In the heart of Detroit, at the Wayne State Fieldhouse, the boxing scene came alive on a Thursday evening, with Juan Carrillo, a Colombian pugilist and a relic from the 2016 Olympics, maintaining his undefeated streak in the light heavyweight division. He delivered a knockout punch, quite literally, to Virginia’s own Quinton Rankin during the climax of Salita Promotions’ “Big Time Boxing USA” event, with the fight thrilling fans and streaming aficionados alike on DAZN.
Carrillo, boasting a pristine record now standing at 12-0 with 9 KOs, faced a momentary shake-up courtesy of Rankin’s fists in the opening round but swiftly recalibrated to deliver a knockout blow with two uppercuts that sealed Rankin’s fate (21-9-2, 16 KOs).
Despite Rankin’s aggressive display at the weigh-in, Carrillo stayed composed, outmaneuvered the early aggression, and let his refined technique do the talking, ultimately securing his victory with a decisive blow to Rankin’s chin along the ropes, ending the night’s main event in the third round at the 27-second mark.
In the co-main event of the evening, Detroit’s adopted son, Shohjahon Ergashev, hailing from Uzbekistan and holding the IBF #14 spot, made a triumphant return to the ring. He dismantled the seasoned Juan Huertas from Panama City, Panama, in a super lightweight showdown that barely broke a sweat. Ergashev, powered by his signature heavy-hitting, sent Huertas packing with a southpaw left and a body shot to follow, claiming victory in the first round.
Meanwhile, Husam Al Mashhadi from Dearborn Heights, Michigan, showcased his dominance in the super welterweight division, dispatching Daulis Prescott from Barranquilla, Colombia, in a whirlwind first round, proving once again the unpredictability and sheer excitement of the sport.
Adding to the evening’s tales of unexpected outcomes, William Townsel from Portsmouth, Virginia, displayed a masterclass in boxing technique, outmaneuvering the eager but less polished Nadim Salloum from Brooklyn, New York. Townsel’s seamless offense and impenetrable defense left Salloum grappling for strategies, ultimately leading to Townsel’s unanimous victory.
The event kicked off with a statement victory by Detroit’s Josiah Shackleford, who needed little more than a round to dispatch Antwion McCollough of Kalamazoo, Michigan, in a display of power and precision that set the tone for the night.
“It was a spectacle of fisticuffs in Detroit, highlighting the crème de la crème of boxing in some of the most electrifying divisions,” noted promoter Dmitriy Salita. “Shishkin inches closer to a world title opportunity, Ergashev climbs back into the title conversation, and Carrillo solidifies his status as a formidable contender in the light heavyweight division.”