Najee Lopez Defeats Kalvin Henderson by Fifth-Round TKO

Unbeaten light-heavyweight prospect Najee Lopez continued his rise on Friday night with a commanding fifth-round stoppage of veteran Kalvin “Hot Sauce” Henderson in the main event of a ProBox card at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida.

The bout was scheduled for 10 rounds, but Lopez’s relentless jab and early aggression quickly wore down the more experienced Henderson. Despite entering the ring unbeaten in four fights and with only one previous loss—to WBA super-middleweight champion David Morrell in 2022—Henderson found himself overwhelmed by Lopez’s power and precision.

Lopez, now 15-0 (12 KOs), showcased both patience and discipline, traits that have eluded him at times in the past. After softening Henderson with a consistent left jab and well-placed right hands, the 26-year-old Georgian upped the tempo in round five. A crisp right hand to the side of the head left Henderson reeling toward the ropes, signaling the beginning of the end.

Sensing his moment, Lopez unleashed a flurry of punches that left referee Massimo Montanini no choice but to wave it off at 0:55 of the round. It was a statement win for Lopez, who now looks ready to step up against higher-level opposition.

“Y’all ain’t seen nothing yet!” said a fired-up Lopez post-fight. “I took my time, stuck to the game plan, and didn’t let the old reckless me take over. Henderson’s a tough guy—I respect him—but I knew once I hurt him, it was over.”

With performances like this, Lopez is positioning himself for a breakout year—and perhaps a title opportunity in the near future.

Undercard Highlights

The undercard delivered a series of entertaining and competitive bouts:

• Raul Garcia handed previously unbeaten prospect Emiliano Moreno (12-1) his first professional loss, outpointing him over 10 rounds in a high-energy clash.

• In a tightly contested battle, Cristian Chacon edged out Jeremy Hill via split decision, continuing his momentum in the lightweight division.

• Heavy-hitting Californian Joshua Kevin Anton impressed with a seventh-round stoppage of his opponent, further building his reputation as one to watch at super-welterweight.

The event, while under the radar, delivered strong action and showcased several rising talents on the ProBox platform.