Beltway Prospect Update!

In one of my first posts on this blog (July 31, 2005), I listed the 10 boxers that I considered to be the best prospects along the Beltway. It is now almost a full six months since that post so let's take a look at their progress. The list is once again in alphabetical order.

1. Ishmail "The Arsenal" Arvin -- 13-0-2, 6 KO's.

Hometown: Baltimore, MD

Weight class: Middleweight

2005 record:2-0-1.

Arvin's 2005: May 18: won an eight-round unanimous decision over Richard "Tiger Lee" Hall on the "Fight For A Cure" card at the Wyndham Inner Harbor Hotel in Baltimore. June 16: Arvin won by third-round disqualification over Elias Cruz at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie. November 10: fought to a second-round technical draw against Terry Johnson on November 10 at Michael's.

Arvin's 2006 prospectus: A number of Arvin's opponents have won-loss records over .500 so he is taking on solid competition. Arvin may be the most prepared prospect to make a move to a regional title bout the earliest in 2006.


2. Henry "Sugar Poo" Buchanan -- 12-0, 10 KO's

Hometown: Capitol Heights, MD

Weight class: Light Heavyweight

2005 record: 5-0, three KO's

Buchanan's 2005: February 5: year opened with a second-round TKO over Kirk Douglas at the Washington Convention Center. March 10: scored a sixth-round TKO over Julio Jean at Michael's. May 7: traveled to Essington, PA and registered a fourth-round TKO over Shannon Miller. July 21: saw his 10-bout knockout streak end with an eight-round unanimous decision over Tyrone Glover at Martin's West in Woodlawn. November 26: registered his second straight eight-round unanimous decision over Dhafir Smith at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Buchanan's 2006 Prospectus: If all his legal issues are behind him, Buchanan could have a solid 2006. His bouts against Smith and Glover were nice baby steps in competition and he seems to be taking the sport more seriously.


3. Cory "Black Ice" Cummings-- 14-0, 11 KO's

Hometown: Baltimore, MD

Weight Class: Light Heavyweight/Cruiserweight

2005 record: 4-0, four KO's

Cummings' 2005: February 24: scored a third-round TKO over Raymond McLamore in North Charleston, SC. April 28: Stayed in North Charleston and stopped Gary Lavender by TKO in the first round. July 1: Recorded another first-round TKO in North Charleston against Carlos Bates. September 3: scored a 10th round TKO over Tim Bowe in Cleveland, OH.

Cummings' 2006 Prospectus: Because he has only fought three times in his career in Maryland, not a whole lot of people along the Beltway know who Cummings is. He has proven to be a solid prospect with knockouts in his last seven bouts, albeit against mostly less than stellar competition. According to the WBO, Cummings is already at contender status. The WBO ranks Cummings at number 14 in the Light Heavyweight division. There has been talk about a matchup between Cummings and Darnell Wilson, but that shouldn't happen unless one of them has at least a regional title.


4. Tony "Cyclone" Cygan -- 9-0, six KO's

Weight Class: Super Middleweight

Hometown: Middle River, MD

2005 record: 5-0, three KO's

Cygan's 2005: March 24: Cygan started the first of five Martin's West bouts with a second-round TKO over Matt Hill. May 24: scored a first round KO over Chris Overby. July 21: won a four-round unanimous decision over Anthony Osbourne. October 27: landed a crushing second-round knockout over Larry Brothers. December 7: won an eight-round unanimous decision over James North.

Cygan's 2006 Prospectus: The fact that Cygan has already gone eight full rounds will be very beneficial to him. He has solid power and good boxing skills. May still be six-to-eight months away from contending, but if Cygan continues to step up in competition, he could seriously contend by the middle of the year.


5. "The American Dream" Mike Dietrich -- 7-0, three KO's

Hometown: Dundalk, MD

Weight Class: Heavyweight

2005 record: 5-0, two KO's

Dietrich's 2005: January 27: won a four-round unanimous decision over Royphy Solieau at Michael's Eighth Avenue. March 24: won the first of four straight bouts at Martin's West with a four-round unanimous decision over Rodney Ray. May 24: In a rematch, won another four-round unanimous decision over Royphy Solieau. July 21: started work with noted trainer Kevin Rooney and scored a second-round TKO over Glen Williams. December 7: registered a first-round TKO over Mike Van Meer.

Dietrich's 2006 prospectus: Working with Rooney has been a major plus for Dietrich. His power and overall boxing skill improved dramatically in his last two bouts. Dietrich is still at least a year away from contending, but will be fun to watch in 2006.


6. Mike "The Persecutor" Paschall -- 7-0, two KO's

Hometown: Baltimore, MD

Weight Class: Super Middleweight/Light Heavyweight

2005 record: 4-0, 1 KO

Paschall's 2005: March 24: won the first of four straight Martin's West bouts with a four-round points win over Steve Garrett. July 21: scored a second-round KO over Jake Rodriguez. October 27: won a four-round unanimous decision over Carlos Jones. December 7: Despite suffering a broken hand, went six rounds for the first time in his career and won by unanimous decision over Don Schrock.

Paschall's 2006 Prospectus: Paschall's broken hand will hamper him at the start of the year. Once he gets healthy, this very exciting boxer can make some positive strides, including a step up in competition. Paschall has not fought anyone with a winning record yet.


7: Anthony Peterson -- 14-0, 10 KO's

Hometown: Washington, DC

Weight Class: Junior Welterweight

2005 record: 10-0, 7 KO's

A. Peterson's 2005: April 9: won a four-round unanimous decision over Edgar Pedraza in El Paso, TX. April 23: won a four-round unanimous decision over Michael Moss in Tunica, MS. April 30: scored a fifth-round TKO over Martin Quiroz in Lula, MS. May 22: registered a second-round KO over Mario Lacey in Choctaw, MS. June 11: scored an impressive six-round TKO over Wayne Fletcher at MCI Center in Washington, DC. June 18: scored a first round KO over Anthony Middlebrooks in Memphis, TN. July 26: won by six-round technical knockout over Carlos Valdez in Memphis. August 20: won a six-round unanimous decision over Johnny Walker in Biloxi, MS. September 2: scored a second-round TKO over Jorge Alberto Reyes in Little Rock, AR. October 15: stepped up in class and registered a fourth-round TKO over Roy Bohannon in Lula, MS.

A. Peterson's 2006 prospectus: It's a shame that both Peterson brothers have not been seen more along the Beltway. They are truly talented. An out-of-state promotional company and some perceived local professional jealousy have kept them away from us. Anthony Peterson will be a force to reckon with at 140 pounds, he is very talented.


8. Lamont Peterson-- 15-0, seven KO's.

Hometown: Washington, DC

Weight Class: Welterweight

2005 record (as of Dec. 9): 11-0, five KO's.

L. Peterson's 2005: January 22: won a four-round unanimous decision over Steve Verdin in Tunica, MS. February 19: won by second-round TKO over Sheldon Mosley in Lula, MS. April 9: scored a first-round TKO over Oscar Perez in El Paso, TX. April 23: registered a fourth-round TKO over Larry Cunningham in Tunica. April 30: won his first six-round bout over Orlando Jesus Soto in Lula. May 22: won a six-round unanimous decision over Mikel Williams in Choctaw, MS. June 18: won a first-round TKO over John Frazier in Memphis, TN. July 19: won his first 10-round bout by unanimous decision over Miguel Angel Torresillas in Biloxi, MS. August 20: scored a six-round unanimous decision over Meacher Major in Biloxi. September 2: won an eight-round unanimous decision over Robert Frankel in Little Rock, AR. December 10: scored a third-round TKO over Johnny Walker in Tunica, MS.

L. Peterson's 2006 Prospectus: Lamont came into the pros with more fanfare than his brother. He is more of a distance fighter than Anthony. The fact that Lamont has already gone 10 rounds puts him in a great position to step up in 2006. Again, we need to see both Peterson brothers in DC more.


9. Orazio "The Razor" Robinson -- 5-2-2, four KO's.

Hometown: Manassas, VA

Weight Class: Middleweight

2005 record: 2-1, one KO.

Robinson's 2005: May 5: scored a first-round TKO over Willis Silver at Michael's Eighth Avenue. May 18: won by third-round disqualification over Vance Garvey at the "Fight For a Cure" card in Baltimore. September 17: lost by first-round TKO over Jesse Orta on the "Battle of Virginia" card at George Mason University's Patriot Center.

Robinson's 2006 Prospectus: Robinson's career was on a roll with four straight solid victories. That all changed dramatically with the knockout by Orta. Robinson has not been heard from since. Hopefully he can bounce back in 2006 and maybe appear on a proposed Virginia card in February.


10. Russ "The Hammer" Shiflett -- 7-0-1, one NC, four KO's.

Hometown: Baltimore, MD

Weight Class: Cruiserweight

2005 record: 1-0-1, 1 KO.

Shiflett's 2005: March 24: fought to a six-round draw in a rematch with Jamal McKay at Martin's West. May 24: scored a fourth-round TKO over Roosevelt Johnson at Martin's West.

Shiflett's 2006 prospectus: Hopefully, Shiflett will be more active in 2006. He has only fought twice since May 14 of 2004. Has improving talent but must be more committed.


There are other prospects out there such as Eric Aiken, Maxell Taylor, Mike Ricasa and recently, Emanuel Nwodo. So this will be a very interesting 2006.