I will have a complete boxing schedule for the Beltway coming up for the next few weeks, but there is one card that is getting some attention.
The first significant card to take place in Northern Virginia in years is coming up on Saturday, Sept. 17 at George Mason University's Patriot Center. Junior middleweight Jimmy Lange of Great Falls, VA is challenging Perry Ballard of Leesburg, VA for the World Boxing Empire (WBE) Junior Middleweight title in the main event.
I will try to explain what the WBE is later in this post. The focus should be on the card itself. In a recent Washington Times column ("Virginia has no Fighting Chance") the card was immediately shot down by my boxing writing colleague Thom Loverro. In fact, the first thing Thom said to me when I arrived at the press conference for this event was "ambitious, aren't they?"
Yes, this is a very ambitious card, done at a very ambitious location for what truly is a glorified club show. But at least it's something. I agree with Thom in saying that the promoters (Keystone Boxing) won't get anywhere near the 10,000 needed to fill the Patriot Center. As a matter of fact, they are scaling the Patriot Center for around 7,000. If this card draws half of that, I'll consider that a success.
Let's take a look at the main event. Jimmy Lange will make his first appearance since his time on the NBC reality series "The Contender" in a bout he really doesn't want. Lange is on a totally different plane than Ballard. Arguably, he is the most popular boxer in the area and that was the case even BEFORE "The Contender." He draws very well and he will put butts in the seats because of his new-found notoriety and because of his talent.
The problem is Jimmy needs this bout for two reasons: One, he needs to stay busy and two, he hasn't truly had a good in-ring performance in his last three outings. On May 1, 2004 in his last fight prior to the TV show , Lange fought terribly but won a split decision over Sammy Sparkman. In his two fights on "The Contender," he lost to Joey Gilbert in a bout he had NO business losing and he defeated Tarick Salmaci in a bout that was tougher than it should have been. So not only does Lange need work, he needs to look good in this next bout.
Against Ballard, Lange will have an opportunity to achieve both goals. Ballard is a 38-year-old boxer with a undergraduate degree from Fairmont State University and a masters from West Virginia University. He boxes truly for the love of the sport. He doesn't need to do this.
Ballard is undefeated (17-0, 13 KO's) but Lange will be the FIRST person Ballard faces that has a winning record. As a matter of fact, if you look on Ballard's record, you'll notice that there are people he has faced who were 0-22 and 0-25 at the time he faced them.
Ballard is a showman and is also very popular. As a boxer, Ballard is a good showman. If this scheduled 12-round bout reaches double digits in rounds, Jimmy Lange needs to find something else to do with his life.
As far as the World Boxing Empire, they actually do exist and have been around for a few years and they have sanctioned bouts as far away as the Philippines.
Also on this card are Lamont "Bay" Pearson and debuting George Mason University graduate Mike Sawyer. More about them in a future post.
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5 comments:
You seem to be an educated man! So why don't you break down Langes fights. He has basically faught Jr. Welterweights and everyone but one fighter was on a losing trend. lol! His dad has picked his fights accordingly! If Lange wins, who cares? If Ballard wins then there will be another fight in VA.
As for the Washington times writer. He needs to get a life and groom himself a little! At least 6000 fans will show up and all will not be in Langes section.
Boxing fan
Baltimore, MD
Thanks for the comments. One of the issues and questions surrounding Lange's career is "when is he going to step up in competition?"
You are correct. Most of Jimmy's opponents have been sub-standard and starter opposition to say the least; and yes, he has had trouble with some of that competition. The Gerald Reed fight and the Sammy Sparkman bout (which was the last one before Jimmy started on "The Contender") were terrible performances by Lange and he agreed with me on both accounts.
Overall with Jimmy, there is good talent, but he tends to fight down to the level of his opponent. He may say what he wants about Ballard, but the bottom line is Lange needs a solid performance in this one in order to be taken seriously by the rest of the boxing world.
As far as the Patriot Center card is concerned,I know for a fact, they are not using the entire 10,000 seat facility. It will be wonderful if they can get 6,000 in there and there is a possibility of that, I think. But if they can get 3,500 that will look good also.
This fight will not be competitive unless Lange allows it to be. He is taller, stronger, bigger, faster, has a better corner, and is more experienced. Orazio Robinson fights are not to be missed. He is an extremely exiting offensive fighter. Mike Sawyer has been around the gyms for years. Good to see him make this step as he is a talented fighter with an entertaining style and a lot more rhythm and style than the average white fighter.
You are absolutely right on all accounts concerning Lange and Robinson. As I said in the post about the prospects, Robinson can steal the show in September.
I am really looking forward to seeing Mike Sawyer. I've talked to people who fought in the amateurs with him and I've received nothing but positive feedback on him.
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