If ever a young fighter has jumped from the frying pan into the fire, it must be Anthony “Tyger” Hanshaw. On July 14, Hanshaw thrilled a packed house at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum and a worldwide TV audience with a stirring performance while losing a razor-thin decision to boxing legend Roy Jones Jr.
After a strong showing like that, a lot of young fighters would take a prolonged rest from the ring or seek out a much less capable opponent. But not this “Tyger” from Warren, Ohio.
Hanshaw, age 29, whose record is 21-1-1 (14 KOs) returns to the Gulf Coast and to the same arena on Saturday, November 3, when he battles former world light heavyweight champion Glenn “Road Warrior” Johnson in a 12-round title eliminator which will be the main event of a card entitled “The Gulf Is Back.” Murad Productions and Down South Boxing in association with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Biloxi, will promote the card which will also deliver an excellent undercard lineup of other fights. Many of the boxers on the undercard will be local fighters from the Gulf Coast.
Tickets for Johnson-Hanshaw are priced at reasonable and affordable prices of $200, $100, $50, $30 and $15. For the military and their families, a buy one, get one free policy will be in effect.
“Unlike many big name fighters who run from danger, the Tyger runs to it,” promoter Muhammad said. “Give this kid all the credit for his obvious courage. He lost, barely lost, to a Hall Of Fame legend in Roy Jones Jr. and now he bounces back by fighting a guy who knocked Roy out in nine rounds three years ago. These are the type of things about Tony Hanshaw that lead me and others to believe he will be a world champion soon enough.”
As for the 38-year-old Johnson, who is promoted by Seminole Warriors Boxing, the native of Jamaica has basically done it all in his globetrotting career. He owns a deceptive pro record of 46-11-2 with 32 big knockouts. You can pick out any top name in the 175-pound division and chances are Glen has fought that guy.
Johnson has posted victories over the formidable Fred Moore and former world champion Montell Griffin already this year. Besides the upset knockout over Jones, Johnson can also boast of winning and losing a pair of fights against fomer world champion Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver.
Johnson is generally considered the Number One or Number Two contender in the light heavyweight division.
“This is a case where two hungry guys who are real threats are colliding in Biloxi,” Muhammad said. “What I love about Glen Johnson is that he never worries about who his opponent is. All the Road Warrior asks you is when, where and how much. He’s like the Old School fighters of yesteryear. He saw how Hanshaw impressed against Jones but don’t forget this is a man who knocked Roy Jones out.”
The venue, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, is located at 2350 Beach Blvd. in Biloxi. Doors for the show will open at 5 pm, with the first bout starting at 6 pm. Johnson-Hanshaw is set to start at 8 pm Biloxi time.
