Shaw Signs Heavyweight
Franklin Lawrence

Gary Shaw Productions is proud to announce the signing of a true late bloomer in the sport of boxing, Indianapolis, Indiana, heavyweight Franklin "Yah Yah" Lawrence.

The 35-year-old Lawrence (15-2-2, 10 KOs), who didn't turn pro until his late 20s, is undoubtedly the hottest heavyweight prospect in boxing.

He won the vacant IBO Inter-Continental heavyweight title in September 2009 with a seventh-round stoppage of long-time top contender Lance "Mount" Whitaker.

Then, on January 29 of this year, Lawrence won the vacant WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation Heavyweight Title by stopping former US Olympian Jason "Big Six" Estrada in 10 at the Turning Stone Casino in New York.

Lawrence is the only fighter to ever stop Estrada including top contenders Alexander Povetkin and Tomasz Adamek.

He followed that up with his most recent victory, a seven-round beating of capable veteran Jason Gavern. Gavern had recently fought to a draw with top contender Jonathon Banks but was no match for the power of Lawrence and after tasting the canvas in rounds one and six, quit on his stool before round eight.

In fact, Lawrence would be on a 14-fight win streak if he hadn't been on the wrong end of a debatable decision to former Heavyweight champion Oliver McCall in August 2009.

"Franklin has all the momentum right now in the American heavyweight division and we're proud to be working with him," said his new promoter, Gary Shaw. "His quality of opposition is unmatched by any of the other prospects and that shows his willingness to mix it up with anyone, any time. That's the kind of hunger we are always looking for. We see big things in his immediate future."