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Henry Lebron Scores 8th Round Knockout Of
The Year Contender Over Derlyn Hernandez
Undefeated Puerto Rican super featherweight contender Henry
“Moncho” Lebron scored a highlight reel eighth round
knockout of Derlyn Hernandez in the co-main event on Wynn
Records Network Saturday at Coliseo Pedrín Zorrilla.
In front of boxing royalty, including five-division world
champion Floyd Mayweather, unified WBC & WBA Middleweight
World Champion Claressa Shields, and Hall of Famer Shane
Mosley, Lebron exchanged shots with Hernandez to the delight
of his Puerto Rican fans, who chanted “Moncho” throughout
the fight.
The new Salita Promotions, Universal Promotions and Wynn
Records Network signee landed a clean right-left hook combo
to the jaw in the seventh had Hernandez clearly hurt and
clinching to survive the round. Lebron (22-0, 12 KOs)
continued to apply the pressure in the eighth before landing
a flush right hook to the chin that sent Hernandez (14-6-1,
12 KOs) collapsing forward in a knockout of the year
contender at 1:31.
“I’m very thankful to everyone here supporting me,” said
Lebron, who won the WBO Global super featherweight belt.
“He’s a really good fighter, he came to give a show, but I
was prepared. I slowed down, landed the big right and did
what I came here to do.”
Lebron, who is a consensus top challenger at 130 pounds, was
asked if he wanted to face the winner of the O’Shaquie
Foster vs. Emmanuel Navarrete unification fight.
“We’re going to be there watching the fight and waiting for
our chance to fight for the title,” Lebron said. “Thank you
for everyone for coming here. I’ll see you guys next year
when I fight for the title.”
Wynn Records CEO Ruben Branson echoed that sentiment: “Every
time we come to Puerto Rico we have wonderful fights, but
this is truly a future world champion. According to Floyd
Mayweather, he’s ready right now.”
The event, which was promoted by Salita Promotions and
Universal Promotions in association with Wynn Records, was
offered as a “free preview” on the Salita and All The Smoke
digital platforms and featured exclusive interviews with
Mayweather and Shields.
In an interview with Naji Grampus, Mayweather, who recently
joined forces with Wynn Records, teased a return to the
ring.
“Everything takes time,” Mayweather said. “We’re looking
forward to a few exhibitions, maybe a few fights. We’ll just
have to wait and see. We got a big one coming up on the Wynn
Records Network. The exhibition in Greece is next on Wynn
Records.”
Promoter Dmitriy Salita confirmed his commitment to the
island and the partnership with Universal Promotions and
Wynn Records to build the next generation of stars in Puerto
Rico: “This was our third event on the island this year and
arguably our best. We’re proud of what we’re building in
Puerto Rico and we may just have their superstar in Henry
Lebron. We look forward to returning in December to close
out 2026.”
Added Javier Bustillo, President of Universal Promotions:
“This was an incredible night, showcasing the very best of
Puerto Rican boxing to the world through Wynn Records
Network. Once again, this powerful partnership with Salita
Promotions and Wynn Records demonstrates what we can
accomplish when we unite behind a shared vision and a
commitment to excellence. Our vision goes far beyond putting
on great events. We are building a platform designed to
identify, develop, and elevate the next generation of world
champions. Together, we are creating the opportunities,
exposure, and path necessary to take Puerto Rican talent to
the highest level of the sport. This is only the beginning,
and we are committed to building champions who will
represent Puerto Rico on the biggest stages in boxing.”
In the co-main event, unbeaten women’s super featherweight
sensation Kiria Tapia defeated Juliana Basualdo via
technical decision after an accidental clash of heads in the
fifth round left a deep cut on Tapia’s forehead. Due to the
fight advancing past the fourth, the bout went to the
scorecards and was judged 48-47 Basualdo, 48-47 Tapia and
50-45 Tapia. With the win, the hometown favorite Tapia
(11-0, 1 KOs) captured the WBO NABO title and moved one step
closer to a world title opportunity.
Undefeated heavyweight prospect Giovanni Scuderi (14-0, 6
KOs) scored a second-round knockout with a clean left hook
to the body of Devonte Williams (13-7, 6 KOs) in a scheduled
eight-round heavyweight bout.
In an all-action fight streaming as part the “free preview”
top Puerto Rican lightweight prospect Ángel “El Mensajero”
Carranza extended his knockout streak to six consecutive
fights with seventh round TKO of Kevin Piedrahita. Carranza
(13-1, 10 KOs) and Piedrahita exchanged punches from the
opening bell, with both fighters landing damaging shots. The
difference was Carranza’s left hook, which he repeatedly
landed on Piedrahita (10-5-1, 9 KOs) against the ropes in
the seventh, with the referee stepping in to stop the bout
at 1:20.
In the opening bout of the Wynn Records Network broadcast,
undefeated featherweight William “Yeyo” Colon (11-0, 6 KOs)
won a shutout six-round unanimous decision over Luis Porozo
(20-16, 10 KOs), scored 60-54 by all three judges.
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