GRANO TO RECEIVE AWARD IN CONNECTICUT, BUT HAS NO FIGHTS SCHEDULED

Press Release: Heavyweight Tony "TNT" Grano, who was recently selected by the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame as the Nutmeg state's 2012 Professional Fighter of the Year, will receive his award on Saturday night, November 17 at the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame (CBHOF) Gala Induction in the Uncas Ballroom at Mohegan Sun. 

The 31-year-old Grano (20-2-1, 16 KOs), fighting out of Hebron (CT) by way of Hartford, is the first person to win both the  professional and amateur versions of this award. He was selected as the amateur winner in the inaugural year of the CBHOF, after capturing a gold medal at the 2005 U.S. National Championships and silver medal at the National Golden Gloves Tournament.
 
Grano is now promoted by Don King, earned his selection as 2012 Conn. Fighter of the Year off a pair of victories this year, knocking out Brian Minto (35-4) in the third round and former contender DaVarryl Williamson (27-6) in the fourth round this past June.
 
"This is a huge honor and I'm very happy to be getting this award," Grano said. "It shows that hard work pays off. I am honored and thank the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame. I really needed to step-up this year to be considered a contender. "
 
Grano doesn't have a fight scheduled but he's hoping for a career-defining fight in the not too distant future. "I'll mix it up with anybody," Grano continued. "I'm playing the waiting game right now. My promoter, Don King, won the purse bid for the WBC (heavyweight) title eliminator between (Chris) Arreola and (Bermane) Stiverne. We're waiting to hear where and when and I hope to fight in the co-feature. I'm looking to be in a big fight against a top 10 opponent, guys like (Seth) Mitchell and (Tomasz) Adamek. I've sparred with (WBC heavyweight champion) Vitali (Klitschko) and feel ready for anybody." 
 
The 2012 CBHOF Hall of Fame inductees and other 2012 award winners will be honored at the special dinner ceremony. 2012 CNHOF inductees are former WBA light middleweight champion "Tremendous" Travis Simms, middleweight "Dangerous" Dana Rosenblatt, five-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach, promoter Jimmy Burchfield (Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc.), manager George Cruz, and the late manager/promoter Lou Viscusi.
 
The other 2012 award winners are Elvis Figueroa, Conn. Amateur Boxer of the Year; Dick Flaherty, Official of the Year; Mitchell Etess, Contributor To Boxing.

Tickets for the 8th annual CBHOF Gala Induction Dinner are on sale now by calling Kim Baker at Mohegan Sun (1.860-.862.7377) or Sherman Cain at the Manchester Journal Inquirer (1.800.237.3606 X321). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET, cocktails at 6 p.m. ET, followed by dinner.