Dwane Taylor delivered a stunning eighth-round technical knockout against Sam Rizzo, capping a dramatic Night of Knockouts main event at Carlos Llinas’s Night of Knockouts XLIII. The junior lightweight clash was held at the MotorCity Casino Soundboard in Detroit.
This memorable event on Friday, September 25, 2026, saw Taylor overcome significant adversity to secure the victory before an engaged local crowd. Referee Steve Daher stepped in at the 58-second mark of the final round to halt the contest, awarding Taylor the TKO win.
Taylor’s comeback: Halt Sam Rizzo
The highly anticipated bout between the two hometown fighters lived up to its billing, evolving into a back-and-forth battle that showcased both skill and grit. Promoted by Carlos Llinas, a long-standing figure in Detroit boxing, the event provided local fans with a memorable night of action, highlighted by Taylor’s impressive late surge.
The main event, scheduled for eight rounds, began with Dwane Taylor asserting control. He landed hard jabs effectively in the opening round and continued his aggressive approach into the second. However, Sam Rizzo found his rhythm, catching Taylor with a solid punch just before the second-round bell, seemingly stunning him.
Taylor retaliated in the third, dropping Rizzo with a crisp left hook. Rizzo, showing remarkable resilience, quickly rose and regained his composure, then took charge for the next several rounds. His “move, slip in, and attack” style contrasted effectively with Taylor’s stalking, ring-cutting approach.
Rizzo Builds Momentum
Sam Rizzo had an excellent fifth round, inflicting a mouse under Dwane Taylor’s left eye, signaling a shift in momentum. As the fight progressed into the seventh round, Rizzo continued to press his advantage, pinning Taylor against the ropes and landing a series of powerful shots.
By the start of the eighth and final round, it appeared Rizzo was well on his way to securing a decision victory.
But Dwane Taylor, refusing to concede, initiated a furious exchange at the round’s outset. He connected with a “monster shot” that sent Rizzo to the canvas for the second time. Despite looking severely shaken, Rizzo once again beat referee Steve Daher’s count, demonstrating immense courage. Daher gave Rizzo a careful look before allowing the fight to continue.
The Eighth-Round Turnaround
However, Taylor immediately capitalized on Rizzo’s compromised state. He pressed forward, unleashing a barrage of heavy blows. Recognizing Rizzo’s inability to defend himself effectively, referee Daher intervened, rescuing him from further punishment.
The TKO victory at 58 seconds of the eighth round improved Taylor’s professional record to 10 wins, 1 loss, with 9 knockouts, while Rizzo’s record now stands at 10 wins, 2 losses, with 6 knockouts.
This thrilling comeback underscored the unpredictable nature of boxing and highlighted Taylor’s ability to dig deep under pressure. For local fight enthusiasts, it was touted as one of the best matchups between hometown boxers in recent memory, delivering on the promise of a fiercely contested battle.
Undercard Highlights from Motor City
The Night of Knockouts XLIII card featured a total of 12 bouts, providing a packed evening for Detroit boxing fans. Beyond the main event, several other fighters delivered impressive performances, cementing their professional trajectories. These matchups are crucial for the development of emerging talent within the local scene.
In a super welterweight contest, Justin Lacey-Pierce continued his undefeated run, securing a unanimous decision victory over Puerto Rico’s Luis Caraballo Ramos. All three judges scored the eight-round bout 80-72 in favor of Lacey-Pierce, who advanced his record to 15-0-1 with 8 knockouts. Lacey-Pierce’s speed and effective scoring were key, though Ramos, now 8-10, made it competitive with hard shots in the seventh round.
Rising Prospects Shine Bright
Philadelphia’s Richard Johnson, a junior middleweight, showcased his power with an easy first-round knockout over Juan Silva. Johnson, improving to 10-0 with 6 knockouts, ended the fight at 1:06 with a decisive body shot against Silva (4-6). This swift victory further highlights Johnson’s potential as a rising talent in the sport, demonstrating his ability to finish fights early.
Detroit’s Bryant Brown also secured a second-round TKO in a super middleweight clash against Jrue Luis King. Brown (5-0, 4 KOs) knocked King (6-1, 4 KOs) to the canvas early in the round. Despite King beating the count, referee Floyd Porter recognized his inability to continue, waving off the fight at 2:06. This dominant performance underscores Brown’s significant power and potential.
Quick Finishes and Unbeaten Records
The evening also saw several other quick finishes. Light heavyweight Ali Hamka, making his professional debut, dispatched Shawn Moore (0-2) in just 21 seconds of the first round with a body blow. Hamka, who also serves as a Dearborn police officer, made a memorable entry into the pro ranks.
Junior Middleweight Brandon Wilcox (4-0, 4 KOs) scored a one-punch knockout at 2:59 of the first round against Murodjon Eshnazarov (1-1), following an earlier knockdown.
Featherweight Thomas Covington (3-0, 3 KOs) likewise notched a first-round win, with Derik LaMont Smith (0-4) failing to beat the count after a second knockdown at 1:06. These rapid victories electrified the crowd and underlined the aggressive nature of the evening.
In a couple of heavyweight fights, Marcus Solis (3-0, 1 KO) got the decision over Marcus Maulding (3-10, 3 KOs) with judges scoring it 39-36 and 40-35 x 2. Maulding took a standing eight count in the final round.
David McPherson (4-0, 4 KOs) scored knockdowns in the second and fourth rounds over KeShawn Jackson (1-11-1, 0 KOs), before landing the finisher at 1:38 of the last round for the KO win.
Welterweight Jeremiah Phifer (4-0, 3 KOs) landed a knockdown shot against Duvai Gibbs (3-4 0 KOs) in the first then carried on to take the decision over super tough Gibbs by judges scores of 39-36 and 40-35 x 2.
Joshua Owen (2-0, 2 KOs) scored a knockdown in the first, then three more in the second for the automatic TKO at 2:56 over Kerry Lattimer, who was making his professional debut.
Super featherweights Charles Cross (2-0, 2 KOs) scored two knockdowns in the first round over Dartagnan Ware (0-5), with Ware indicating to referee Daher on the second one that his night was done. Cross secured the TKO at 2:04.
This night promoter Carlos Llinas was presented an award in the ring in recognition of his 20 years of promoting here in the Detroit area.
Boxing does not survive without these non-TV events, and Llinas has done it here far longer and more often than any other promoter in the Detroit and Michigan area has for many years. In the boxing world of today it is no easy task to throw shows of 10-12 bouts on a regular basis.
Llinas has given the good, the bad, and the ugly a chance to perform here where they might have no other opportunity and he deserves congratulations for his efforts.
