Beltway Boxing 2007 Year in Review!

Okay Beltway Boxing Fans! Here is my 2007 Beltway Boxing year in review. I have retroactively called this year, "The Year of Definition." After three years of doing BATB, I truly believe this was the year where we can truly define where the majority of our boxers rank. We know who our rookies, prospects and contenders are.
Because of the strong performances of many of our Beltway Boxing pros, we are poised to have a great 2008.

So here we go with my look at the Best of the Beltway in 2007:

The Five Best Beltway Boxing Cards of 2007

1a: December 7 – Pikesville National Guard Armory, Pikesville, MD.

Rarely has there been a card in the Beltway area with so many razor-thin decisions that no one had any complaints about. This six-bout card, promoted by Baltimore Pro Boxing, saw all six bouts go the distance and three bouts end in draws. Two of the bouts ranked among the best bouts of the year and two other bouts were rematches that were either as good as or better than the first time around.

1b: August 3 – Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD

This card shares the honor of card of the year because it was the most exciting card of 2007. It was also a model card to show how the combination of amateur and pro bouts on one card is supposed to work. The amateur portion of the card featured three of the most talked about young boxers in the area (Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell, Abodurin Akinyanju and Dusty Harrison) as well as some great pro prospects in Alexander “The Great” Johnson, Horace “The Reason” Grant and Thomas “KO” Snow. There was no better consistent crowd response than on this Keystone Boxing card.

3. May 25 – DC Armory, Washington, DC

The highest-profile card of the year featured two of not only the Beltway’s best, but also the world’s best contenders. The Undefeated Peterson Brothers put on solid performances on this ESPN-televised, Peake Promotions card. NABO Lightweight champ Anthony Peterson successfully defended his title with a ninth-round TKO over Luis Ernesto Jose while Lamont Peterson scored an eighth-round TKO over veteran John Brown. On the undercard, Beltway Boxing prospects Reginald Taylor, Ty Barnette and Jessie Nicklow all remained undefeated.

4. September 16 – ABC Sports Arena, Springfield, VA

Exciting cards were plentiful in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2007. However, the Left Hook Promotions card that took place at the ABC Sports Complex was filled with competitive bouts. This included a main event that completed one of the better area stories of the year – The resurgence of junior welterweight Jaime “The Punisher” Palma who won an eight-round unanimous decision over veteran Dean “Pit Bull” White. Also, some of Virginia’s best prospects were on the show, including junior middleweight Andrew “Doo Man” Farmer, cruiserweight Terry “T-Brick” Roy and junior welterweight Todd “White Lightning” Wilson. All won in good, exciting performances.


5. June 23 – Howard University, Washington, DC

DC’s cards were few in number, but two of them managed to make this list. This Babie Girl Promotions card featured a brand new venue as well as controversy and one of the best bouts of the year. Former US Olympian Clarence Vinson made his return after more than a year’s absence and won a 10-round unanimous decision over Robert DaLuz. However, Vinson lost an opportunity to win the WBC USNBC Bantamweight title because he came in over the 118-pound limit. Also, there was an outstanding co-feature between local prospect Reginald Taylor and Philadelphia’s Jameel “Black Gold” Wilson as well as a dominating performance by local junior welter Reggie “The Mechanic” Holly. There was also history on this card as Michelle Hall became the first female to referee a pro bout in the Beltway.


Five Best Beltway Boxing Bouts of 2007

December 7 – John Mackey vs. Tony Cygan, Pikesville National Guard Armory, Pikesville, MD

This was far and away one of the best bouts seen in the Beltway area in many years. These were two prospects that simply enjoyed performing the “sweet science.” Mackey, a native of DC who now lives in Montgomery, AL, traded solid head and body shots with the Baltimore native Cygan. Both men showed incredible class as they traded smiles and gestures of sportsmanship throughout the bout. Mackey won by six-round unanimous decision.


June 23 – Reginald Taylor vs. Jameel Wilson, Howard University’s Burr Gymnasium, Washington, DC

Until the December 7 card, this six-round contest was the clubhouse leader as bout of the year. This was a classic youth vs. experience bout between undefeated light heavyweight prospect Reginald “Rat Man” Taylor and veteran Jameel “Black Gold” Wilson. Both boxers turned fighting in close quarters into an art form, trading head and body shots. Wilson took the advantage in the middle rounds but Taylor showed strong resilience to come back with a strong sixth round to win the bout.

May 12 – Jimmy Lange vs. Fontaine Cabell, George Mason University Patriot Center, Fairfax, VA

The rematch of one of the best Beltway bouts of 2006 had a lot of excitement and a solid performance by the hometown hero, Lange. As in the first bout, both men were very aggressive, but Lange deserves credit for fighting seven rounds with a torn rotator cuff, that he hurt in the first round. Lange did a great job in wearing Cabell down. Lange dropped Cabell with a solid right hand late in the seventh round before stopping Cabell 55 seconds into the eighth round. The win gave Lange the WBC Continental Americas Junior Middleweight title, but put him on the shelf for the rest of 2007. Lange is slated to return in March.

November 17 – Andrew Farmer vs. Curtis Smith, ABC Sports Arena, Springfield, VA

This bout proved that some fathers have no apprehension in testing the abilities of their sons. Scott Farmer of Left Hook Boxing Promotions cannot be accused of giving his son – Andrew “The Doo Man” Farmer an easy road to a title. Such was the case when Farmer fought Curtis Smith of Atlanta and won a six-round split decision. Farmer took advantage early in the bout with quick and accurate punches. But in the sixth round, Smith landed a sneaky uppercut and followed up with a barrage of punches that made Farmer slump to the canvas. However, Farmer gamely got up and managed to win the bout.

December 7 – Tim Coleman vs. Martinus Clay, Pikesville National Guard Armory, Pikesville, MD

The main event on this card was a very spirited bout between one of the busiest boxers in the Beltway in Baltimore welterweight Tim “Pit Bull” Coleman and tough veteran “Magnificent” Martinus Clay of Wilson, NC. Coleman, fighting for the ninth time in 2007, was fighting in his first scheduled 10-round contest. Clay was fighting an undefeated boxer for the seventh consecutive time. Coleman got off to a great start, landing solid shots in the first two rounds. Clay used his experience to gain a strong advantage in the middle rounds. Coleman, fighting with a right hand that was broken in the fifth round, used great defense to set his offense in the latter stages. However, both men could only manage a draw. Coleman plans to drop to 140 pounds in 2008, but he says he wants a rematch with Clay.


Five Best Beltway Boxing Knockouts of 2007 (not including Wilson-Nwodo)

There is no question that Darnell Wilson’s 11th round knockout of Emmanuel Nwodo was the knockout of the year among Beltway Boxers. ESPN.com's Dan Rafael has named it the Knockout of the Year in the entire sport. However, the bout didn’t take place in a Beltway location. These were the top five that took place in the Beltway area.


1. March 10 – Elias Bouloubassis, first-round KO over Vincent Robbins, Pikesville National Guard Armory, Pikesville, MD

This was the first pro victory for the “Golden Greek,” a super middleweight from Reisterstown, MD. The former Marine had two earlier bouts end in draws, but the one thing that was prevalent in his career was his power, which he brutally displayed in this rematch against the York, SC, -based Robbins. The first bout in December of 2006 ended because of an accidental headbutt. This time, Bouloubassis left no doubt as he jumped on Robbins early with solid left and right hands. Robbins was out on his feet. In just 15 seconds, the bout was over. The knockout is reportedly the fastest in the history of the super middleweight division, eclipsing Allen Green’s 2005 knockout of Jaidon Codrington by three seconds.


2. May 30 – Nick Collins, second-round TKO over Terrell Nixon, Michael’s Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, MD

This was a gutsy knockout victory for Collins, a middleweight from Bel Air, MD. Collins bounced back from being dropped in the first round by the Cincinnati, OH-based Nixon. Collins started strongly in round two, using solid shots to back Nixon off. With 10 seconds remaining in the second, Collins caught Nixon with a straight right hand that dropped Nixon to the canvas. Nixon beat the count, but was not fit to continue. Collins won the bout at 2:58 of the second round.

3. May 11 – Jessie Nicklow, third-round TKO over Matt Berkshire, Du Burns Arena, Baltimore, MD

Nicklow, an undefeated, promising junior middleweight from Severn, MD had only one minor blemish on his record, a first-round technical draw against Matt Berkshire of Morgantown, WVA two months earlier. The rematch turned out to be a quality performance by Nicklow who dropped Berkshire with two brutal left hands. The bout was stopped at 1:20 of the third round.


4. October 7–Willis Lockett, third-round TKO over Calvin Riley, Hilton McLean Tysons Corner Hotel, McLean, VA

Yet another rematch, except the result was very similar to the first bout. Takoma Park, MD cruiserweight Willis “The Prophet” Lockett defeated Olney, MD’s Calvin Riley in the third round in August. Lockett did it again two months later scoring a crushing right hand. Riley beat the count but was unfit to continue. The time of the bout was 1:05 of the third.

5. November 17 – Stennis Floyd, first-round TKO over Ed Edwards, ABC Sports Arena, Springfield, VA

No one made a more explosive pro debut in the Beltway area than Bristow, VA light heavyweight Stennis “Hard Banging” Floyd, who scored a wicked first-round knockout over Ed Edwards of Wilson, NC. Edwards sent two solid right hands that dropped Edwards for the count at 59 seconds of the round.


Five Best Beltway Boxing Stories of 2007

1. Gary Russell Jr. becomes first Beltway Boxer since 2000 to make US Olympic Team

This was a story more than a decade in the making. Since before his teens, the 19-year-old Russell, a native of Capitol Heights, MD, has had many Beltway Boxing observers dreaming the Olympic dream.

Russell was the youngest member of the US Elite amateur team and was named the USA Boxing Athlete of the Year in 2005, so making the Olympic team was thought to be a done deal. However, Russell lost his first bout at the Olympic Trials this past August and was put into the consolation bracket. Russell regrouped and won six straight bouts in six days, including two victories over the boxer that beat him in the first round to win the berth, becoming the first Beltway Boxer since Clarence Vinson to make the Olympic Team. Only three other US amateurs –- Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr. and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. have won Olympic berths out of the consolation bracket. In October, Russell officially punched his ticket to Beijing.


2. Maryland becomes industry pioneer in promoting and regulating pro-am cards.

The state of Maryland was very busy in regulating boxing cards. Maryland regulated 18 boxing cards, marking the fourth straight year that the state has hosted more than 15 cards in a year. Sixteen of the 18 cards featured a number of amateur boxers that fought prior to the pro boxers on the show. The Maryland State Athletic Commission worked hand in hand with not only different promoters in the state, but also with both the Potomac Valley AAU and the South Atlantic Boxing Association who handled amateur programs in Prince George’s County and Baltimore, MD respectively. Fan response was very favorable and Maryland State Commission Executive Director Patrick Pannella was asked to give a presentation during USA Boxing’s Annual Convention in Houston, TX in November.

3. DC licenses first female professional boxing referee – Michelle Hall works June 23 card at Howard University.

This was an extremely overlooked story. Michelle Hall, a local amateur official and inspector in Virginia, received an opportunity to work as a referee on a pro card, becoming reportedly the first female to referee a pro bout in Beltway Boxing history. Hall worked two bouts on the June 23 card at Howard University’s Burr Gymnasium and was very accomplished in her work.


4. Beltway Boxers win nine major regional titles.

A number of local boxers made solid strides in their careers by winning major regional titles. Lamont Peterson won two titles (WBC US Junior Welterweight, NABO Junior Welterweight) as did Darnell “The Ding-A-Ling Man” Wilson (Trans-America (Canada), USBA Cruiserweight and Tony “The Tiger” Thompson (WBC Continental Americas and NABO Heavyweight) Thompson and Anthony Peterson (NABO Lightweight) won regional titles en route to achieving number one contender status in their respective weight classes.

Even former world heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman captured the USBA Heavyweight title during his quest to regain the world title. Only one of the regional titles was won in the Beltway area. Jimmy Lange captured the WBC Continental Americas Junior Middleweight title on May 12 in Fairfax, VA.

5. Jaime Palma wins six straight bouts to go from under .500 to Virginia State Lightweight champ to ranked number 13 in USBA rankings.

Many boxing fans may remember the story of Freddie Pendleton, who went from an under. 500 record to win the IBF Lightweight title. Pendleton’s story is the blueprint that Alexandria, VA lightweight Jaime Palma has been following since 2005. At that time, Palma was 7-10-1. Palma started his six-bout winning streak in 2006 with three wins against under.500 competition. But in 2007, Palma stepped up his game with three more wins against tougher competition. A six-round unanimous decision win against tough Richmond trialhorse Edward Anderson raised some eyebrows. Palma then won the Virginia State Junior Welterweight title with a fifth-round TKO over Artie Benbury. But it was his eight-round unanimous decision win over Dean White on September 15 in Springfield, VA that caused some in the boxing world to take notice. At the end of 2007, Palma cracked the USBA rankings and is now at number 13.

The Five Best Beltway Boxing Rookies of 2007

1. Bayan Jargal, Arlington, VA (5-0-1, three KO’s) A native of Mongolia, Jargal started his career in late November of 2006 with a first-round TKO of Patrick Bozeman. Still technically a rookie, Jargal didn’t fight again until May 12, 2007 when he scored another first-round TKO over veteran Shane Gierke in Fairfax, VA. Jargal’s only minor setback came in a May 31 bout against Jaime Rodriguez in Glen Burnie, MD. Jargal battled Rodriguez to a four-round draw in the only bout where he was a little slower on the draw than usual. Since that bout, Jargal has looked very impressive and has already moved up to six-round bouts, winning by unanimous decision over Reggie Holly on November 8 in DC and scoring a second round TKO over Nathan Francis on December 15 in Dulles, VA.

Jargal is as technically sound as it comes and does show solid power and focus. He is the choice as Beltway Boxing Rookie of the Year for 2007.

(The fan's choice for Rookie of the Year: George "War Time" Rivera)


2. Alexander “The Great” Johnson, Oxon Hill, MD (4-0, three KO’s) a tall, lanky light heavyweight, Johnson has shown impressive power in his first year. Johnson has scored two first-round knockouts and was in complete control during his last outing, a four-round unanimous decision over Zeferino Albino on November 29 in Glen Burnie. If Johnson can do a better job in controlling his emotions, he could be a dominant prospect in 2008.

3. “War Time” George Rivera, Charlottesville, VA (6-1, three KO’s) A rapidly-improving junior middleweight who bounced back very well from an early loss. After winning his pro debut with a first-round knockout over Clarence Horne on February 3 in Fisherville, VA, Rivera was stunned with a second-round knockout loss to Charles Norwood just 14 days later in Winchester, VA. Since that loss, Rivera has reeled off five straight impressive victories. Rivera has also quickly attracted a large fan base, known as “La Familia” that stretches from Virginia to Rivera’s birthplace of Queens, NY.


4. Todd “White Lightning” Wilson, Arlington, VA (3-0, one KO) A boxer who, if he continues to be successful, may renew interest in collegiate boxing. A champion from VMI, Wilson has shown solid talent in his short pro career. Wilson made his pro debut with a second round TKO over Jay Watts on April 28in Fisherville, VA and has scored unanimous decision victories over starter opponents Henry Goss and Edward Anderson. Wilson is another young boxer who is gaining quick popularity in the area.

5. “The Golden Greek” Elias Bouloubassis, Reisterstown, MD (3-0-4, three KO’s) Bouloubassis, a super middleweight, has had one of the strangest rookie years of any boxer in recent memory. The four draws on his record don’t look great, especially when two of them were technical draws, caused in part by Bouloubassis’s straight-ahead style. But when he plants his feet and throws, he has as much power as anybody around, as evident by his 15-second knockout of Vincent Robbins and his knockouts of Jessie Horton and Rakeem Carter. Needs to develop a jab to progress, but he is still a fun boxer to watch.


The Five Best Beltway Boxing Prospects of 2007

1. Tim “Pit Bull” Coleman, Baltimore, MD (14-0-1, three KO’s) No boxer in the DC/MD/VA region has progressed as well as this welterweight prospect. Coleman advanced in all facets of the game – work rate, competition and length of rounds. Coleman fought nine times in 2007, working a total of 55 rounds. Coleman also progressed in his competition, defeating the likes of Jason Champion, Richard “Tiger” Lee Hall, Doel Carrasquillo and Scott Ball, before fighting a tough 10-round draw against Martinus Clay in his last outing on December 7. Also during the year, Coleman went from six-to eight to 10 rounds this year. Plans to drop to 140 pounds in 2008, where he may find an increase in power.

Because of his progression, Tim Coleman is the selection as the 2007 Beltway Boxing Prospect of the Year.

(the fans choice for Prospect of the Year: "JC Superstar" Juan Carlos Robles)

2. Mike “The Persecutor” Paschall, Baltimore, MD (14-0-1, two KO’s). Fought only four times this year, but fought solid gatekeeper-style opponents. The super middleweight advanced as a boxer-puncher with an improving ability to adapt to the opponent he is facing. In his best win of the year, Paschall won an eight-round unanimous decision over Richard Stewart on August 25 in Ocean City, MD by using movement and sharp jabs. In his last outing against Randy Pogue on November 29 in Glen Burnie, MD, Paschall was more of a puncher and was able to pound out a six-round decision.

3. Horace “The Reason” Grant, Riverdale, MD (10-1, seven KO’s). This heavyweight prospect appeared in eight contests this year, progressing nicely, All 2007 opponents had .500 or better records. Grant improved his power and scored nice knockouts against the likes of Glenn Williams, Mike Sheppard and Harvey Jolley. Grant will be a solid heavyweight prospect to watch in 2008.

4. Jessie “The Beast” Nicklow, Severn, MD (14-0-1, five KO’s). The 2006 choice for Rookie of the year, the junior middleweight prospect progressed slightly in 2007. A major difference for Nicklow was his power, as he scored three solid knockouts this year. Fought his first undefeated fighter in Matt Berkshire and after the first bout ended in a first-round technical draw, Nicklow scored his best knockout of the year in the rematch, a third-round TKO. This prospect will be looked upon to make a move in 2008.

5. Reginald “Rat Man” Taylor, Washington, DC (8-0, four KO’s). A good light heavyweight prospect who stepped up his game late in 2007, Taylor has yet to have an opponent who has an under.500 record. Put on a great performance in a six-round war against veteran Jameel Wilson in June. However, reportedly did not perform well in winning a six-round decision against 14-2 Jermain Mackey on November 17 in Turks and Caicos. If Taylor can start the year well, he could be heard from in 2008.



The 2007 Beltway Boxer of the Year is…

Darnell “The Ding-A-Ling Man” Wilson, Takoma Park, MD (22-5-3, 19 KO’s) In a year where there were many Beltway Boxing standouts, Wilson’s impact on the cruiserweight division places him slightly above his Beltway brethren. Wilson continued the turnaround that began in September 2006 with a fourth-round TKO over Daniel Judah with three quality knockout performances that set the cruiserweight division on his ear.

On January 19, Wilson traveled to Edmonton, Alberta, CA and scored a second-round TKO over hometown hero Dale Brown, marking the first time Brown had been knocked out on his home turf.

Then on February 23 in Scranton, PA, Wilson endeared himself to a nationally televised ESPN audience by scoring a third-round knockout over former IBF Cruiserweight champ Kelvin Davis.

But it was his sickening 11th round knockout over fellow Beltway Boxer Emmanuel Nwodo on June 29 in Staten Island, NY that truly sent shockwaves throughout the division. The knockout has already been a fixture on numerous year-end polls as the knockout of the year and made Wilson a household name in the Cruiserweight division. Wilson is slated to defend his USBA Cruiserweight title against undefeated BJ Flores in his third straight ESPN2 appearance on February 8 in Dover, DE. A year ago, Wilson had four straight losses and was thought of as an also-ran. Now, he is a legitimate contender and is recognized as the 2007 Beltway Boxer of the Year.

(The leader in the Beltway Boxer of the Year Poll -- Darnell Wilson. Voting continues until January 4.)

Other Beltway Boxers deserving of consideration:

Tony “The Tiger” Thompson, (heavyweight, Washington, DC, 31-1, 19 KO’s) If Wilson had not had such an impactful year, Thompson would have won this award going away. Thompson won two regional titles and leaped above two contenders in Timor Ibragimov and Luan Krasniqi, defeating the latter by fifth-round knockout in Krasniqi’s own home town of Hamburg, Germany to become the number-one ranked contender in the WBO and one of the most feared contenders in the division. Thompson continued his undefeated streak, which has now stretched over a seven-year period. If all goes well, Thompson will face the winner of the unification bout between WBO champ Sultan Ibragimov and WBC titleholder Wladimir Klitschko. Thompson is scheduled to be on the undercard of the unification bout on February 23.

Anthony Peterson (lightweight, Washington, DC, 25-0, 18 KO’s). Peterson had a solid year, winning four times (with three knockouts) and has spent the year as the WBO’s number-one ranked lightweight contender. Peterson will not rest on his laurels in 2008 as he is slated to defend his NABO Lightweight title against tough Guadalupe Rosales on ShoBox on January 4.

Lamont Peterson (junior welterweight, Washington, DC, 23-0, 11 KO’s). Peterson started to shed the image of a pure boxer by scoring three stoppages in 2007. The most impressive knockout came in front of his hometown crowd on national television against veteran contender John Brown on May 25. Peterson registered an eighth-round TKO in that bout. Peterson then won the NABO Junior Welterweight title, stopping Frankie Santos in the sixth round on September 7 in Biloxi, MS. Like his brother, Anthony, Lamont Peterson looks to make a move for a world title as he defends his NABO title against undefeated Antonio Mesquita on the same January 4 ShoBox card.


In Memoriam:

Dr. Arnold W. McKnight – Chair of the District of Columbia Boxing and Wrestling Commission for 12 years.

Bobby Glassmeyer – Long-time Maryland boxing trainer

Lorado Williams – Baltimore, MD amateur boxer

Truman E. Tuttle – One of the most notable names in amateur boxing. Tuttle headed the DC and the National Golden Gloves program for many years.

Alton Rice – a DC amateur and professional super middleweight boxer.

Ernest “Sonny Boy” Williams – DC lightweight who boxed in the 1950’s.

Jeffrey Arnold – the older brother of former welterweight contender Derrell Coley.


The Five Stories to Watch in 2008

1. Can the Beltway have four world champions again?

The DC/MD/VA area is poised to do something that has not been done since 1996. With Darnell Wilson, Tony Thompson and Lamont and Anthony Peterson, the Beltway is in position to win four world titles in 2008. In 1996, Mark Johnson, Keith Holmes, Sharmba Mitchell and William Joppy accomplished that feat. Going into 2008, Thompson and Anthony Peterson are ranked first in their respective division. Lamont Peterson is ranked third by the WBC and Wilson is ranked seventh by the WBO.

2. Will the 2008 Rookie Class be better than 2007?

The 2007 Beltway rookie class was one of the best in recent years. But 2008 could be even better. Three of the members -- amateur standout Fernando Guerrero of Salisbury, MD, Bristow, VA’s Stennis Floyd and Harold Orji of DC -- already made victorious pro debuts late in 2007. . Beltway Boxing fans are also anxiously awaiting the debut of Brandywine, MD heavyweight Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell, who has already had a number of high-level pro boxing promoters talking about him.

3. Will DC increase its number of pro cards in 2008?

While DC only had four pro cards in 2007, two of them were quality cards. The Nation’s Capital hopes to increase its total under new Boxing and Wrestling Chair Jason Turner. A good sign of progress is that there are reportedly cards already slated for February and March of 2008. The first DC card of 2007 didn’t take place until April.

4. Will Gary Russell Jr. Medal at the Olympics?

The bulk of the summer of 2008 will focus on Russell Jr. who will be trying for an Olympic medal in Beijing, China in August. The 19-year-old from Capital Heights, MD will try to continue a standard set by the likes of Norvel Lee, Sugar Ray Leonard and Andrew Maynard – who all won gold medals in Olympic competition.

5. Will Jimmy Lange bounce back from injuries to get into world title contention?

Arguably, the Beltway’s most popular boxer, the Great Falls, VA junior middleweight won the WBC Continental Americas Junior Middleweight title in 2007 but suffered a torn rotator cuff injury in the title win over Fontaine Cabell in May. Lange is scheduled to return in late March and needs to stay healthy to be a serious contender. Who Lange will face and how he will progress will be an interesting story in the coming year.

It's Official: Wilson Vs. Flores February 8 on ESPN2!

According to ESPN and other sources, Darnell "The Ding-A-Ling Man" Wilson will now defend his USBA Cruiserweight title against undefeated BJ Flores (20-0-1, 13 KO's) on Friday, February 8 in a nationally televised ESPN2 bout from the Dover Downs Hotel and Casino in Dover, DE.

There has been no official word on whether or not Wilson (22-5-3, 19 KO's) will also be participating in an IBF Elimination bout against Flores, but that could be a possibility now that Steve Cunningham successfully defended his IBF title against Marco Huck today in Germany.

Flores, who fights out of Willard, MO is coming off a second-round TKO over Andy Sample on October 13 in Springfield, MO.

'Mighty Mouse' Aiken Faces 'Two Guns' Meza Clay on February 1 on ESPN2!

We know that Darnell Wilson will be on ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights on February 8. But Wilson will not be the first Beltway Boxer to appear on the "World Wide Leader" in 2008.

That honor will go to former IBF Featherweight champion Eric "Mighty Mouse" Aiken of Forestville, MD. Aiken will take on ranked contender Monty "Two Guns" Meza Clay of Rankin, PA on Friday, February 1 at the Expo Mart Arena in Monroeville, PA. Right now, this bout is scheduled for 10 rounds, but it could end up being a 12-round contest.

Aiken (16-6-1, 12 KO's) needs a win badly because he has fallen on tough times since winning the IBF title on May 13, 2006 with an eighth-round disqualification victory over Valdemir Pereira in Boston, MA. Aiken lost the title to current IBF champ Robert Guerrero on September 2, 2006, then fought Cruz Carvajal to a 10-round draw on ESPN2 on March 16, 2007. In his last outing, Aiken was stopped by Thomas Mashaba in the ninth round in a bid for the IBO Featherweight title on November 12 in South Africa.

Meza Clay (26-1, 17 KO's) has won six straight contests since losing by 11th round TKO to Edner Cherry in May of 2006 for the NABA Featherweight title (a belt Aiken once held). In his last outing, Meza Clay scored a six-round TKO over Pasqual Rouse on November 24 in Canonsburg, PA.

Meza Clay will also be looking for his third victory against a Beltway Boxer, having previously defeated Dean White by sixth-round TKO in August of 2006 and James Baker by 10-round split decision in April 2005. Both these bouts took place in Meza Clay's boxing base of Chester, WVA.

'T-Rex' Sanders Loses in Germany!

DC heavyweight Corey "T-Rex" Sanders lost a six-round decision to Denis Bakhtov on a card in Halle, Germany. The 358-pound Sanders did score a knockdown in the fifth round but lost the bout on points.

The loss is Sanders's seventh straight and drops his record to 23-13, 15 KO's. The Russian Bakhtov's record rises to 26-5, 16 KO's.

Nwodo Returns January 19 in New York!

I have been told that former USBA Cruiserweight champion Emmanuel "Chukwu" Nwodo of Baltimore will return to ring action on Saturday, January 19 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Nwodo (21-4, 17 KO's) will take on perennial cruiserweight contender Ezra Sellers, who is originally from DC, but now makes his home in Florida. The bout will be on the undercard of the Roy Jones-Felix Trinidad card. No word yet on whether the bout will be part of the pay-per-view telecast.

This will be Nwodo's first bout since losing the USBA title to Darnell Wilson by stunning 11th round knockout on June 29 in Staten Island, NY. Sellers (29-7, 26 KO's) who was the IBO Cruiserweight champ and lost bouts for the IBF and WBO titles, is fighting for the third time since taking a three-year sabbatical from the sport. Since his return, Sellers has won two straight bouts.

Rahman Could Box in England, Says ESPN.com!

ESPN.com's Dan Rafael is reporting that former world heavyweight champion Hasim "The Rock" Rahman may be involved in an interesting bout in England.

Rafael says that negotiations are underway between Rahman's camp and the camp of the current recognized world cruiserweight champion David Haye of Britain. Haye won the world title last month by stopping Jean-Marc Mormeck in the seventh round. Since that bout, Haye has made no bones about wanting to move up to the heavyweight division, because he has had problems making the cruiserweight limit.

Haye wants to make a name for himself by taking on an established heavyweight in his heavyweight debut. Rahman's manager, Steve Nelson, told ESPN.com that Haye could be taking on a little too much, too soon.

"I saw Haye's fight with Mormeck. He's a tremendous puncher at cruiserweight," Nelson said. "His people have come to us about putting this together. They think we're done. I don't think we're done. I think Haye's taking on too much in one step to fight a big, strong heavyweight like Rock. It will be considered a strong win for Rock. We're very confident. I think Haye might be biting off more than he can chew. It's a big jump for him before he's built himself into a heavyweight.

"It will be a pretty big fight in England. We feel confident that Rock can beat the smaller guy."

Both guys are on winning streaks. The 35-year-old Rahman has won four straight since his championship loss to Oleg Maskaev in August of 2006. The 27-year-old Haye has won 10 in a row over the last three years. Nelson said Rahman would take a tune-up bout that may be on Thursday, February 7 and would be shown nationally on the Versus Network.

New Poll: Who is the 2007 Beltway Boxer of the Year?

Here is something to think about over the Christmas Holidays: Who is the Beltway Boxer of the Year for 2007?

This could be a fascinating debate. A number of these boxers (Lange, the Petersons, Paschall, Wilson and Thompson) all won some sort of regional belt in 2007. Coleman and Nicklow were extremely busy and successful.

There may not be as many votes tabulated for this one because I have been able to construct the poll so you will not be able to vote from the same IP address. This could make this less of a popularity poll.


I will be leaving the Prospect of the Year poll up as well. Sometime in the first two weeks of January, I will be announcing who won the polls as well as announcing my personal choices for rookie, prospect, bout, knockout, card and Beltway Boxer of the year.

To all of you..have a VERY happy holiday season!!

Is There a Change in Wilson's February 8 Opponent?

Interesting rumors coming out of the boxing internet world concerning Darnell Wilson's February 8 bout.

Undefeated Missouri cruiserweight BJ Flores told Boxingtalk.com that he has been offered the February 8 bout against Wilson in what would become a IBF elimination bout. Flores (20-0-1, 13 KO's) says that he would take the bout for "short money."

However, Flores also told BoxingTalk that the bout is not a done deal because Dino Duva, the president of Duva Boxing (Wilson's promotional company) would demand future options on Flores's fights.

Right now, Wilson is slated to take on Andre Purlette on the February 8 show at Dover Downs in Dover, DE on a nationally televised ESPN2 card.

We'll keep an eye on this situation to see if anything develops. This could very well be some "Boxing Talk."

Opponents for Peterson Brothers Announced!

The opponents for the undefeated Peterson Brothers's nationally televised appearance on Showtime's ShoBox card on Friday, January 4 at the Hard Rock Casino and Resort in Biloxi, MS and they look to be tough ones.

Anthony Peterson (25-0, 18 KO's) will defend his NABO Lightweight title against Guadalupe Rosales of Mexico (25-2, 15 KO's). Peterson is coming off a fifth-round TKO over Oscar Leon on November 17 on the Caribbean island of Turks and Caicos. Rosales will look to bounce back after losing a 10-round unanimous decision to Francisco Lorenzo on November 9 in the Bronx, NY.

Rosales may be a familiar name to long-time Beltway Boxing fans because he has fought in the area three times during his career. Rosales won a four-round unanimous decision over Ernest Staten on November 15, 2001 at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD. Rosales then stopped Sean Lockhart in the second round at DC Tunnel in DC on April 12, 2002. A month later (May 9, 2002) back in Glen Burnie, Rosales suffered his first pro loss, dropping an eight-round split decision to James Baker.

Lamont Peterson (23-0, 11 KO's) puts his NABO Junior Welterweight title on the line against undefeated Brazilian native Antonio Mesquita (34-0, 26 KO's) Peterson, named the ESPN Prospect of the Year for 2007 (the same award Anthony Peterson received the previous year), is coming off a second-round TKO over Humberto Toledo on the November 17 Turks and Caicos card. Mesquita, who now fights out of Las Vegas, won an eight-round unanimous decision over Joshua Smith on August 4 in Tulsa, OK.

Results From Dulles!

Here are the results of the Aftershock Events card at the All-Star Legacy Gym in Dulles, VA:

"Dangerous" Dana Dunston of Woodbridge, VA made his return after a seven-year layoff successful by winning a four-round split decision over Bernard "Bad Ass" Brown of Baltimore, MD. Dunston scored a knockdown in the fourth round that clinched the victory. Judges Brian Costello and Jerry Payne scored the bout for Dunston, 38-37 and 39-36 respectively while Judge Wayne Smith saw the bout 38-37 for Brown.

Dunston's record is now 4-1, two KO's while Brown is now 5-2-3, two KO's.

Capitol Heights, MD featherweight Thomas "KO" Snow scored a second-round TKO over Terrence "T-Brick" Roy of Covington, TN. Snow scored three knockdowns enroute to the stoppage victory. Snow remains undefeated at 10-0, eight KO's while Roy is 9-24, one KO.

Arlington, VA junior welterweight Bayan Jargal remained undefeated with a second-round knockout over Nate Francis of Sanford, NC. Jargal finished his opponent with a series of crushing body shots that dropped Francis to one knee. Francis couldn't beat referee Joe Cooper's 10-count and the bout was stopped at 2:16 of the second. Jargal is now 5-0-1, three KO's. Francis falls to 2-5, one KO.

Featherweight Andre "Clockwork" Nichols of Woodbridge registered a solid third-round TKO over Yieta "King" Johnson also fighting out of Woodbridge. Nichols scored a pretty knockdown with a counter left hand in the second round and proceeded to batter Johnson throughout the third. Johnson did not come out for the fourth round.

Nichols's record rises to 3-2, two KO's while Johnson is 0-2.

Arlington, VA's Tracey Brewer used a series of body shots to stop Travis Toler of Sharpsburg, NC in the second round. The body shots in the second dropped Toler to his knees and forced Toler to emit a loud groan. The bout was stopped at :56of the round. Brewer is 2-0, one KO while Toler is 0-5.

Woodbridge, VA cruiserweight Joe "Big Bang" Haggler scored a four-round technical knockout over Salisbury, MD's Ozgar Yardimci. Haggler busted Yardimci's nose in the second round and by the fourth, Yardimci couldn't continue and his corner stopped the bout at 2:40 of the round. Haggler is now 1-1, one KO while Yardimci is 0-2.

This was the 15th card in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2007, five more than last year. Virginia had at least one card a month from February through December.


Here's the final BATB Post-Fight Wrap-Up Show for 2007.

Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #95 - Full Report From Dulles, VA!

Henry "Discombobulating" Jones and I recap the final card of 2007 from the All-Star Legacy Gym in Dulles, VA!

Scale Watch from Ashburn!

Here are the weights for tonight's AfterShock Events card at the All-Star Legacy Gym in Ashburn, VA:

Dana Dunston 217 1/2 vs. Bernard Brown 249

Thomas Snow 125 1/2 vs. Terrance Roy 126

Bayan Jargal 139 1/2 vs. Nathan Francis 143

Patrick Budd 191 1/2 vs. Robert Irizarry (did not appear at weigh-in)

Andre Nichols 121 1/2 vs. Yieta Johnson 123 1/2

Tracy Brewer 163 1/2 vs. Travis Toler 161 1/2

Joe Haggler 183 1/2 vs. Ozgur Yardimci 182

Also, US Olympian Gary Russell, Jr. will make an appearance tonight and portions of tonight's gate will go toward raising money to send Russell's family to Beijing.

'Ding-A-Ling Man' Looks for Revenge Against Purlette Feb. 8 in Delaware!

USBA Cruiserweight champion Darnell "The Ding-A-Ling Man" Wilson will be looking for a little bit of retribution as he continues his quest for a world title shot.

Wilson (22-5-3, 19 KO's) is slated to take on Andre Purlette of Miami, FL on Friday, February 8 at Dover Downs Hotel and Casino in Dover DE. This is a rematch of a bout that took place on June 30, 2006 in Hollywood, FL in which Wilson lost a close, six-round unanimous decision. All three judges scored the bout 57-56 for Purlette.

Wilson has won four straight since that bout. Purlette (40-2, 35 KO's) has also won five in a row, but has been somewhat inactive, stretching those five wins over a four-year period.

BoxingTalk.com Interviews Beltway Boxers!

Kudos go to Brad Cooney of Boxingtalk.com. Cooney has done a number of recent interviews with Beltway Boxers this year and he did more after the most recent card in Tunica, MS that both Ty Barnette and Fernando Guerrero fought on. The following are links to those interviews:


Ty Barnette:

"http://www.boxingtalk.com/pag/article14398.html">


The debuting Fernando Guerrero:

"http://www.boxingtalk.com/pag/article14380.html">

Trainer Barry Hunter:

"http://www.boxingtalk.com/pag/article14397.html

Cooney also talked to NABO Lightweight champion and top-ranked WBO Lightweight contender Anthony Peterson about his future plans:

"http://www.boxingtalk.com/pag/article14378.html

Thomas Snow Added to 'Dogs of War' Card December 15 in Ashburn, VA!

Undefeated Capitol Heights, MD featherweight Thomas "KO" Snow has been added to the AfterShock Events "Dogs of War" card on Saturday, December 15 at the All-Star Legacy Gym in Ashburn, VA.

Snow (9-0, seven KO's) will take on Covington, TN's Terrence "T-Brick" Roy (not to be confused with the Beltway's Terry "T-Brick" Roy) in a six-round contest. Snow last fought on August 3 at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, MD and scored a first-round TKO over Markel Muhammad. Roy (9-23, one KO) has lost three in a row, including a four-round unanimous decision to Marty Robbins on August 9 in Nashville, TN. This will be Roy's third time facing a Beltway Boxer, losing previously to Ty Barnette (Barnette's pro debut) and twice to former IBF Featherweight champ Eric Aiken.

Barnette, Guerrero Score Knockout Victories in Mississippi!

Undefeated DC lightweight Ty Barnette scored a first-round knockout over late sub Anthony Cobb of Cincinnati, OH last night in Tunica, MS. Barnette stopped Cobb at 2:01 of the first. Barnette is now 12-0-1, nine KO's, Cobb is 4-35-3, two KO's.

Also, Salisbury, MD middleweight Fernando Guerrero made his pro debut a successful one with a second-round TKO over Derrick Douglas, who was also making his pro debut.

One other result, Baltimore lightweight Darrell Martin lost a four-round unanimous decision to Gerald Smith on December 7 at the Blue Horizon in Philadelphia. Martin is now 1-1.

SRL Gym Sending Eight to Silver Gloves Regionals!

The Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Center in Palmer Park, MD will be sending eight boxers to the Silver Gloves Regional Championships in Augusta, GA. These boxers won titles at the Silver Gloves local tourney held this week at the Upton Recreational Center in Baltimore.


Here are the eight boxers representing the SRL Center:

Zimmie Dickinson 10-11 65lbs. Zimmie is the 2005, 2006 and 2007 DC MD VA Silver Gloves Champion, 2007 Ringside World Champion and winner of this year's Silver Gloves Outstanding Boxer in the 10-11 year old division.

Marcus Wright 10-11 70lbs
Greg Outlaw 14-15 75lbs
Chris Forbes 12-13 90lbs
Daquan "J-Rock" Johnson 12-13 125lbs
Marcus Gaddis 14-15 119lbs
Mason Jordan 14-15 147lbs

Alantex Fox 14-15 139lbs. Alantex has finished the year ranked #2 in the US on three different occasions and also has won the Ringside World Championship.

If these young people can advance through Augusta, they will have a chance to represent Region Three in the National Silver Gloves Championships in Missouri in February.

There are other boxers from the Beltway who will be going to the regionals. I am waiting complete details from this weekend's competition.

New Beltway Boxing Poll: Who is the 2007 Prospect of the Year?

I don't know whether we'll get more than 31,000 votes for this poll, but I think the discussion will be just as spirited. The new poll asks: Who is the 2007 Beltway Boxing Prospect of the Year?

My poll can only hold 10 names. I know there are others, but here are the ones I feel are the top 10 prospects in the area:


Ty Barnette -- 12-0-1, nine KO's

Tim "Pit Bull" Coleman -- 14-0-1, three KO's

Andrew "The Doo Man" Farmer -- 9-1, six KO's

Horace "The Reason" Grant -- 10-1, seven KO's

Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow -- 14-0-1, five KO's

"The Persecutor" Mike Paschall -- 14-0-1, two KO's

"JC Superstar" Juan Carlos Robles -- 9-0, four KO's

Terry "T-Brick" Roy -- 7-0-1, six KO's

"Thomas "KO" Snow -- 9-0, seven KO's

Reginald "Rat Man" Taylor -- 7-0, four KO's

The combined won-loss records of these 10: 105-2-4 with 53 KO's

Before you even ask:

John Mackey is not included in the poll because, although he was born in DC, he told me personally that Montgomery, AL is his home.

The Peterson Brothers are not included in this poll because they should be considered contenders at this stage, not prospects.

Please vote in the poll, but do it with a civil tongue. Thanks.

Arvin Battles to a Draw in Las Vegas!

On the undercard of Floyd Mayweather-Ricky Hatton earlier tonight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Baltimore middleweight Ishmail "The Arsenal" Arvin made his return to the ring and battled to a six-round draw against Jose Angel "Silver Boy" Rodriguez. Scores were 58-56, 57-57, 57-57.

This was Arvin's first bout since September 28, 2006 when he lost his first pro bout, an eight-round majority decision to David Toribio at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD. Arvin's record is now 14-1-3, six KO's. Rodriguez, a native of New York who has made three appearances in Glen Burnie, remained undefeated at 12-0-1, two KO's.

Results From Pikesville!

Here are the results from the Baltimore Pro Boxing "Bombs Away on Pearl Harbor Day" card at the Pikesville National Guard Armory:

Baltimore's Tim "Pitbull" Coleman and "Magnificent" Martinus Clay of Wilson, NC fought to a 10-round draw in the battle for the East Coast Championship. The scores were 96-95 for Coleman, 96-94 for Clay and 95-95. A spokesperson for Coleman told me after we recorded the post-fight wrap-up that Coleman broke his right hand in the fifth round. Coleman remains undefeated at 14-0-1, three KO's. Clay is now 12-18-3, four KO's.


Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow of Severn, MD remained undefeated by winning a six-round unanimous decision over Akron, OH's Anthony "Quick" Little in a rematch of their August 25 bout in Ocean City, MD. Judges scores were 59-55, 58-55 and 59-54. Nicklow is now 14-0-1, five KO's. Little is 7-10, one KO.

Montgomery, AL's John "No Mercy" Mackey won a six-round unanimous decision over Baltimore's Tony "Cyclone" Cygan in a true fight fan's feast of a bout. The scores of 59-55 (twice) and 58-56 do not indicate how tough and spirited this bout actually was. Mackey, who is originally from DC, continues to be undefeated at 8-0, three KO's. Cygan falls to 12-2, seven KO's.

Baltimore light heavyweight Willie "For Real" Williams gained a measure of revenge by winning a six-round majority decision over Takoma Park, MD's Willis "The Prophet" Lockett This was a rematch of a September 27 bout at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie in which Lockett won by six-round majority decision. Two judges scored the bout 58-56 for Williams while the third judge saw the draw at 57-57. Williams has now won three straight and raises his record to 9-2, two KO's. Lockett saw his four-bout winning streak snapped and his record falls to 10-5-4, four KO's.

For the fourth time in his young career, Reisterstown, MD super middleweight"The Golden Greek" Elias Bouloubassis fought to a four-round draw. This time it was a majority draw against Pete Guthy of Myrtle Beach, SC. If not for an incident in which Guthy did not get credit for a knockdown against Bouloubassis in the second round, Bouloubassis would have lost the bout on the scorecards. One judge had it for Bouloubassis, 39-37, but two judges scored the contest a draw at 38-38. Bouloubassis's record is now 3-0-4, three KO's while Guthy is all even at 2-2-2.

The opening bout saw Baltimore's Henry "Hurricane" Mayes and John "The Baptist" Terry of Portsmouth, VA fight to a four-round draw. One judge saw the bout 39-37 for Terry, while another saw the contest 39-38 for Mayes and one judge called it even at 38-38. Mayes is now 6-4-1, four KO's while Terry is 2-7-2, one KO.

Ironically, the only bout that didn't go the scheduled distance was a contest that was turned into an exhibition bout at the last minute. Stevensville, MD junior welterweight Tony "Mo Better" Jeter fought a spirited bout against Reisterstown, MD's "Diamond" Matt Hill. Jeter looked sharp after a two-year absence and was more than willing to exchange with the veteran Hill, who definitely responded in kind. The scheduled three-round exhibition was so spirited that promoter Jake Smith stopped the contest after only two rounds. No official word was given as to why the bout was an exhibition.

Here is the complete recap in the latest BATB Post-Fight Wrap-Up Show:

Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #94 - Post-Fight from Pikesville!

"The Fight Doctor" Jerome Spears and I recap the third annual Baltimore Pro Boxing "Bombs Away on Pearl Harbor Day" card from the Pikesville National Guard Armory in Pikesville, MD -- one of the most competitive cards in recent memory.

Gary Russell, Jr. Honored at Fundraiser on December 15!

US Olympian and Capital Heights, MD's Gary Russell, Jr. will be honored at a fundraiser on Saturday, December 15 from 1-3 PM at the Capital Sports Complex, 6417 Marlboro Pike in District Heights, MD.

The fundraiser is being held to raise money to send Russell's family to Beijing, China to support Gary in person. Elected officials, community leaders and a host of speakers are slated to attend this event. Also, the Capital Sports Complex will unveil a section of the facility that will be known as "Gary's Corner." The corner will be a space for Gary to train and eventually will grow into a full-scale open boxing training facility within the complex.

For more information on the event, call 301-568-5010 or 202-369-9949.

Scale Watch for Pikesville!

Here are the weights for tomorrow night's Baltimore Boxing "Bombs Away on Pearl Harbor Day" card at the Pikesville National Guard Armory in Pikesville, MD:


Tim Coleman 149 vs. Martinus Clay 150 1/4

Jessie Nicklow 156 3/4 vs. Anthony Little 155 3/4

Tony Cygan 160 1/2 vs. John Mackey 159 1/4

Elias Bouloubassis 163 1/4 vs. Pete Guthy 166 1/4

Henry Mayes 168 1/4 vs. John Terry 168 1/2

Willie Williams 175 1/2 vs. Willis Lockett 171 1/4

Tony Jeter 164 1/4 vs. Matt Hill 163 1/4

Barnette Rematches Against Wiggins in Tennessee!

Undefeated junior welterweight Ty Barnette will battle Tyrone Wiggins of Covington, TN in a four-round rematch on Saturday, December 8 in Tunica, MS.

Barnette (11-0, eight KO's) stopped Wiggins (7-21, four KO's) in the third round on July 19, 2005 in Lula, MS in Barnette's third pro fight.

Salisbury, MD's Fernando Guerrero will make his pro debut on this card as well.

Changes Abound in Ashburn!

There have been wholesale changes to the AfterShock Events card on Saturday, December 15 at the All-Star Legacy Gym in Ashburn, VA.

Undefeated Arlington, VA welterweight Bayan Jargal will now headline the show in a six-round bout against Nathan Francis of Sanford, NC. Jargal (4-0-1, two KO's) is coming off a six-round unanimous decision over Reggie Holly at Fight Night on November 8 in DC. Francis (2-4, one KO) is fighting for the first time in 2007. Francis has won two straight after being knocked out in his first four bouts.

Dumfries, VA cruiserweight Derek "D-Mos" Amos will be in the six-round co-feature contest, taking on Philadelphia's David Williams. Amos (15-25, nine KO's) last fought on September 15 at the ABC Sports Arena in Springfield, VA and won a four-round unanimous decision over Willie Taylor. Williams (5-1, two KO's) lost his first pro bout on August 10 in Philadelphia, getting stopped in the fourth round by Larry Robinson.

Woodbridge, VA heavyweight "Dangerous" Dana Dunston is slated to make his return after a seven-year absence when he faces Baltimore's Bernard "Bad Ass" Brown in a four-round contest. Dunston (3-1, two KO's) has not fought since he was stopped by Tony Thompson in the third round at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD on September 21, 2000. Brown (5-1, three KO's) recently made a return to the ring after a nine-year absence and has won two straight contests by knockout. In his last outing, Brown stopped Chuck Dillard in the fifth round on November 29 in Altoona, Iowa. In his first bout back, Brown knocked out Jerry Simpson in the third round on November 1 at Martin's Valley Mansion in Cockeysville, MD.

Dumfries, VA cruiserweight "Cold Blood" Patrick Budd returns and will face Robert Irizarry of Stamford, CT in a four-round bout. Budd (1-0) hasn't fought since winning his pro debut on April 28 in Fisherville, VA in a four-round unanimous decision over Drew Wion. Irizarry (1-4) has lost two straight, including a four-round unanimous decision to Phillip Miller on July 18 in Boston.

In other bouts on the card, Woodbridge featherweight Andre "Clockwork" Nichols will take on DC's Yieta Johnson in another four-round bout. Nichols (2-2, one KO) is looking to bounce back after losing a four-round unanimous decision to Travis Mallin on Sept. 15 in Springfield. Johnson (0-1) will participate in his first bout since June 10, 2005 when he was stopped in the first round by Eric Hunter in Philadelphia.

Woodbridge cruiserweight Joe Haggler (0-1) will take on the debuting Ozgur Yardimci and Virginia middleweight Tracey Brewer (1-0) will battle Sharpsburg, NC's Travis Toler (0-4).

Ring Magazine Puts Wilson on 'Boxing's 10 Biggest Punchers' List!

More mainstream notoriety for Silver Spring, MD's Darnell "The Ding-A-Ling Man" Wilson. Ring Magazine has named the current USBA Cruiserweight champion one of the "10 Biggest Punchers" in the sport today in its latest issue.

Wilson came in at number eight on the list. Ring's Contributing Editor Eric Raskin mentioned that although Wilson had the lowest knockout percentage of anyone on the list, "Nobody in boxing has put together a more impressive string of knockouts in the past year than Wilson, who dusted in succession contenders Daniel Judah (KO 4), Dale Brown (KO 2), Kelvin Davis (KO 3) and Emmanuel Nwodo (KO 11)."

Raskin made a special note of the Nwodo knockout saying, "It took until about the 50th time we saw it replayed before we stopped cringing."

The top five on the list were (from top to bottom) Wladimir Klitschko, Daniel Ponce De Leon, Manny Pacquiao, Kelly Pavlik and Edwin Valero. Kermit Cintron came in at number six, followed by flyweight Vic Darchiniyan, Wilson, newly-crowned world cruiserweight champ David Haye and Israel Vasquez.

The same issue of Ring also listed the 20 Greatest Welterweights of All-Time. Beltway Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard made the list at number five, behind Sugar Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong, Kid Gavilan and Charley Burley.

Fernando Guerrero Makes Pro Debut This Saturday!

Amateur boxing champion and Salisbury, MD middleweight Fernando Guerrero will make his professional debut on Saturday, December 8 at the Fitzgerald's Casino and Hotel in Tunica, MS. The 20-year-old originally from the Dominican Republic was a US National champion in 2007 and made it to the semifinals of the US Olympic Trials this past summer.

Guerrero has also signed a promotional contract with Prize Fight Boxing of Memphis, TN -- the same company that promotes Beltway stars The Peterson Brothers, Reginald Taylor and Ty Barnett, who is also scheduled to be on the December 8 card. Prize Fight also promotes former world champion Zab Judah.

In a press release, Prize Fight's President Russ Young said the following:

“After watching Fernando fight in Colorado Springs I quickly realized he was the hottest prospect I had seen in years. He possesses the speed, power and skills to become a World Champion, I knew I had to make it a top priority to sign Guerrero to the Prize Fight stable. The process took five months, but with the help of Barry Hunter and Hal Chernoff, we were able to come to terms on a promotional agreement.

"Under the tutelage of Barry Hunter, trainer to the super duo world Ranked and Prize Fight promoted Peterson Brothers, Fernando will be on a fast track to building his career."

Petersons Open 2008 ShoBox Campaign in Biloxi!

ESPN.com is reporting that the undefeated Peterson Brothers will kick off the 2008 season of ShoBox telecasts on Friday, January 4 at the Hard Rock in Biloxi, MS. According to promoter Brian Young, Anthony and Lamont Peterson will participate in 12-round contests against opponents to be named.

Since these are 12-round contests, it is assumed that the brothers will either defend their NABO titles (Anthony-lightweight, Lamont-junior welterweight) on this show or go after more regional titles. I don't think a world title is in the offering yet.

If that changes, I will definitely let everyone know.

Corley Loses Split Decision in Tampa, FL!

The website FloridaBoxingNews.com is reporting that former WBO Junior Welterweight champion DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley lost an eight-round split decision to Dairo Esales last night in Tampa, FL. Two judges scored the bout 76-75 for Esales while the other judge had Corley winning, 76-75.

Randy Hammonds, the editor and publisher of Florida Boxing News, scored the bout for Corley 76-75. The loss is Corley's third straight and drops his record to 31-7-1, 17 KO's. Esales, a native of Colombia, now fighting out of Brea, CA, is now 29-10, 24 KO's.

By the way, Corley originally weighed one pound over the contracted weight limit. He did lose the pound, however.