Moore, Kisner Win Junior Olympic Championships!

In the final day of competition in the 2007 Junior Olympic Championships in Marquette, MI, two Beltway Boxers brought home gold medals.

In the 132-pound division, Marquis Moore of Fort Washington, MD captured the championship with a 16-10 decision over Carlos Rodriguez of Oxnard, CA.

In the 201+ class, Glen Burnie, MD's Nick Kisner captured the gold with a 12-10 decision over Tino Dominguez of Duarte, CA. Kisner is the son of legendary Baltimore trainer Danny Kisner.

Four other Beltway competitors will come home with silver medals. In the 95-pound division, Maurice Adams, Jr. of Temple Hills, MD lost in the title bout to Julio Garcia of Los Angeles, 19-13. Adams's father, Maurice "Mighty Mo" Adams, was an exciting Beltway Boxer of the mid to late 90's.

In the 138-pound championship, Emanuel Taylor of Edgewood, MD lost a 24-21 decision to Zeddie Adams of Cleveland, OH. Taylor is the brother of Beltway Boxer Maxell "The General" Taylor and the son of Maxell Taylor, Sr. who is very much involved with the amateur boxing program in Maryland.

In female action, Charmaine Brown of Landover, MD lost a 29-27 decision to Samantha Quintana of Lincoln, NE in the 154-pound championship while Katrina Reed, also of Landover, was stopped in the first round of her 165-pound title bout by Denise Rico of Los Angeles.

Congratulations to all our young Beltway Boxers on tremendous performances all week long!

New Poll: Who is the Beltway Boxer of the Half-Year?

We have reached the midway point of the year, so for the second straight year, I ask the question:

Who is the Beltway Boxer of the Year so far in 2007?
We have had some great performances so far this year and the candidates in the new poll make good claims.

Please take part in the new poll on the blog and leave comments. Thanks, as always.

Wilson Scores Amazing Knockout Over Nwodo To Win USBA Title!

This will rank as one of the best -- if not the best -- knockout of 2007. It was dramatic and in many ways, just plain painful to watch.

Takoma Park, MD's Darnell "The Ding-A-Ling Man" Wilson scored a brutal 11th round knockout over Baltimore-based Emmanuel "Chukwu" Nwodo to capture the USBA Cruiserweight title at the St. George Theater in Staten Island, NY in front of a nationally-televised ESPN2 audience.

This was a bout that had so much ebb and flow that you may have to wonder whether Wilson won the bout or did Nwodo lose it. Both boxers were tentative at times, maybe because of the head clashes that led to the two warriors suffering cuts.

Both guys had their moments also with Wilson scoring a knockdown in the third and Nwodo seemingly recovering enough to take control of the bout in the middle rounds. In fact, Nwodo seemed to be in control until he was knocked down for the second time in the 10th round.

But Wilson, showing the heart that he has always had, finished the job with a brutal left hand that snapped Nwodo's head back while buckling his knees at the same time. Nwodo stayed down for a number of minutes before finally leaving the ring under his own power.

For Wilson, the win raises his record to 22-5-3, 19 KO's and has to firmly entrench him in the path to a world title shot, as he has won four straight against legitimate cruiserweight contenders. For Nwodo, the loss drops him to 21-4, 17 KO's. The loss was his first in the United States and breaks a 10-bout winning streak. There's no telling where he goes from here.

Just an incredible night.

Phipps Loses in First Round!

Baltimore heavyweight Jed Phipps lasted just 85 seconds against undefeated prospect Tony Grano at the Connecticut Expo Center in Hartford.

Grano, fighting in a main event for the first time in his pro career, wasted no time in jumping on Phipps, forcing the referee to issue a standing eight count one minute in before stopping the bout moments later.

Phipps is now 17-7, 10 KO's and has lost four in a row, three straight by knockout. Grano is 10-0-1, nine KO's.

Semi-Final Action From Junior Olympics!

Three Beltway Boxers have advanced to the finals of the 2007 Junior Olympics in Marquette, MI.

Temple Hills, MD's Maurice Adams has moved into the finals of the 95-pound division. Adams decisioned Joshua Simmons of Atlanta, GA, 18-13.

Marquis Moore of Fort Washington, MD is in the finals of the 132-pound class by winning his semi-final bout 3-2 over Xavier Montelongo of Los Angeles, CA.

In the 138-pound division Emanuel Taylor of Edgewood, MD advanced to the finals with a second-round stoppage (1:32) of Gregory Guitierrez of Robstown, TX.

However, in the 106-pound class, Antonio Magruder of Suitland, MD lost to Fabian Cervantes of Pacaloma, CA, 21-16.

Trayon Bynum of DC lost his semi-final in the 114-pound division to Eduardo Villa of Modesto, CA, 23-16.

Jed Phipps Faces Undefeated Opponent in Hartford, CT!

There is other action involving Beltway Boxers tonight. Embattled Baltimore heavyweight Jed "The Punisher" Phipps is in action at the Connecticut Expo Center in Hartford, CT. Phipps (17-6, 10 KO's) will be facing undefeated prospect Tony Grano of Hebron, CT (9-0-1, eight KO's) in a main event bout.

Phipps has lost three straight including his last outing, a first-round knockout loss to veteran Ralph West on December 7 in Pikesville, MD. By the way, that was the last win West has had. West was knocked out in his next three bouts.

Beltway Amateurs Advance to Semis at Junior Olympics!

A number of Beltway Amateurs have advanced through to the semifinals of the 2007 Junior Olympics Championships in Marquette, MI

In the 106-pound class, Antonio Magruder of Suitland, MD stopped Mark Chesmore of Billings, MT at 1:52 of the first round.

Emanuel Taylor of Edgewood, MD advanced to the semis in the 138-pound division with a 16-8 decision over Deondre Malvin of Little Rock, AK.

In the female 165-pound division, Landover, MD's Katrina Reed stopped Jamarri Shelby of Magnolia, AK at 1:36 of the third round.

In the 132-pound division, Marquis Moore of Fort Washington, MD (who may have been an alternate since he wasn't on the original list) has advanced by defeating Omar Douglas of Wilmington, DE, 18-11.

In the 201+ pound division, Nick Kisner of Glen Burnie, MD defeated Justin Novaria of Zanesville, OH, 12-1. However, DC's Mannin Quarles was disqualified in his match against Leroy Jones of St. Louis, MO.

Nwodo-Wilson Weights!

USBA Cruiserweight champion Emmanuel "Chukwu" Nwodo weighed in at 198.6 pounds while challenger Darnell "The Ding-A-Ling Man" Wilson tipped the scales at 198.2 pounds for tomorrow night's nationally televised (ESPN2) card at the St. George Theater in Staten Island, NY.

The telecast begins at 10 PM ET.

Jimmy Lange Hosts Diego Corrales Benefit July 26 in Arlington!

I mentioned this in passing on a recent Gabcast Post-Fight Wrap-Up, but now I have details on this event.

Newly-crowned WBC Continental Americas Junior Middleweight champion Jimmy Lange will be hosting a benefit boxing event on Thursday, July 26 at the Doubletree Hotel Crystal City in Arlington, VA.

The event, a joint promotion between Jimmy Lange Enterprises and Jackie Kallen's Ice Promotions (who promoted the rematch between Lange and Fontaine Cabell on May 12), will raise funds for the family of the late Diego "Chico" Corrales, whom Lange sparred with a few years ago while both trained in Vero Beach, FL.

"Diego Corrales was a blood and guts warrior who I had a great deal of respect for," Lange said in a statement. "He was one of the few current boxers who, win or lose, always left everything out there at the end of the day. I look forward to honoring him as we help raise funds for his family."

There will also be live music by the popular New York-based band Emil Stucchio and The Classics, who recorded such hits as "Till Then," "P.S. I Love You," and "You'll Never Know."

Less than 500 tickets are available for this event that begins at 6 pm with a cocktail hour. The doors will open at 7 pm. There will be up to four bouts on the card that will feature boxers from throughout the Beltway. If you want tickets for table seats (that include a three-course dinner), those tickets are $350, $250 and $175. There are a limited number of $75 tickets (admission only). To purchase tickets, call (703) 536-6060.

Inside the Nwodo Camp!

My buddy and chief scribe of Fightkings.com, Michael Amakor has a wonderful story that takes you inside the training camp of USBA Cruiserweight champion Emmanuel Nwodo as he prepares for his title defense this Friday against Darnell Wilson.

Here is the link:

http://www.fightkings.com/nwodocampnotes.htm

Another Man's Opinion on 'Too Sharp' & 'The Rock'!

I found a very interesting article on MaxBoxing.com that gives candid opinions about two of the Beltway's most accomplished boxers -- Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson and Hasim "The Rock" Rahman.

The views come from Lee Groves of MaxBoxing.com whom I had the pleasure to meet during the Peterson Brothers card on May 25 at the DC Armory. With his permission, I share his views with you.

"When I was in Washington, D.C., in late May, I had the chance to speak briefly with two-division champion Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson. The first time I met Johnson was in April 2006 at the weigh-in between Nate Campbell and Issac Hlatschwayo in Tampa, and now, as was then, his father/trainer/manager Abraham "Ham" Johnson was at his side.

It used to be a cliché that fathers, sons and boxing don't mix but the Johnsons are just another example that stereotypes aren't universal. Both father and son are strong and determined men, yet each has a deep and genuine respect for the other that has made this relationship work at all levels.


The last time fans saw the younger Johnson in the ring was February 25, 2006 when he lost by eighth round TKO to then-WBO bantamweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez. The Gonzalez fight was to be a title bout but turned into a 10-rounder because Johnson was unable to make 118 pounds. The defeat was his second in a row and many observers felt that "Too Sharp" had lost his edge. Johnson, who will turn 36 in August, is hopeful that he will return to the ring sometime in August, but whether he does or not, there is no question that he is headed toward the end of a fine career. The question to be addressed here is whether that career will translate into a plaque at the International Boxing Hall of Fame.


If an elector bases his decision on talent alone, Johnson definitely qualifies. The D.C. born and bred boxer possessed a fully loaded arsenal of offensive weaponry and wielded them with a well-channeled arrogance and aggressiveness. The 5-3 southpaw was a bit shorter than the usual flyweight, but his 67 ½ inch wingspan equipped him with offensive options for which other men his size would be envious.


After losing his second pro fight to Richie Wenton, Johnson would embark on a five-and-a-half year, 28-fight winning streak that saw him become one of the most avoided fighters in the world. Fight number 13 was an action-packed split decision over Alberto Jimenez for something called the WBB flyweight title. That belt usually served as a steppingstone for a crack at one of the three "major" titles, but because those belt-holders saw "Too Sharp" as "Too Risky" he ended up defending the WBB bauble 10 times over the next two years. Johnson became a staple at the Great Western Forum as he took on – and defeated – Mexican after Mexican. His four-round knockout over Leon Salazar was among the most savage fights of 1995, and like "The Mexican Assassin" Roger Mayweather, the fans developed a love-hate relationship. They didn't love seeing him beat their favorite fighters but they respected the way he went about it.


His was as complete a package as one could find – speed, power, combination punching, defense and desire. But the one thing he lacked was the critical ingredient he needed to secure any fight his ability demanded – the perception of charisma. One of boxing's cruel realities is that ability isn't enough to get the big fights if the decision-makers believe that he doesn't have the star power to generate the dollars necessary to make the reward worth the risk. Mike McCallum possessed Hall-of-Fame caliber talent but because he didn't have a big enough name to prevent a potential Thomas Hearns-Roberto Duran fight, he was the odd man out.


In short, McCallum had the game, but because he didn't have the name, he didn't get the fame. But McCallum pressed onward and made himself into an attraction by blasting out favored challenger Donald Curry with a single hook to the jaw. From then on, the "Body Snatcher" would grace his share of big stages and he was successful often enough to become an immortal.


Such would not be the case for Johnson. The best junior flyweights, flyweights and super flyweights of his day – and today – have precious little opportunities to make six-figure paychecks. Fighting in their home nations before larger crowds is the most common way to do this and the only way to draw them out of their territorial cocoons is to offer them far more money – often an amount of money that would result in a loss for the promoter.


Why would longtime WBC flyweight champion Yuri Arbachakov, with whom a fight with Johnson was most often talked about, leave the safety of Japan when he could make the same cash defending against easier foes? Why would longtime WBA junior flyweight champion Myung Woo Yuh risk losing his belt before thousands of adoring South Koreans when he didn't have to? What would established names like Michael Carbajal, Humberto "Chiquita" Gonzalez, Johnny Tapia and Danny Romero have to gain by granting Johnson an audience with them?


Why? Because it just wasn't worth it to them.


Johnson finally received his crack at an IBF belt when he was paired with former champion Francisco Tejedor after Romero vacated it. "Too Sharp" had trained himself to a razor's edge and just 95 seconds after the opening bell he had sliced the Colombian to bits. After seven defenses at 112, Johnson moved up to 115 in hopes of landing a fight with Tapia. Instead he fought for Tapia's vacated WBO belt against Ratanachai Sor Vorapin, whom he easily decisioned.


The wheels began to fall off when Johnson, angered by Raul Juarez's repeated fouls, struck Juarez with a retaliatory low blow that left the challenger on the canvas for 10 minutes before being removed on a stretcher. It was a snapshot of Johnson's career-long frustration – why was he fighting Juarez, a man he had already knocked out in eight rounds three years earlier, when he deserved to fight big names for big money?


Johnson wouldn't fight again for 18 months, and by this time the edge was lost. Though he won, longtime admirer Max Kellerman put it best when he said that Johnson was "Sharp" but not "Too Sharp." Two defeats to Rafael Marquez led many to believe Johnson was finished as a top-shelf fighter, but he proved the naysayers wrong when he upset the 26-0-1 Fernando Montiel to regain the WBO super flyweight belt. Johnson defended it once against Luis Bolano (KO 4) before losing it to Ivan "Choko" Hernandez by eighth round TKO on the undercard of Glen Johnson-Roy Jones.


The question to consider is not only will Johnson be elected, but will he even be placed on the ballot? More than a few deserving lighter weight fighters such as Gilberto Roman, Jiro Watanabe, Sot Chitalada, Luis Estaba and Lupe Pintor have been overlooked by the selection committee, and Johnson, though the fault of others, doesn't have their championship resumes.


But let's say for the sake of argument that Johnson makes it on the ballot. Did Johnson exert dominance over his division? Seven defenses of the IBF flyweight title against opponents with a combined record of 151-18-2 speaks well for him. His one-round destruction of 1988 Olympian Arthur Johnson was the highlight of his reign, but I believe the majority of his best efforts took place well before his "major" championship reign. Between May 1994 and August 1996 Johnson scored 12 consecutive knockouts, an almost unheard of figure among the little men, and he did it with style and substance.


Where Johnson's candidacy will be tripped up is the fact that voters will be left to project how Johnson would have done against his era's best instead of having the evidence before them. Because none of the era's best chose to fight Johnson, the best "Too Sharp" can hope for is that he will be regarded in the same light as Sam Langford and Charley Burley, truly great fighters who were successfully dodged because they were too good for their own good.


My gut feeling, however, is that Johnson will suffer the fate of many of his peers and fall through the cracks of history because while Johnson's body was willing, his potential opponents were weak.
*
When I was in Rochester, N.Y., in mid-June to do the Versus card featuring Hasim Rahman and Taurus Sykes, I happened to run into "The Rock" as he was leaving the elevator. He and the two other people with him were clearly in a hurry so I wasn't able to even get out a "hi, champ" before he was out of range. Even at a career-high 261 pounds, Rahman can still move quickly when he has to.

Even if the 34-year-old Rahman somehow manages to win the undisputed heavyweight title, he will forever be remembered for the right cross that shook the boxing world – and WBC/IBF champ Lennox Lewis – to its very foundations on April 22, 2001. That fifth-round rocket lifted Rahman to a higher plane and he appeared to be on the cusp of stardom. Armed with one-punch power in the ring, his sense of humor had the power to disarm as well as charm – and that could have meant big money had he remained on the throne.


But it was not to be as Lewis inflicted an even more thunderous one-punch knockout in the rematch. From that point forward, Rahman has been trying to regain the magic that he carried into South Africa all those years ago. Nearly two years after losing a decision to WBA titlist John Ruiz, Rahman regained the WBC belt after beating Monte Barrett in an elimination fight (and after Vitali Klitschiko subsequently vacated his "full" belt that prompted four injury-related postponements against Rahman). Rahman then drew with James Toney in a fight many believed "The Rock" deserved to win and in his most recent outing before Sykes, he lost the belt to Oleg Maskaev just 43 seconds before the final bell.


It is ironic that Rahman is now viewed as an underachiever because there was a time not too many years ago when very little was expected of him. Entering his first fight with Lewis, Rahman was a prohibitive underdog despite a 34-2 (29 KO) record and victories over Obed Sullivan and Corrie Sanders. Back then, fans paid more attention to his stoppage losses against David Tua and Maskaev, though Rahman was leading on the cards at the time of the knockouts. Boxing is a bottom-line sport and the bottom line was that Rahman wasn't heavyweight title timber.


The Lewis knockout transformed Rahman's image, both for good and bad. The title provided him a slice of immortality and the pathway to fame and fortune, but it also raised the expectations of fans and media. Because he didn't produce what they wanted to see in consecutive fights against Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Tua and Ruiz, this decade's heavyweight Cinderella Man turned into a One Hit Wonder. Message boarders took to calling Rahman "Crock-man" and boxing observers drove themselves bonkers trying to predict the outcomes of his fights because of the promise he showed on that one magical night in South Africa. They knew the talent was there, but for whatever reason it could not – or would not – come out.


Now, nearly six years later, Rahman is back at square one. Few expect him to climb atop the heavyweight mountain once again so any progress is good progress, especially after his sloppy decision victory over Sykes. Unlike "Too Sharp" Johnson, Rahman will receive no consideration for the Hall of Fame but he can take great satisfaction in knowing that the record books will forever list him on the champions' side of the ledger."

More Results From the Junior Olympics!

In preliminary action from the 2007 Junior Olympics Championships in Marquette, MI:

Fort Washington, MD's Marquis Moore advanced in the 132-pound class with a 20-10 decision over Julio Miramontes of Pueblo, CO.

Baltimore, MD 165-pounder Travis Peterkin lost to Martin Schuh of Fort Dodge, IA by a 7-6 decision.

Maurice Adams of Temple Hills, MD won by decision over Joe Garcia of Edinburg, TX in the 95-pound division. The score looked like this: 18-18 (39-33).

Trayvon Bynum of DC stopped Cody Good of Chillicothe, OH at 47 seconds of the second round in a 114-pound preliminary.

In the 138-pound class, Edgewood, MD's Emmanuel Taylor stopped Boston Salmon of Waianae, HI at 1:52 of the second round.

Lawrence Jones on Nwodo-Wilson Undercard!

The undercard for this Friday's USBA Cruiserweight championship bout between Emmanuel Nwodo and Darnell Wilson will have a little Beltway flavor. Rookie junior middleweight Lawrence Jones of DC (2-0, one KO) will look for his third straight victory when he faces undefeated Gerald Jordan (1-0) in a four-round matchup.

Jones has fought twice in two weeks, making his pro debut on June 9 at the ABC Sports Complex in Springfield, VA (winning a four-round unanimous decision over Philadelphia veteran Leo Edwards. Then, Jones scored a first-round knockout over Denny Lundy on June 16 in Martinsburg, WVA.

Early Results from Junior Olympics!

Here are a couple of early Beltway results from preliminary action in the 2007 Junior Olympics in Marquette, MI:

In the 106-pound class, Antonio Magruder of Suitland, MD stopped Michael Herrera of Arroyo Seco, N.M. at 1:16 of the second round.

In the 114-pound class, Trayvon Bynum of Washington, DC stopped Wilver Carillo of Fremount, Neb. at 1:45 of the first round.

At 154 pounds: Demarcus Layton, Little Rock, Ark. won on walkover over Shaborn Ryals of Washington DC.

ESPN.com Profiles Darnell Wilson!

ESPN Friday Night Fights Blow-by-Blow man Joe Tessitore has a nice profile on Darnell "The Ding-a-Ling Man" Wilson on ESPN.com as we get ready for the battle for the USBA Cruiserweight championship between challenger Wilson and champion Emmanuel "Chukwu" Nwodo this Friday night on ESPN from Staten Island, NY.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2916215

As an additional treat for long-time Beltway Boxing fans (and boxing fans in general), former light heavyweight champion Bob Foster, who called DC his boxing home while holding the title, will be the in-studio guest.

Beltway Amateurs Compete in Junior Olympics This Week!

Best wishes to the following Beltway-area amateurs who are competing in the 2007 Junior Olympic National Championships this week in Marquette, MI:

Maurice Adams, Temple Hills, MD (95 Pounds)

Antonio Magruder, Suitland, MD (106 Pounds)

Trayvon Bynum, Washington, DC (114 Pounds)

Emmanuel Taylor, Edgewood, MD (138 Pounds)

Charmaine Brown, Landover, MD (Female 154 Pounds)

Travis Peterkin, Baltimore, MD (165 Pounds)

Katrina Reed, Landover, MD (Female 165 Pounds)

Mannin Quarles, Washington, DC (201 Pounds)

Nick Kisner, Glen Burnie, MD (201 Pounds)


This list is courtesy of USAboxing.org.

'Boxing-Mad' Family Names Baby Girl -- Many Times!

This isn't a Beltway story, but I just HAD to share this with you, if you haven't seen this. You know of course about George Foreman naming all his boys, George. In our area, Gary Russell named a number of his kids directly after him.

Now comes this story from Agence France Presse about a British woman who has given her daughter 25 middle names -- all last names of heavyweight champions.

LONDON (AFP) - Baby Autumn Brown has a name to live up - in fact she has over 25 of them.

The little girl's mother Maria, in keeping with her boxing-mad family's bizarre tradition, decided to give her 25 middle names - all culled from the greatest exponents inside the ring.

Her full name, which left register office staff in Perton, Wolverhampton reeling is:

Autumn Sullivan Corbett Fitzsimmons Jeffries Hart Burns Johnson Willard Dempsey Tunney Schmeling Sharkey Carnera Baer Braddock Louis Charles Walcott Marciano Patterson Johansson Liston Clay Frazier Foreman Brown.

Maria told the city's Express and Star: "The whole thing came about because both my mum and dad are obsessed with boxing and have a bit of a daft sense of humour.

"When I was young I couldn't ever remember my name. It took me to the age of 10 to memorise it all."

The 33-year-old mother added: "I'm hoping Autumn has a good sense of humour with her name. It's never done me any harm though."

Photo Gallery from Howard University!

There is a nice group of photos from last Saturday's Babie Girl Productions boxing card at Howard University's Burr Gymnasium courtesy of CD Brown of DC Urban Sports, a component of DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine. Please copy the link, take a look and let her know what you think.

http://brownphotos.smugmug.com/gallery/3054592#166328418

Vinson Wins but Leaves Belt on Scales!

DC bantamweight Clarence "Untouchable" Vinson won a 10-round unanimous decision over a game Robert "Don't Lose" DaLuz of Jacksonville, FL in the main event of the Babie Girl Promotions card at Howard University's Burr Gymnasium.

However, because Vinson came in over the 118-pound bantamweight limit, he did not walk out of the ring with the WBC USNBC Bantamweight title. The title remains vacant.

Vinson had to overcome adversity in the ring as well. Vinson was knocked down in the second round by a looping DaLuz right hand. But by the fourth round, Vinson was in control showing tremendous Pernell Whitaker-style defense at times, crouching low to get away from DaLuz's punches and then landing with sharp combinations to the body and head.

Judges scorecards were 95-94, 97-92 and 96-93.

Vinson's record is now 16-2, seven KO's. DaLuz falls to 10-7-2, nine KO's.

The co-feature bout will be remembered at the end of 2007 as one of the best bouts along the Beltway this year. Undefeated DC light heavyweight Reginald Taylor survived a mostly phone-booth style contest to win a six-round unanimous decision over Philadelphia veteran Jameel "Black Gold" Wilson.

Both boxers turned fighting at close quarters into an art form as they traded head and body shots throughout the contest. Early, Taylor did damage to the head while Wilson was scoring with strong body shots. Wilson started to take advantage with uppercuts and head shots, but Taylor fought back gamely with a solid sixth-round to give him the victory, with the judges scorecards at 58-57, 59-53 and 58-56.

Taylor is now 7-0, four KO's while Wilson falls to 13-11-2, eight KO's.

Also on the card, DC junior welterweight Reggie "The Mechanic" Holly put on a solid performance, easily dominating Ken Humphreys of Ripley, TN in a six-round rematch.

In the last bout between these two (in March of 2006 at the Lincoln Theatre), Holly used superior boxing skills to get the victory. In this bout, Holly again was on the onset, with strong combinations to win the contest.

Holly's record is now 7-3, two KO's while Humphreys is 4-5, three KO's.

Stafford, VA heavyweight "The People's Champion" Jonathan Felton scored a second-round TKO over veteran Eric Starr of Hillsborough, FR. Felton landed a devasting left hand and dropped him to the canvas. Moments later, Felton finished the job as he was all over Starr.

Felton has now won two straight and rasises her record to 5-8, five KO's. Starr is listed at 15-32.

Also, Portland, OR flyweight Gabriel Cruz spoiled the pro debut of DC's Derrick "No Joke" McFadden. Cruz outworked McFadden enough to earn a four-round majority decision.

DC Boxing history was made on this card as two of the bouts were refereed by Michelle Hall, the first female professional boxing referee in the Beltway region. Hall told me after the card that she said she made some mistakes. Could've (and did) fooled me. She was very solid in both bouts as she worked the rematch between Reggie Holly and Ken Humphreys as well as the McFadden-Cruz matchup.

PERSONAL OBSERVATION: As far as pure action is concerned, this was the best Babie Girl promotion I have seen. The Taylor-Wilson bout was a classic.

To hear more, please go to the Post-fight Wrap-Up:

Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #65 - Post-Fight Wrap-Up from Howard University!

In this Post-Fight Wrap-Up from Howard University's Burr Gymnasium, "The Fight Doctor" Jerome Spears and I talk about a card that had great fights and an unfortunate scenario in the main event.

Dietrich, Nicklow, Coleman Remain Undefeated!

Three undefeated Baltimore-area prospects continued their winning ways and put on solid performances at Du Burns Arena in Baltimore.

Dundalk, MD heavyweight "The American Dream" Mike Dietrich scored a solid third-round TKO over Atlantic City, NJ's Darryl "Shotgun" Holley. Dietrich is now 9-0, four KO's. Holley is 5-5, one KO.

Severn, MD middleweight Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow may have had his best performance to date in winning a six-round unanimous decision over late sub "Magnificent" Martinus Clay of Wilson, NC. Nicklow is now 12-0-1, five KO's. Clay is 12-15-2, four KO's.

Baltimore welterweight Tim Coleman survived cuts along both eyes and a reportedly separated left shoulder to gut out a six-round unanimous decision over Miami, FL's Carlos Pena. Coleman is now 11-0, two KO's while Pena is 4-8, three KO's.

Also on the card, Baltimore super middleweight Henry "Hurricane" Mayes bounced back from two tough knockout losses to win a four-round majority decision over Jacob "The Snake" Rodriguez of Brooklyn, NY. Mayes is 6-3, four KO's. Rodriguez is 8-17, six KO's.

Jaime Morales of Philadelphia stopped Reisterstown, MD's "Diamond" Matt Hill at 1:10 of the first round. Hill is 8-31-2, four KO's while Morales improves to 4-3, one KO.

In the opening bout, undefeated Brooklyn, NY welterweight prospect Martin Wright won a four-round unanimous decision over Allentown, PA's Jorge Delgado. Wright knocked Delgado down three times in the first round, but Delgado fought back gamely to force a decision.

In amateur action, Brandywine, MD super heavyweight Seth "Mayhem" Mitchell scored a devastating first-round stoppage over novice Kevin McMillan of Salisbury, MD.

For complete details, please listen to this post-fight wrap-up show.

Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #64 - Post-Fight Wrap-Up from Du Burns Arena!

In this recap, "The Fight Doctor" Jerome Spears and I talk about some great pro and amateur performances at Du Burns Arena last night.

Cassandra White Discusses June 23 Card!

Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #63 - Cassandra White Discusses June 23 Card!

Cassandra White of Babie Girl Productions talks about her Saturday, June 23 card at Howard University's Burr Gymnasium as well as her struggles being a female promoter in a male-dominated world.

Universum Says Krasniqi Ready for Thompson!

The following comes from a Universum Press Release concerning the July 14 WBO Heavyweight Elimination bout between Luan Krasniqi and the Beltway's own Tony "The Tiger" Thompson. Just thought you'd be interested in what the other side has to say.

On the July 14 "Universum Champions Night" at the Color Line Arena in Hamburg, Germany, Universum heavyweight Luan Krasniqi (30-2-1, 14 KOs) will collide with Tony "The Tiger" Thompson (29-1, 17 KOs) in a WBO eliminator that will produce the mandatory challenger for champion Sultan Ibragimov.

"I'm happy to again fight in Hamburg, especially in an eliminator against Thompson," said Krasniqi today at a press conference taking place aboard the "Rickermer Rickmers," a fully-rigged ship anchored in Hamburg Harbour. "I expect him to be a dangerous opponent. He isn't the quickest, but he has an unwieldy style of boxing. However, I will be fully prepared to step into the ring and compile a victory bit by bit."

'The Lion' Krasniqi is extremely focused on his next task. "Thompson is the next opponent and I must first clear him out of the way," "Other than that, I'm not thinking about anything else."

For Krasniqi, the fight represents a chance for a second opportunity to become the first German since Max Schmeling to win a heavyweight title. In his first title challenge, in a dramatic fight on September 25, 2005 at the same arena (on the 100th birthday of Max Schmeling) Krasniqi was ahead to points when he lost in round nine to then-world champion Lamon Brewster by what Krasniqi terms "a lucky punch."

Universum promoter Klaus-Peter Kohl is optimistic about Krasniqi's chances. "For Luan a lot is going on. Naturally we want to remain on course for the world championship and this [fight] is particularly interesting for Hamburg."

Changes to June 22 Card at Duburns Arena!

There are wholesale changes to this Friday's Baltimore Boxing card at DuBurns Arena in Baltimore.

Undefeated Dundalk, MD heavyweight "The American Dream" Mike Dietrich (8-0, three KO's) will venture into a scheduled six-round bout for the first time in his pro career. Dietrich's opponent is now scheduled to be Darryl Holley of Brigatine, NJ. Holley (5-4, one KO) started his career with five straight victories but has now lost four in a row.

The opponent has also changed for undefeated Severn, MD middleweight Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow and this one could be just as tough. Instead of facing Richard "Tiger" Lee Hall, Nicklow (11-0-1, five KO's) is now scheduled to face Miami, FL's David Toribio (13-9, seven KO's.) Toribio has lost his last three bouts, but his last victory came on September 28, 2006 at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie when he won an eight-round majority decision over previously undefeated Ishmail "The Arsenal" Arvin.

Just added to the card is undefeated Baltimore welterweight Tim Coleman (10-0, two KO's). Coleman will be in a six-round contest against Carlos Pena of Lowell, MA (4-7, three KO's). Pena has won three of his last five. Pena was also on the September 28 show in Glen Burnie and lost a six-round unanimous decision to Jose Angel Rodriguez.

The opponent for Baltimore super middleweight Henry "Hurricane" Mayes (5-3, four KO's) has changed. It looks like Philadelphia's Jacob Rodriguez will face Mayes in a four-round contest. Rodriguez (8-16, six KO's) has won his last two bouts. Rodriguez is 2-3 when competing along the Beltway. In his last bout here back in 2005, he lost to Mike "The Persecutor" Paschall via second-round TKO at Martin's West in Woodlawn.

"Diamond" Matt Hill of Reisterstown, MD will still take on Jerome Elders of Indianapolis and Steve Garrett will still be on the card.

Vinson Competes for Regional Title June 23 at Howard University!

DC bantamweight and 2000 Olympic bronze medallist Clarence "Untouchable" Vinson will try for his first pro regional title when he battles Robert "Don't Lose" DaLuz of Jacksonville, FL in a 10-round contest for the vacant WBC USNBC Bantamweight title on the Babie Girl Production card on Saturday, June 23 at Howard University's Burr Gymnasium.

Vinson (15-2, seven KO's) has not fought since winning an eight-round unanimous decision over Jose German Cruz on December 9, 2006 at the Lincoln Theatre. This will be Vinson's second attempt at a regional title. Back on November 18, 2004, Vinson lost a 12-round unanimous decision to Cesar Morales for the WBO Inter-Continental Bantamweight title. Vinson took off more than two years after this bout. This will also be Vinson's second bout with Beltway Boxing legend Darryll "Terrible T" Tyson working his corner.

DaLuz (10-6-2, nine KO's) has seen his career go on an upswing as of late. After losing three in a row, DaLuz has lost just once in his last six bouts. This includes a third-round TKO victory over highly-touted prospect Allen Litzau on April 6 in Litzau's hometown of Minneapolis, MN. In his last outing, however, DaLuz lost an eight-round unanimous decision to Carlos Rivera on May 4 in Tampa, FL. DaLuz was penalized twice during that bout for low blows.

In other bouts on this card, undefeated DC light heavyweight prospect Reginald Taylor will battle his most experienced foe to date in Philadelphia veteran Jameel "Black Gold" Wilson. This will be a six-round contest.

Taylor (6-0, four KO's) is coming off a second-round TKO over John Owens on May 25 at the DC Armory. Wilson (13-10-2, eight KO's) has not fought since June of 2005 and will be trying to break a six-bout losing streak against solid competition including Tarvis Simms, Antwaun Echols and Rodney Toney.

There will also be a six-round rematch between DC junior welterweight Reggie "The Mechanic" Holly and Ripley, TN's Ken Humphreys. Holly won the first bout by four-round unanimous decision on March 3, 2006 at the Lincoln Theatre.

Since that contest, Holly (6-2, two KO's) suffered a loss to Carlos Cisneros via third-round TKO on the December 9 Lincoln Theatre card. Humphreys (4-4, three KO's) lost three of his next five bouts, including his last two by knockout. However, one of the two wins Humphreys earned came as a four-round majority decision over Andrew Farmer on December 9 at the George Mason University Patriot Center.

This card will also mark the debut of DC flyweight Derrick McFadden who will face Gabriel Cruz of Portland, OR (0-1).

Due to the recent legal troubles of the Camacho family, neither Hector Sr. or Jr. are slated to be a part of this card,as originally advertised. However, matchmaker Jack Crider has lined up a special six-round exhibition bout featuring USBA Welterweight champion Jesse "El Rayo" Feliciano of Las Vegas. Feliciano (15-5-3, nine KO's) recently won the USBA title with an eighth-round stoppage over Delvin Rodriguez on March 23 in Mashantucket, CT. Feliciano will have his exhibition against St. Louis, MO undefeated prospect "Irish" Tim Connors (6-0, four KO's).

Otts Loses in Delaware; Coleman Bout Scratched!

UPDATE AND CORRECTION: I've received word that Salisbury, MD light heavyweight Eddie Otts lost his bout with Heath Harris of Euphoria, PA in the first round at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington, DE Saturday night. Otts is now 0-3-1. Harris is now 1-3, one KO. The bout was stopped at 47 seconds of the round.

Undefeated Baltimore welterweight Tim Coleman was also scheduled to be on that card, however, his bout with Victorio Abadia was scratched. No reason given why. I'm trying to get an update.

Petersons Return in September, Says ESPN.Com!

ESPN.com's Dan Rafael says the undefeated Peterson Brothers will return to action on the September 7 season finale of ESPN's Friday Night Fights. The Peterson Brothers will be a part of a tripleheader main event on a card originating from the DeSoto Civic Center in Southhaven, MS. Opponents have not been finalized.

Also on the card will be Zab Judah, fresh off his 11th round TKO loss to Miguel Cotto on June 9. All three boxers are promoted by Prize Fight Boxing out of Memphis, TN.

This show will be 2 1/2 hours in length and both the Petersons and Judah will be on television.

Rahman Fails to Impress in Victory over Sykes!

If former two-time heavyweight champion Hasim "The Rock" Rahman wants to put himself back in the thick of things in the heavyweight division, he will have to do a lot better than he did in his 10-round unanimous decision over Taurus Sykes in front of a nationally-televised audience in Rochester, NY.

Rahman weighed in at a career-high 261 pounds and it showed through the bulk of the fight as he plodded around the ring with the 238-pound Sykes. Finally, in the ninth round, Rahman dropped Sykes with a right hand and then went on to the victory. The scores were 95-93, 99-90 and 97-91. With the win, Rahman captured the interim NABF title.

"I want to fight again in 30-40 days," said Rahman to Fightnews.com after the fight. "I can't go into a major fight like this. I have to fight again and look much, much sharper."

Coleman, Otts Boxing in Delaware on June 15!

Fightnews.com is reporting that two Beltway Boxers will be in action on a Friday, June 15 card at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington, DE.

Undefeated Baltimore welterweight Tim Coleman will take on Victorio Abadia of Panama City, Panama in a six-round bout. Coleman (10-0, two KO's) is coming off a six-round unanimous decision over Carlos Cisneros on May 18 at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, MD. Abadia (22-5-2, eight KO's) has lost two in a row and has not fought since being stopped in the fifth round by Rolando Reyes in July of 2006.

Also on the card is Salisbury, MD light heavyweight Eddie Otts. This will be Otts's first bout since being stopped in the first round by Nick Collins on January 20, 2006 at the Pikesville Armory. Otts (0-2-1) will take on Euphoria, PA's Heath Harris (0-3) who is also looking for his first win.

Rahman Weighs Career-High 261!

Former two-time world heavyweight champion Hasim "The Rock" Rahman weighed in at a career-high 261 pounds in preparation for his nationally-televised bout tomorrow night on the Versus Network.

Baltimore native Rahman (41-6-2, 33 KO's) will take on Taurus "The Bull" Sykes of Brooklyn, NY in a matchup for the vacant NABF Heavyweight title at the Main Street Armory in Rochester, NY. Sykes (25-3-1, seven KO's) weighed in today at 238 pounds.

Rahman has not fought since losing his WBC title to Oleg Maskaev on August 12, 2006 in Las Vegas. This is a massive weight gain from the Maskaev bout when he weighed 235 pounds. Rahman couldn't explain the weight gain, but he told Fightnews.com "I feel good, feel strong, I'm ready to go."

Rahman's new trainer, Marshall Kauffman, told Fightnews that Rahman took about nine months off and has only been in camp for four-and-a-half weeks.

"If he goes out there and takes care of Taurus Sykes, which I know he's capable of doing, then it doesn't matter what he came in at as far as his weight goes. Regardless, forget about that when he goes out there and fights for the title," Kauffman said.

Boxing Returns to DuBurns on Friday, June 22!

Undefeated Baltimore-area boxers "The American Dream" Mike Dietrich and Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow headline the next Baltimore Boxing card on Friday, June 22 at DuBurns Arena.

Dundalk, MD's Dietrich (8-0, three KO's) will take on veteran Gary Campbell of Opa Locka, FL in a heavyweight matchup. Dietrich made a successful return to boxing on the last DuBurns card on May 11 when he won a four-round unanimous decision over "The People's Champion" Jonathan Felton. Campbell (6-8-2, four KO's) last fought on February 3 when he won a four-round unanimous decision over Cecil Smith in Fisherville, VA.

Severn, MD's Nicklow (11-0-1, five KO's) will battle his most experienced opponent to date when he faces Richard "Tiger" Lee Hall of Rocky Mount, NC. Nicklow is coming off his second consecutive third round TKO when he stopped Larry "The Gladiator" Brothers on May 25 at the DC Armory. Prior to that, Nicklow stopped Matt Berkshire in the third on May 11 on the last DuBurns card. Hall (10-18-2, six KO's) fought to a six-round draw with Luis Alberto Santiago on June 8 in Philadelphia. Nicklow will be the sixth Beltway Boxer Hall has faced in his eight-year career, joining the likes of Ishmail "The Arsenal" Arvin, Antonio "Starchild" Reese, Marlon Haynes, Cliff Richard and Ricardo Edmonds . Hall is 2-3 against Beltway competition, scoring victories over Reese and Edmonds.

This card will mark the debut of Salisbury, MD super middleweight Stew Jones who will take on Columbia, MD's Steve Garrett. Garrett has not fought since October 7, 2005 at BXF in Millersville, MD when he lost a six-round unanimous decision to Jarell Mason Jackson. Garrett is 2-4, one KO and is looking to break a three-bout losing streak.

Also looking to break a three-bout losing streak is Baltimore super middleweight Henry "Hurricane" Mayes. Mayes (5-3, four KO's) is coming off a third-round TKO loss to Nick "Flash" Collins on the May 11 DuBurns card. Mayes will take on Baltimore veteran Mike McFail, who is winless in his last 10 bouts. McFail (12-34-2, four KO's) has been stopped in his last two bouts, including a sixth-round TKO to Julius Fogle on February 3 in Greensboro, NC.

Another veteran, popular "Diamond" Matt Hill of Reisterstown, MD, will also be on the card facing Indianapolis, IN's Jerome Elder. Hill (8-30-2, four KO's) is coming off a four-round stoppage loss to Earl "Mighty Mouse" Cole in Cole's pro debut on March 10 in Pikesville, MD. Elder (9-12, nine KO's) has lost nine in a row, including a six-round unanimous decision loss to Chad Greenleaf on December 9, 2006 in Parkersburg, WV.

At least one more bout will be added to the pro card plus an amateur portion is also slated for this show. More details as they come in.

Gary Russell Jr. Story Continues in Washington Times!

Check out today's edition of The Washington Times for another good story in the Gary Russell, Jr. series.

The Times has been following Russell as he tries to make the US Olympic team. Writer Mike Jones talks about Russell's performance in the recent US Championships in Colorado Springs, CO and tells why Russell had to drop out after his quarterfinal bout.

More Beltway Boxing Photography Available Online!

Many of you around the Beltway Boxing community are familiar with the fine photo work of Janet Nash. Many of her boxing photos have appeared in numerous publications including Boxing Digest, where some of her photos accompany the articles written by herself and her husband, Charles.

Now, Janet has her very own website -- jnashphotography.com -- and there are some great boxing shots as well as photos on other subjects that you are able to see. Please send your thoughts to her as you view her site.

The Beltway Boxing community is very blessed to have photographers such as Janet, Linda Siadys and Mike Greenhill working the area on a regular basis.

Locals Have Easy Night at ABC!

It was a good night for Beltway Boxers as they performed in front of a packed house estimated at 600 at the ABC Sports Complex in Springfield, VA.

In the main event, Culpepper, VA-born cruiserweight Bobby Gunn scored a technical knockout at the end of the first round when late sub opponent Elija Dickens hurt his leg after a collision that referee Billy Johnson ruled a knockdown. Dickens, a native of Philadelphia, finished the round but couldn't continue the contest.

Gunn, who now fights out of Hackensack, NJ, raised his record to 19-3, 16 KO's, while Dickens falls to 0-7.

In the co-feature, another Beltway-born boxer -- John "No Mercy" Mackey -- scored a second-round TKO over debuting Kenny Keaton of Indianapolis, IN. Mackey landed solid body shots early in the contest, then came back with head shots in the second round, forcing referee Rick Ellis to stop the contest at 1:05 of the round.

Mackey, who now lives in Montgomery, AL, remains undefeated at 6-0, three KO's.

In other bouts on the card, Falls Church, VA middleweight "Money" Mike Sawyer made short work of Jimmy Lundy of Indianapolis, IN with a first round TKO. Sawyer landed a right hand to the body that made Lundy double over then followed up with a right to the head that made Lundy stumble toward his corner. Referee Johnson saw that Lundy had taken enough punishment and called the bout at 1:36.

Sawyer is now 4-1 with two KO's. Lundy falls to 0-3.

Debuting Beltway Boxer Lawrence Jones of DC made his debut a successful one with a four-round unanimous decision over Philadelphia veteran Leo "The Lion" Edwards. Jones hit Edwards with the first right hand he threw, but had to avoid Edwards rushing in with his head all throughout the contest. Edwards lost a point in the third round for holding as well.

Jones won the bout by scores of 40-35 (twice) and 39-36. Edwards's record falls to 14-19-2, eight KO's and he has lost 11 in a row.

In a rematch, Front Royal, VA lightweight Andrew "The Doo Man" Farmer made the result exactly the same with a first-round TKO over Anthony "The Machine" Whigham of Worcester, MA. Farmer, who beat Whigham in the first round in his pro debut last year in West Virginia, wasted no time in dropping Whigham twice with hard shots. By the end of the round, Farmer had Whigham literally running away from his shots before Johnson stopped the bout at 2:59 of the first.

With the win, Farmer raised his record to 6-1, five KO's while Whigham is 0-6.

Another Front Royal boxer -- Terry "T-Brick" Roy -- also scored a first-round TKO over Boston, MA's Capousse Apounte. Roy blasted Apounte with a solid combination to the body and head that put Apounte to the canvas to stay. Referee Ellis stopped the bout at 2:25 of the first. Roy's record is 4-0-1, three KO's while Apounte is 0-2.

The night began with a lackluster draw between two Philadelphia boxers. George "Bang-Bang" Turner and Charles Mack danced their way through four rounds. All three judges scored the bout a draw, 38-38.

Here is the complete Gabcast Post-Fight Wrap-Up:

Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #62 - Post-Fight Wrap-Up from Springfield!

Beltway Boxers have an easy night in this recap from the ABC Sports Complex in Springfield, VA.

Guerrero Wins 165-Pound National Title!

Salisbury, MD 165-pounder Fernando Guerrero captured his first national title at the US Championships in Colorado Springs, CO.

In what USABoxing.org called the bout of the night, Guerrero defeated 2007 Golden Gloves champion Shawn Porter of Cuyahoga Falls, OH 33-17 to win the championship. Both men threw heavy blows from bell to bell, according to the website. Guerrero led 10-8 after two rounds and 20-12 after three.

Earlier in the week, Guerrero advanced by defeating Largo, MD's Dominic Wade by medical disqualification in the quarterfinals.

Boxing Returns to Springfield Saturday Night!

Here is the lineup for tomorrow night's Sugar Han Promotions card at the ABC Sports Complex in Springfield, VA.

Among the Beltway Boxers competing on this card will be Front Royal, VA lightweight Andrew "The Doo Man" Farmer. In his last outing, Farmer won a six-round unanimous decision over Michael Salyers on February 17 in Winchester, VA.

Farmer (5-1, four KO's) will be involved in a four-round rematch against Ohio-based Anthony Whigham (0-5). This will be a rematch of Farmer's pro debut on April 15, 2006 when he stopped Whigham in the first round. Whigham has been stopped in four of his five pro bouts.

Also on the card will be Falls Church, VA middleweight "Money" Mike Sawyer (3-1, one KO). This will be Sawyer's first outing since February 24 when he won a four-round unanimous decision over Montez Wilson at the ABC Sports Complex.

Sawyer will battle Jimmy Lundy of Indianapolis, IN (0-2) in a four-round encounter. Lundy has been stopped in both of his pro bouts.

The main event on the card will be an eight-round battle between cruiserweight contender Bobby Gunn of Hackensack, NJ and Antoine Barrett of Paterson, NJ. Gunn (16-3, 13 KO's) will try to bounce back from losing a recent challenge for the WBO Cruiserweight title. Gunn was stopped in the first round by WBO Champion Enzo Maccarinelli on April 7 in Cardiff, Wales. Barrett (13-8-1, seven KO's) is coming off a third-round TKO loss to Sammy Retta on February 24 in Hollywood, FL.

In another bout, undefeated middleweight John Mackey returns to Springfield to take on Tanzanian-born Mambea "The African Lion" Bakari in a four-round bout.

Mackey, who was born in DC but now lives in Montgomery, AL, recently raised his record to 4-0, two KO's with a four-round unanimous decision over Larry Brothers on February 24 in Springfield. Bakari (11-11-2, four KO's) has not fought since losing by first-round TKO to Jeffrey Resto on November 22, 2002.

Making his pro debut on the card will be Reston, VA junior middleweight Lawrence Jones. Jones will make his debut in a four-round bout against a veteran from Philadelphia, Leo Edwards. Edwards (14-18-2, eight KO's) has fought a number of top contenders as well as a solid contingent of Beltway Boxers over his 13-year career. Jones will be the eighth Beltway Boxer Edwards has faced, joining the likes of Michael "Him Bad" Duncan, "Magic" Michael Ward, Derrell "Too Sweet" Coley, John Stewart (AKA Yahya Mustapha), Kenny "Phone Booth" Blackston, Ishmail "The Arsenal" Arvin and Zain Shah.

In a four-round light-heavyweight contest, Philadelphia's Charles Mack (1-8) will take on Ryan Franklin of Sault St.Marie, MI (3-7, two KO's).

This card begins at 8 pm. Prior to the pro card, there will be an amateur card at ABC beginning at 3:30 pm featuring boxers from Maryland and Virginia.

Nwodo, Wilson Talk About June 29 Championship Battle!

There has been tremendous debate here on the blog about the June 29 nationally televised battle between USBA Cruiserweight champion Emmanuel "Chukwu" Nwodo of Baltimore and challenger Darnell "The Ding-A-Ling Man" Wilson of Takoma Park.

Now, it's time to hear from the combatants themselves. In these two exclusive interviews, neither man suffers from lack of confidence or excitement when they talk about this contest.

Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #60 - Emmanuel Nwodo Discusses USBA Title Defense Against Darnell Wilson!

USBA Cruiserweight champion Emmanuel "Chukwu" Nwodo confidently talks about his June 29 title defense against fellow Beltway cruiserweight Darnell "The Ding-A-Ling Man" Wilson.



Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #61 - 'Ding-A-Ling Man' Wilson Expresses Confident Thoughts About June 29!

The hottest name in the cruiserweight division, Darnell "The Ding-A-Ling Man" Wilson confidently talks about his June 29 challenge against USBA Cruiserweight Champ Emmanuel "Chukwu" Nwodo.

Crews, Gibbons Win Women's Titles at US Championships!

Two female Beltway Boxers captured titles at the US Amateur Boxing Championships in Colorado Springs, CO.

Middleweight champion Franchon Crews of Baltimore, MD won her third straight US title with a 42-36 victory over former national champion Allana Huggins of Fort Worth, TX. According to USABoxing.org, Crews was behind on points 30-26 after three rounds, but then came out punching in the fourth and final round to capture the title.

In the heavyweight division, Anne Gibbon of Annapolis, MD won the title when her bout with Wendell, NC's Nikki Cane was stopped on points early in the third round.

On the men's side, Salisbury, MD 165-pounder Fernando Guerrero advanced to the finals by defeating Jonathan Nelson of Little Rock, AK, 12-9. However, Capitol Heights, MD 119-pounder Gary Russell, Jr. lost his semifinal bout to Ronny Rios of Santa Ana, CA via medical disqualification. Of course, Russell had qualified for the Olympic Trials before the start of the US Championships.

Russell, Jr. Wins Quarterfinal Bout at US Championships!

Two-time national champion Gary Russell, Jr. of Capitol Heights, MD won his first bout of the US Championships today in Colorado Springs, CO.

Russell defeated Jessy Cruz of Miami, FL, 37-14 to advance to the semifinals. Russell already has earned a qualifying spot in the 2008 Olympic Trials competition.

In the female division, 165-pound champion Franchon Crews of Baltimore made her first appearance at the Championships and stopped Jennifer Egan of Mahopac, NY in 52 seconds of the first round.

Beltway Boxing History on Pay-Per-View Tonight!

For those who have IN DEMAND PPV, you might want to check out a piece of Beltway Boxing history that will be a part of the "USA Tuesday Night Fights Knockouts Series."

This edition -- which premieres tonight -- will show a NABF Light Heavyweight title bout featuring Laurel, MD's "Boxing" Andrew Maynard. Maynard, a 1988 Olympic gold medalist, defends his NABF title against Ed Mack in a bout that took place at the Washington Convention Center on June 18, 1991.

Going into this bout, Maynard was 16-1, 13 KO's, his only loss coming in a surprise stoppage to former world champion Bobby Czyz. Mack was 13-1-1, eight KO's and coming off a knockout victory over rising contender Booker T. Word.

Wade, Guerrero Head for Olympic Trials!

Two Beltway 165-pounders -- Dominic Wade and Fernando Guerrero -- have qualified for the 2008 OIympic Team Boxing trials by virture of their second-round victories in yesterday's US Championships competition in Colorado Springs, CO.

Wade, from Largo, MD, defeated Edwin Rodriguez of Worcester, MA 18-12 while Guerrero, of Salisbury, MD, stopped Donta Woods of Atlanta, GA in the second round.

The news was not so good for Capitol Heights, MD 132-pounder Gary Russell III, who lost to Miguel Gonzales of Cleveland, OH, 21-8.

In a female bout, Baltimore 110-pounder Gina D'Andrea was stopped in the third round by Khara Keegan of Arizona.

UPDATE: Russell III, Wade, Guerrero Advance; Adebusoye, Runion, Berry Fall at US Championships!

Gary Russell III has advanced to the second round of the US Amateur Championships in Colorado Springs, CO.

The Capitol Heights, MD 132-pounder stopped Jose Perez of N. Miami, FL in the third round of his US Championships debut.

Also advancing was Largo, MD middleweight Dominic Wade who defeated Abraham Han of El Paso, TX 38-26.

In the same 165-pound class, Salisbury, MD's Fernando Guerrero won on retirement against Terrence Hanaway of Lander, NY.

DC's Jimson Adebusoye lost his first-round bout in the 165-pound class to Edwin Rodriguez of Worcester, MA, 17-5.

In the 201+ pound weight class, Luke Runion of College Park, MD lost in the preliminary round to Lenroy Thompson of FL, 11-7.

Earlier in the weekend, Baltimore 141-pounder James Berry lost his first-round contest to Philadelphia's Danny Garcia, 23-9.

Scheduled to compete in today's session are Wade, Guerrero, Russell and female 110-pounder Gina D'Andrea of Baltimore.

'Return to Burn' Video Now Available Online!

The April 28th Major League Boxing "Return to Burn" card from the Augusta Expoland in Fisherville, VA is now available online. Yours truly and "The Fight Doctor" Jerome Spears provided the play-by-play and color commentary. This card featured the main event between "JC Superstar" Juan Carlos Robles and "Gentleman" James Johnson as well as a strong contingent of Virginia boxers.

The entire video is about two hours long, but I'm told you can pick and choose which bout you want to see. You can see the card by going to www.majorleagueboxing.com. The link is on this site.

Also, there is a video of the 2006 Beltway Boxing Bout of the Year -- the first matchup between Robles and Derek "D-Mos" Amos on December 7 from the Patriot Center that is shot from ringside. You might want to check that out as well.

Locals Tested in the Ballroom!

For the second straight night, Beltway Boxers were tested severely during the Ballroom Boxing card at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD.

In the main event, Bowie, MD super middleweight Demetrius Davis lost a tough six-round split decision to Philadelphia, PA's Omar "Pitbull" Pittman. The bout came down to the sixth round where Pittman dropped Davis with a right hand about a minute into the round. Pittman managed to hang on and get the decision.
Judges Gary Camponeschi and John Gradowski scored the bout 57-56 for Pittman while Don Risher scored the bout 57-56 for Davis.

Davis, fighting for the first time in almost nine years, falls to 17-12-4, seven KO's while Pittman is now unbeaten in six bouts and is now 14-3-1, eight KO's.

In the co-feature, Upper Marlboro heavyweight "Big" Phill Brown lost for the first time in his pro career, dropping a six-round majority decision to "Lightning" Mike Sheppard of Palestine, WVA. Sheppard overcame a 73-pound weight disadvantage to win the bout. Brown is now 6-1, three KO's while Sheppard is 8-7-1, five KO's.

The performance of the night went to Bel Air, MD middleweight Nick "Flash" Collins, who landed a perfect right hand with two seconds remaining in the second round to knock out Terrell Nixon of Cincinnati, OH. With the win -- Collins's second straight this month -- Collins raised his record to 4-2, four KO's while Nixon falls to 1-1.

Here, Collins talks about his victory.
Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #58 - 'Flash' Collins Talks About Second-Round Knockout!

Bel Air, MD middleweight Nick "Flash" Collins talks about his devastating second-round knockout over Terrell Nixon at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD



Also on the card, Arlington, VA junior middleweight Bayan Jargal battled to a four-round draw against Jaime Rodriguez of Reno, NV. Jargal is now 2-1-1, two KO's while Rodriguez is 2-1-1, one KO.

Toms River, NJ light heavyweight William Gill scored a stunning fifth-round TKO over previously undefeated Anatoliy "The Dragon" Dudichenko of Marysville, OH via the Ukraine. The win is Gill's second straight and he is now 8-17, seven KO's. Dudichenko is now 2-1, two KO's.

Undefeated Niles, OH junior middleweight Durrell "2 Slick" Richardson won a six-round majority decision over Scott Ball of Plainview, MN. Richardson is now 10-0, four KO's while Ball is 8-4, six KO's.

Here is the Gabcast Post-Fight Wrap-up. Tonight we are joined by 13-year-old amateur champion Brady Sensibaugh, who truly knows his boxing.

Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #59 - Post-Fight Wrap-Up from Glen Burnie!

"The Fight Doctor" Jerome Spears and I are joined by 13-year-old amateur champion Brady Sensibaugh as we discuss a highly competitive card from Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD