My Favorite Beltway Boxing Bouts -- Bout # 2!

Here's the runner-up in this countdown.

2. Darryll Tyson vs. Freddie Pendleton, April 29, 1995, USAir Arena

WHY IT MAKES THE LIST: It didn’t headline the greatest card in Beltway Boxing history, but it was the bout everyone was talking about when the card was over.

This bout came under the category of “score one for old school.” Here, you had two exciting experienced boxers that were familiar faces in the sport. Two veterans who did it the right way – stayed in shape and stayed committed to the sport they loved.

No one in boxing has ever shown more commitment to his career than “Fearless” Freddie Pendleton. The native of Florida once had an under.500 record, but managed to right his career and win an IBF Lightweight world title in 1993. Pendleton lost his world title the next year and was trying to get back to world title contention going into the bout with Tyson.

Tyson, meanwhile, was on a roll at this point, winning five straight bouts and two regional titles, both coming in the victory over Reggie Green. Tyson would put his USBA Junior Welterweight championship on the line in the bout against Pendleton.

Let me add a personal note here. By this time, the TV series I was on, “Boxing Spotlight,” was getting a solid reputation not only along the Beltway but around the country as well. Our reputation was such that when a card was nationally televised, Boxing Spotlight was allowed to videotape the undercard and show it on a tape-delayed basis.

Because of this, our hope was to convince Don King Productions and Showtime to allow us to videotape the undercard because it was loaded with Beltway Boxers (see August 2005 archive for full rundown on the card). Unfortunately, the people in power did not see it our way.

That’s why one of the best bouts in Beltway Boxing history, as well as the best undercard in Beltway Boxing history has no public video available.

The bout was a classic. Both men were knocked down during the bout and the contest became a war of experience and attrition. Fans knew that both men couldn’t last the full 12 rounds. Unfortunately for Beltway Boxing fans, Tyson withered in the 10th round under a barrage of Pendleton punches and the bout was stopped.

To give you a final idea of how great the bout was, both Don King and Mike Tyson (who was working color commentary for the Showtime telecast in his first full public appearance since his release from prison) mentioned how great the bout was in post-fight interviews and commentary. That does not happen often.

AFTERMATH: Neither man was able to win world titles after this bout, although Pendleton received two more world title bouts after this bout, being stopped by Vince Phillips in the 10th round in December of 1997 for the IBF Junior Welterweight crown and by James Page in the 11th round in July of 1999 for the WBA Welterweight title. Tyson is now a trainer in DC and he is currently working with the returning Clarence Vinson.