Two Young Fighters Go From Sparring To Competing For The Same Title!

Welterweights Dusty Hernandez-Harrison 146.8 lbs. and Thomas LaManna 146.1 lbs. will battle in a scheduled 10-round bout for the vacant USBA Welterweight title tonight, Sept. 15, in a highly anticipated showdown at the 2300 Arena. The card is promoted by Peltz Boxing Promotions & GH3 Promotions and will be a live broadcast on the CBS Sports Network starting at 10pm ET.

Harrison and LaManna put in a few sparring rounds with each other in 2014, but had no clue that their careers would meet up this way. Both fighters only had one true test in their careers. 

Hernandez-Harrison, 22, of Washington, DC, is 29-0-1, (16 K0s). Harrison's best competition was just a few months ago on May 13, 2016 when Mike Dallas came up from the Jr Welterweight division to fight Harrison to controversial split decision draw. 


LaManna, 24, of Millville, NJ, has a record of 21-1, 9 K0s. He has been fighting regularly since turning pro in 2011. LaManna lost his only bout when he took a risk by moving up in weight to fight Antoine Douglas on March 13, 2015. 

Harrison: "This is a big opportunity for both of us. The winner will get a Top 15 world ranking by the IBF and that’s what this is about. I have known Thomas for a long time, but that all goes out the window when we step into the ring."

LaManna: "I’ve been looking forward to this fight for a long time. Our careers have run parallel. Dusty will bring plenty of fans to support him that night and the same goes for me. It’s an intriguing match for both of us and it’s in a natural setting where it belongs."