Travis Kauffman faces Tony Grano tonight on Showtime!
By FightFan News Wire (18-Sep-2009)

An exciting heavyweight clash is on tap as Travis Kauffman and Tony Grano will face off in the main event on ShoBox: The New Generation TONIGHT on SHOWTIME (11 PM ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).

Both combatants for tonight’s ShoBox: The New Generation heavyweight main event appeared trim and ready for fireworks at yesterday’s weigh-in. Undefeated Travis Kauffman of Reading, PA, 18-0 (15 KOs), weighed in at 221 pounds. In the other corner, Tony Grano of Hebron, CT, 15-1-1 (12 KOs), tipped the scales at 218, his lightest since 2006. Both men will be fighting in their first scheduled ten-round contest.

The fight will take place at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, CA and will be televised live on the Showtime network, beginning at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The show will be promoted by Gary Shaw Productions.

Kauffman, age 24, spent the majority of training camp in Deer Lake, PA at the legendary facility first popularized by Muhammad Ali more than 30 years ago. Among his many sparring partners were Matt Godfrey, Ring Magazine’s tenth ranked cruiserweight in the world. Kauffman was a two-time national amateur champion with a record of 51-7.

This will be Kauffman’s second appearance on ShoBox, the first coming last December when he knocked out Malachy Farrell in three rounds, also at the Chumash Casino. Kauffman stopped William Shahan in 80 seconds in his last bout just over a month ago.

“I feel good,” said Kauffman as he stepped off the scales. “The hard part is the training; The fighting is the easy part. I’m not saying the fight is going to be easy, but if I stick to my game plan and box I will make it much less complicated.”

Like Kauffman, the 28-year-old Grano was a decorated amateur as well, winning the US National championship in 2005. Grano’s only defeat came against Mark Brown last September after scoring two early knockdowns. Brown recovered to stop Grano in the eighth round. Grano’s best win came against Leroy Childs the fight prior to that when he knocked out the 13-1 fellow prospect in the opening round. Grano’s last performance was a workmanlike decision victory over trialhorse Jermell Barnes in February.

“He’s probably the heaviest puncher I fought but not the most skilled fighter I’ve ever fought,” Kauffman said. “He’s coming to fight, not lay down. I don’t underestimate him at all. He’s a fighter with two hands just like me. He has one loss and doesn’t want another but he’s never fought anybody like me.”

Kauffman’s father and trainer Marshall Kauffman feels this fight will put the boxing world on notice and thrust his son into the sport’s fast track.

“Being in the main event on ShoBox means a lot. He can’t go anywhere else but up from here. Grano is tough, but he’ll be too tough for his own good.”

Travis shares a similar confidence to his father. “Tune in tomorrow night on Showtime. You’re going to see the next heavyweight champion of the world in action.”

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