In a clash of veteran junior middleweight sluggers, Vladimir Hernandez delivered a knockout of the year candidate by stopping Guido Schramm in the sixth round of the main event on “Wednesday Night Fights” at ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida.
Hernandez, who took the fight on two weeks’ notice, knocked out Schramm with a perfectly timed straight left hand at 2:59 of the sixth round, potentially earning him an end-of-year award. The bout, described by broadcaster Paulie Malignaggi as featuring excellent “two-way action,” saw both fighters land big shots from the start.
Hernandez (17-6, 7 KOs), 35, from Stockton, California, consistently landed his straight left hand, which ultimately led to the knockout. Schramm (16-3-2, 9 KOs), 28, from Moron, Buenos Aires, Argentina, had an effective right hand, making the exchanges even and difficult to score.
In the fifth round, the momentum began to shift as Hernandez, noted for his fitness instruction background, increased his already high volume of punches. While Schramm landed big, eye-catching shots, he found himself on the ropes more frequently. Malignaggi noted that both fighters were “allergic to clinches,” opting to punch rather than rest during these exchanges.
The fight ended dramatically in the sixth round when Hernandez, from the southpaw stance, landed a straight left hand that sent Schramm face-first to the canvas. Schramm attempted to get up, but referee Emil Lombardi called a halt to the action, securing Hernandez’s victory and highlight-reel knockout.
Hernandez continues his underdog story with another upset victory over a highly touted fighter.