds as he was consisted with the jab and keeping Howard at bay. Late in the eighth, Priest was well on his way to victory but continued to apply himself in the ring to the final bell.
All three judges scored the bout 100-90 as Priest wins the WBA Continental Americas title.
Honolulu, Hawaii’s undefeated prospect Jordan “The Patriot” Panthen (11-0, 9 KOs) made his Golden Boy Promotions debut with a tough task in defeating DeAundre Pettus (12-4, 7 KOs) of South Carolina in the co-feature bout of the evening by winning a hard fought unaniomus decision.
Decked out in his patriotic trunks, Panthen worked the jab but Pettus delivered some fast counters shortly after on the inside, Panthen suffered a cut above his head as blood trickled down to his head. Panthen attacked in the second but Pettus kept his poise fighting behind the jab and mixing in an uppercut snapping the Patriots head in the process. Applying the pressure and making the fight, Panthen made the most of it in round three as Pettus was limited with his counters. Sticking the jab and pressing in the fourth, Panthen was productive as he continued to back Pettus who appeared to be slowing his pace. Referee Thomas momentarily called a halt to the bout as as there appeared to be a clash of heads as the bleeding continued to trickle down to Panthens face, shortly after Pettus landed an uppercut that snapped Panthen head but the Patriot kept fighting.
In the sixth, Panthen was productive backing and shooting combinations however Pettus finished the round strong in shooting a combination to close. Pettus attacked with the right hand to begin the sixth as he backed Panthen but there was no backing down from the Patriot as he was bloodied to finish the round. Slugging it out to begin the seventh, Pathen and Pettus traded some serious leather but simmered down with the boxing and in the closing seconds of the round once again traded away. Late in the fight in the eighth, Pettus and Panthen picked up the pace as the appeared to be close. Bleeding from his cut in the ninth, Panthen stalked, pressured, and took it to the tall and lanky Pettus as he continued to make it a difficult fight for the Patriot. The tenth and final round was all Panthen applying the pressure, letting his hands go and keeping Pettus pinned up against the ropes finishing strong.
After ten rounds of boxing the judges scored the bout 100-90, 98-92, and 97-93 as Panthen takes it unanimously.
Super welterweight prospect Grant Flores (8-0, 6 KOs) of Coachella, California scored an explosive third round knockout over Costa Rica’s David Ramirez (17-4, 12 KOs). Flores staggered Ramirez early in the opening round, patiently stalking and attacking Flores mop the canvas with Ramirez. The Costa Rican was bloodied and appeared to be retreating as Flores was on the offensive, a huge uppercut by Flores did it as Ramirez dropped to his knee, referee reached a ten count at 2:59.
Other Bouts
Coachella’s super welterweight prospect Cayden Griffiths (3-0, 3 KOs) scored a second round knockout over Marc Misiura (3-7-1, 1 KO). Griffith’s boxed and kept his distance measuring Misiura with the jab as he appeared to wait for the perfect shot. Stepping up his attack the perfect shot came in the second round as a crunching left hook to the body by Griffiths did it dropping Misiura to his knees as the referee Jerry Cantu called a halt to the bout at 1:43 of the second.
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Bantamweight prospect Jordan Fuentes (3-0) of Fresno, California won a unanimous decision over Brandon Badilo (0-3-1) in dominating for four rounds. Very limited offense to start as Fuentes and Badillo circled the ring and moved around side to side. In the second round things started to pick up with Fuentes and Badilo starting to let loose. There was more offense in the third from Fuentes as he dropped Badillo in the closing seconds of the round. Sanchez boxed patiently in the fourth as he appeared to be lurking in on the attack in cruising to the decision win. All three judges scored the bout 40-35.
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In the opening bout from the Commerce Casino in Commerce, California, super featherweight Leonardo Sanchez (8-0, 6 KO’s) of Cathedral City, California won a unanimous decision over Joseph Cruz (10-12, 6 KO’s) of Sonora, Mexico. It was a fast past opening round as Sanchez an Cruz let their hands go, the veteran used is tricks early on the young prospect. Sanchez let his hands go in round two as he pinned Cruz up against the ropes as the veteran was in rope a dope mode. In the third, Sanchez continued with the offensive as Sanchez circled the ring and was limited with his punches.
Past the halfway mark in the fourth round, Sanchez began to turn the tide as Cruz was in retreat mode. A hard right hand by Sanchez connected in the fifth as Cruz had his back to the ropes and continued to be limited. It was all Sanchez heading into the final round as Cruz definitely appeared to be in survival mode. Sanchez stood busy in outworking Cruz in route to the decision win.
All three judges scored the bout 60-54.
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