Auburn fighter Mike “Imagine Me” Gavronski took advantage of a special Friday night edition of The Battle at the Boat to start off 2014 with a unanimous decision over California’s Dashon Johnson, Jan. 9 at the Emerald Queen Casino.

A packed house watched Gavronski (16-1-1 10KO’s) take on Johnson (15-18-3 5KO’s), who’d accepted the fight on a week’s notice after Gavronski’s original foe, Louis Rose of Escondido, Calif., withdrew for personal reasons.

Short notice or not, Johnson gave Gavronski all he could handle, landing vicious right hand punches to the head and body in the early rounds. Gavronski was up for the challenge, however, picking his opponent apart with crisp jabs and excellent footwork.

Even with a seventh-round point deduction for pushing, Gavronski proved too much for the more experienced Johnson, winning a unanimous decision victory in front of the hometown fans.

In the semi-main event in Vancouver’s Virgil “The Black Mamba” Green (10-3 3KO’s) took on Tacoma fighter and former Tacoma Golden Gloves Champ, Will Hughes (4-2 3KO’s). Green dominated from the opening bell, using his height and reach advantage to open a nasty cut over Hughes’ right eye. Green went on to win a lopsided unanimous decision, in the process picking up the tenth win of his career.

Also featured on the card was undefeated local sensation Jeremy McCleary (6-0) of Buckley. McCleary used his impressive hand speed to win a close, unanimous decision over Portland’s Damen Wood (0-2).

Another local star, Marquice Weston (4-0-1 2KO’s), fought California’s Lamont Williams (6-6-1 3KO’s) to a majority draw.

Also winning bouts at the event were: Antonio Neal (3-1 3KO’s), who TKO’d Ron Pryce (0-1) in the first round; and Andres Reyes (2-0) who beat Benny Vinson (1-2 1KO) with a unanimous decision.

The Battle at the Boat fight series – presented by Brian Halquist Productions – hosts its 100th event with another packed fight card at the Emerald Queen Casino on March 28.

For more information, please visit www.halquistproductions.com and the Battle at the Boat Facebook page.