Jordan White proved his skills with an astounding Knockout of the Year. His stunning one-punch KO of Eridson Garcia, aired live on SHOWTIME from Wind Creek Casino in Bethlehem, Pa, unquestionably staked his claim in SHOBOX: The New Generation’s 22-year history.
White recounted, “The first time I hit him with that shot, I knew I hurt him because he stumbled back and smiled at me.” The 25-year-old delivered the final blow with a confident poise, stating, “And then the second one, I put him to sleep. Anybody that gets hit by me will be put to sleep. My dad said I would get him with that hook.”
White hails from Waldorf, Md., and is under the professional tutelage of Bill Haney, the father of Undisputed Lightweight World Champion Devin Haney. Their bond extends beyond the ring as they were teammates and roommates on the Junior National travel team, sharing a camaraderie that continues to this day.
White’s impressive amateur career paved the way to his triumphant knockout. Victories over names such as Brandun Lee and Vergil Ortiz, Jr., validated his caliber. The unforgettable counter left hook that landed flush on Garcia’s chin promptly ended the fight at 1:57 of the first round, solidifying White’s promising future in the 130-pound division.
“I always felt like I was a contender, but I just needed the world to see it,” White voiced his ambitions post-victory. With the world’s eyes now firmly on him, he added, “I’m ready for anybody that comes my way, whether it’s Chris Colbert or anybody else in the division.”
Paul Kroll and Guido Schramm fought to a spirited majority draw, a rollercoaster of two-way action. A controversial verdict saw judge John McKaie’s ruling of 77-75 in favor of Kroll overridden by two scorecards that read 76-76.
Both Kroll and Schramm left the ring feeling like they had done enough to secure victory. “I feel like I won the fight,” Kroll said, defending his performance. “It was a good, competitive fight but I landed the cleaner shots.”
Schramm shared similar sentiments, “I felt I won the fight by at least a point.” Despite acknowledging Kroll’s skill, he expressed his discontentment over the referee’s perceived leniency, “He fought a little dirty and the ref didn’t call it.”
Schramm took the initiative from the get-go, while Kroll found success landing punches on the counter. The evenly matched nature of the fight was reflected in the punch stats; Schramm out-landed Kroll 169 to 166 in total punches, including a 61 to 41 connect advantage in the final two rounds. Yet, Kroll’s power shots seemed to have more of an impact, landing 138 of 312 (44%) compared to 154 of 396 (39%) for Schramm.
Both fighters agreed that they would be open to a rematch, each still certain of their superior performance. “I will run it back if he wants to,” said Kroll, while Schramm added, “I would like the rematch, but at 10 rounds and not in Pennsylvania. I’ll fight him anywhere else but not here in his home.”
The night also featured a super featherweight showdown with Julian Gonzalez taking the spotlight. The 21-year-old comfortably secured a unanimous decision over Johnny Spell, bagging a state title and local bragging rights.
Spell did have his moments, specifically in the fifth and sixth rounds, but was ultimately outperformed. Despite his admirable comeback after being a victim of gun violence in August 2022, Spell came up short. “I just need to get back in the lab,” he conceded, adding, “I knew what I was up against and I knew what I had to do. I bit down but just came up short.”