Thursday, February 20, 2025 | Sony Hall, New York, NY
Broadcast: DAZN (live worldwide)
Promoter: Larry Goldberg, Boxing Insider Promotions

A snowstorm threatened New York City all week, and the card took hit after hit. Six fights were originally scheduled, but last-minute chaos reduced it to three. The New York State Athletic Commission refused to clear a fighter due to a troubling MRI. Another fighter pulled out because his father thought the opponent was “the wrong style.” A third fighter’s mother tried to hold the promoter up for a purse increase.

Charles Jay wrote about the night on BoxingInsider.com, describing how Goldberg had every justification to cancel, and how Jay himself strongly suggested he do so. But Goldberg refused to run out on his audience. “I can’t rightly be the promoter of the year and cancel shows because I have a little bit of trouble,” Goldberg said. Despite the chaos, Jay reported a healthy, enthusiastic gathering at Sony Hall and praised matchmaker Eric Bottjer — “about as good as it gets in the professional boxing industry” — for saving the day with three fights that were both interesting on paper and competitive in the ring.

Thomas Hauser, writing for The Sweet Science, put the night in perspective by contrasting it with the Riyadh Season mega-card that took place two nights later. When Goldberg lost three fighters during fight week, he was left with a three-bout card. When Riyadh lost Daniel Dubois, they simply opened the checkbook. Hauser wrote: “There used to be glory at the club fight level. Being a good club fighter was an end in itself. On February 20, Larry Goldberg gave boxing fans three good club fights.”

Matchmaker: Eric Bottjer. Inspector: Matthew Delaglio. Ring announcer: “Marvelous” Matt Compatelli. Commentators: Randy “The Commish” Gordon, Eric Bottjer, and Henry Deleone.

MAIN EVENT
Avious “The Underdog” Griffin (17-0, 16 KOs) def. Jose Luis “El Guero” Sanchez (14-5-1, 4 KOs)
Welterweight — 146½ lbs — 10 Rounds (WBC USA Welterweight Title, Vacant)
Result: TKO Round 8 (2:46)
Referee: Shawn Clark

Griffin dropped Sanchez three times in the first two rounds — a left hook following a right in the first, and two rights on the chin in the second, drawing blood from Sanchez’s nose. Despite the early punishment, Sanchez showed tremendous heart and became the first opponent to take Griffin past the sixth round. Sanchez landed his best punch in the fifth (a right to the body) and arguably had his best round in the sixth before the ring physician examined him between rounds. Griffin rocked Sanchez with a right in the closing seconds of the seventh and poured it on in the eighth until Referee Clark stepped in and waved it off. Griffin, trained by Brian “BoMac” McIntyre — the man behind Terence Crawford — captured the vacant WBC USA Welterweight title. As Charles Jay noted, Goldberg may be able to bring Griffin back, and he’ll be closer to the world’s top ten by that time.

Jason “The Joker” Castanon (2-1, 1 KO) def. Stephen Barbee (0-3)
Junior Welterweight — 136½ vs 136 lbs — 4 Rounds
Result: Majority Decision (38-38, 39-37, 39-37)
Referee: Joe Antume

A competitive four-rounder. Barbee, a former MMA fighter trained by former IBF lightweight champion Paul “The Pittsburgh Kid” Spadafora, came out aggressive and made it a fight throughout. Frequent clinches kept Referee Antume busy, and a clash of heads in the third opened a cut over Castanon’s right eyebrow. Castanon sealed it with a strong flurry in the final minute of the fourth.

Nicholas “The Truth” Isaac (6-0, 4 KOs) def. Koby Khalil “King” Williams (4-1, 3 KOs)
Junior Welterweight — 139¼ vs 138¾ lbs — 6 Rounds
Result: Unanimous Decision (60-54, 60-54, 60-54)
Referee: Joe Antume

The upset of the night. Williams came in undefeated at 4-0 and was expected to continue his rise. The fight was originally scheduled for four rounds but was extended to six after fights fell off the card. Isaac, a southpaw, put on a boxing clinic behind a sharp jab, outworking Williams from the outside and building swelling under Williams’ right eye by the fourth round. Isaac dominated the sixth to punctuate a shutout on all three scorecards.

Three fights, a snowstorm forecast, and half the card gone — and somehow one of the most memorable nights in Boxing Insider Promotions history. For more results and upcoming events, visit Boxing Insider Promotions.