May 25 DC Armory Card Takes Shape!

Here's how the Friday, May 25 "American Champions" card at the DC Armory is starting to shape up.

Undefeated lightweight contender Anthony Peterson will be defending his NABO Lightweight championship against veteran Luis Ernesto “The Butcher” Jose of La Romana in the Dominican Republic.

Peterson (22-0, 16 KO’s) will fight for the first time since January 5, 2007 when he successfully defended his NABO title with a fourth-round KO over Adan Hernandez in Biloxi, MS. Peterson is the top-ranked contender in the lightweight division, according to the WBO.

Jose (27-4-2, 24 KO’s) is making his United States debut, fighting the majority of his bouts in the Dominican Republic with other bouts taking place in Haiti, Denmark and Costa Rica throughout his career. Jose has won his last six bouts and 10 of his last 11. Eight of his 10 victories in that stretch have come by knockout. However, in his last contest, Jose won an eight-round unanimous decision over Ambioris Figuero on March 17 in Santo Domingo.

In the co-featured bout, Lamont Peterson will take on former world title contender John “The Eastern Beast” Brown of Atlantic City, NJ in a 10-round bout. Peterson’s WBC US Junior Welterweight crown will not be on the line.

Peterson (20-0, eight KO’s) also made his last appearance on the January 5 card in Biloxi, scoring an eight-round unanimous decision over Joaquin Gallardo. Peterson is ranked third in the world by the WBC.

The 38-year-old Brown (23-13-2, 11 KO’s) has fought for a world title four times in his career losing to Shane Mosley at lightweight and Diego Corrales and Steve Forbes (twice) at super featherweight. Brown is winless in his last seven bouts (0-5-2) and last fought almost one year exactly to the date of this bout – May 24, 2006 – when he lost a 12-round unanimous decision to Herman Ngoudjo for the NABF and WBC International Light Welterweight titles in Montreal, CA.

A number of local boxers will make up the undercard. Undefeated DC lightweight Ty Barnett will return to the area to battle veteran Armando “El Policia” Cordoba of Miami, FL in a six-round contest.

Barnett (9-0-1, seven KO’s) is fighting for just the second time in his hometown, having been successful back in DC in June of 2005. In his last overall outing, Barnett scored a first-round TKO over Marcus in Brashers on February 16 at the Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, CA.

Cordoba (23-36-2, 17 KO’s) has lost eight of his last nine bouts, including an eight-round unanimous decision over Orlando Cruz on May 11 in Orlando, FL. This bout will mark Cordoba’s second trip to DC in the last month. Cordoba lost a four-round unanimous decision to Hector Sanchez on April 27 at the DC Armory.

Rising DC super featherweight prospect Ron “Teflon” Boyd tries to continue his winning ways as he faces undefeated Juan Velasquez of New York City in a four-round encounter.

After losing his pro debut, the 37-year-old Boyd (5-1, two KO’s) has reeled off five consecutive impressive victories. The latest win came on March 8 in Glen Burnie, MD when he stopped tough Jorge Lara in the second round.

Velasquez (2-0, two KO’s) stopped Markel Muhammad in his last bout on May 2 in Miami, FL.

Also on the card will be undefeated light heavyweight Reginald Taylor of DC along with middleweight John Mackey, who was born in DC but now makes his home in Montgomery, AL. Taylor (5-0, three KO’s) is coming off a fourth-round TKO over Nick Collins on February 17 in Suitland, MD. Mackey (4-0, two KO’s) fought for the first time in the Beltway area on February 24 in Springfield, VA and won a four-round unanimous decision over Larry Brothers. Both men are still looking for opponents for this card.