Power Slap 14: Vince Tracey’s Breakout Victory Over Tyler Gross
Power Slap 14 in New Orleans delivered another night of heavy-hitting drama, but one of the standout performances came from Ontario’s own Vince Tracey. Walking to the stage with a calm, focused demeanor, Tracey looked every bit the composed competitor. His confidence was built on weeks of preparation, including a unique training camp split between his home base in Ontario and Prince Edward Island, where he worked alongside Dakota McGregor. The pairing was no coincidence—McGregor’s height closely matched Tyler Gross’s, giving Tracey the perfect sparring partner to prepare for the challenge ahead.
“It’s not easy going against a taller opponent,” Tracey said. “I think there was almost a nine-inch height difference, but training with Dakota really helped me find the chin.”
Round One: Feeling Out the Giant
Gross came in with a reputation for power, fresh off his knockout of Sean Kilmartin. Tracey took the first shot well, standing firm and unfazed. But his own first strike missed the mark—something he blamed on the deceptive size of Gross’s beard after the chalk puffed it out further than expected.
“Slap fighting is milliseconds and millimeters,” Tracey explained. “I think I was only millimeters off. Once I found the mark, I knew it could be lights out.”
Round Two: Surviving the Storm
In the second round, Gross landed a huge shot that left Tracey stumbling. For a brief moment, it looked like the end might be near. But Tracey dug deep, talking himself through the recovery in real time. Despite feeling “drunk” on his feet, he refused to take a knee, knowing it could give the referee a reason to stop the fight.
“That was definitely one of his best shots,” Tracey admitted. “But in my mind, I wasn’t going down no matter what.”
Round Three: Precision Ends the Night
Tracey saved his best for last. His third-round strike landed perfectly—clean, crisp, and decisive—sending Gross to the canvas. Tracey even encouraged his opponent to get up, hoping for one more exchange, but the referee counted him out.
“When you land a KO like that, you almost don’t even feel it. It’s just so fluid and clean. I knew right away he was done,” Tracey said.
Looking Ahead: A Top 10 Spot and Big-Name Opponents
Coming into Power Slap 14 unranked, Tracey’s victory over the No. 10 contender should put him in the top 10. Now 3–0, he has his eyes set on bigger challenges.
Two names stand out—Cole Young, the only fighter to fight Anthony Blackburn to a draw, and Chris “Deebo” Thomas, a tough veteran Tracey has already discussed facing.
“A win over Cole could solidify me as a top contender,” Tracey said. “And with Deebo, it would be a war for the fans. I’d love to share the stage with him.”
Whether it’s Young, Deebo, or another ranked opponent, one thing is clear—Vince Tracey is no longer flying under the radar. With precision striking, resilience under pressure, and a growing confidence, the Ontario striker is carving a path toward title contention in the welterweight division.