Changes in Millersville!

There are some notable changes to the Friday, September 19 Better Promotions card at the Maryland Sportsplex in Millersville, MD.

First, there is a new opponent for undefeated Arlington, VA junior welterweight "The Mongolian Mongoose" Bayan Jargal. Instead of Sung Dae Gang, Jargal will take on the very tough and Bladensburg, MD-based Carlos "El Perro" Cisneros in a six-round contest.

Cisneros (9-15-1, six KO's), a native of El Salvador, has won two of his last three bouts, scoring TKO's over Beltway Boxers Reggie Holly and Norman Allen. During this stretch, Cisneros also went six tough rounds before losing to Tim Coleman.

Another undefeated junior welterweight -- Todd "White Lightning" Wilson of Alexandria, VA -- will fight in a scheduled six-round bout for the first time in his career. Wilson (4-0, one KO's) will take on Mike Denby of Felton, DE (2-1-2, two KO's). Wilson has not fought since February 23 when he won a four-round unanimous decision over David Novia in Winchester, VA. Denby made his pro debut along the Beltway in November of 2007 when he fought to a four-round draw against Henry Goss in Cockeysville, MD.

Also, Waynesboro, VA cruiserweight "El Guerro" Juan Carlos Robles has been taken off the card. No official reason was given why.

The card will also mark the return of Baltimore middleweight Billy Johnson (3-2, one KO). Johnson made his pro debut back in March of 2002 when he scored a third-round TKO over Ervin Fuller at the old Ramada Inn in New Carrollton, MD. After two victories in Baltimore against Ed Graves and Matt Hill in 2004, Johnson stepped away from the sport. Johnson returns in a four-round contest against Bedford, VA's Scott "Cujo" Sigmon (2-1, one KO). Sigmon is coming off a four-round unanimous decision victory over Daniel Shull on August 9 in Salem, VA.

Nwodo Stopped in Fourth Round!

Baltimore cruiserweight Emmanuel "Chukwu" Nwodo's bid for a second regional title was halted in the fourth round by NABF Cruiserweight champion Matt "Too Smooth" Godfrey of Providence, RI tonight in front of a nationally televised audience at the Mohegan Sun resort in Uncasville, CT.

Nwodo got off to a great start, dropping Godfrey in the third round, but Godfrey came back in the fourth, doing damage to Nwodo's nose and battering the former USBA titleholder until the bout was stopped at 1:57 of the round.

With the loss, Nwodo's record falls to 22-5, 18 KO's. With the victory, Godfrey is now 17-1, 10 KO's.

Nwodo Weighs 199 1/2 For Tonight in Connecticut!

Baltimore-based cruiserweight Emmanuel "Chukwu" Nwodo weighed in at 199 1/2 pounds for tonight's nationally-televised (ESPN2) battle against Matt "Too Smooth" Godfrey for Godfrey's NABF Cruiserweight title at the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Uncasville, CT.

Godfrey came in at the cruiserweight limit of 200 pounds. Nwodo will be trying to win his second regional title. Nwodo once held the USBA Cruiserweight title. The telecast begins at 9 PM ET.

IBO Withdraws Title Recognition From Arvin!

The International Boxing Organization and its USBO branch announced today that they have withdrawn its title recognition to Baltimore junior middleweight Ishmail "The Arsenal" Arvin in the wake of his controversial victory over Anthony "The Messenger" Thompson on August 15 at the Ibiza Nightclub.

What this sounds like (and I may be wrong) is that while the decision of the bout itself may not be overturned, the IBO will not recognize Arvin as the champion. so in essence, the title (as they used to say in pro wrestling) has been "held up."

Barnett Headlines Card in San Jose September 11!

Undefeated DC junior welterweight Ty Barnett will headline a boxing card at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA on Thursday, September 11.

Barnett (14-0-1, 10 KO's) will fight in an eight-round matchup against an opponent to be determined. Barnett is coming off a fourth-round knockout victory over Pavel Miranda on June 20 in the Cayman Islands.

Nicklow-Rivera Highlights September 5 Card in Baltimore!

The Baltimore Pro Boxing card slated for Friday, September 5 at Du Burns Arena in Baltimore is coming together.

The main event remains the same -- an eight-round contest for the East Coast Championship between undefeated Baltimore middleweight Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow (18-0-1, seven KO's) and Charlottsville, VA's George "Wartime" Rivera (8-2, three KO's). An added incentive in this bout is that an extra $500 will go to the boxer that scores a knockout.

Also on the card will be Ellicott City, MD cruiserweight "The Mack Attack" Robert McConnell, Jr. (1-1) as well as rookie light heavyweight Keith Gross of Lusby, MD (1-0, one KO).

This card will also see the pro debuts of Riverdale, MD heavyweight "The Big Ticket" Dwayne McRae and Baltimore junior welterweight James Stevenson.

Championship Results From Mayor's Cup!

Here are the results from the Championship Day at the Mayor's Cup Invitational Amateur Boxing Tournament at the Kennedy Recreation Center:

Junior Division:

Mykal Fox (Dream Team) dec. John Harris (Elmcor)

Tavon Owens (Tony's Gym) dec. Oscar Lopez (Books 'N' Boxing)

Zimmie Dickinson (Dream Team) dec. Caleb Newman (Benning Park)

Rico Todd (Upton) dec. Denardo Johnson (Versatile)

Vernon Spriggs (Benning Park) dec. Thomas Hall (Midtown)

Ronald Gibbs (Upton) dec. Demonte Green (Nomis)

Dwayne Holmes (Old School) de. Malcolm Lowrey (Benning Park)

Xavier Ward (Supreme Defense) dec. Tavon Body (Laurel)

Shadeed Floyd (Langdon) RSC-3 over Rolando Santiago (Second Round of North Carolina)


Novice Division:

Ricky Cuevas (USMC) dec. DeMarcus Wiley (Sugar Ray Leonard Center)

Joseph Rector (Versatile) dec. Carlos Olmeda (Second Round)

Robert Taylor (Tony's Gym) dec. Malik Shelton (Sugar Ray Leonard Center)

Patrick Moody (USMC) dec. Antonio Freeman (Second Round)

Adam Mitchell (Diamond N The Ruff) dec. Jose Murphy (Benning Park)

Ronald Gamble (Club One Fitness) RSC-1 over Antonio Williams (Nomis)

Alexis Lefebvre (Midtown) RSC-3 over Emanuel Alao (Nomis)

Vanzago Johnson (Tony's Gym) dec. Raheem Mattox (Taft)

Marquez Taylor (Tony's Gym) RSC-3 over Derrick White (Knox Boxing)


Open Division:

Jerry Martin (Seven Cities, Tidewater, VA) over Mark Baltimore (Second Round)

Abdul Quadir (Upton) dec. Cornelius Whitlock (Midtown)


Female Division:

Asia Stevenson (Benning Park) dec. Ashlee White (Midtown)

Two boxers were unopposed -- Lorenzo Simpson and Mack Allison, both from Upton Boxing.

The United States Marine Corps team won the Outstanding Team Award. The Outstanding Boxer Awards went to Shadeed Floyd of Langdon and Adam Mitchell of Diamond N the Ruff.

Millersville, MD Update!

There are some interesting bouts being scheduled for the maiden voyage Better Promotions card on Friday, September 19 at the Maryland Sportsplex in Millersville, MD.

In a six-round junior welterweight bout that was just signed late this week, undefeated Bayan Jargal of Arlington, VA (7-0-1, four KO's) will take on Sung-Dae Gang of Seoul, South Korea (6-1, two KO's). Gang, who is now training in New York, will be making his US debut.

Severna Park, MD junior middleweight Shelly Sievert (2-1, one KO) will battle Carinne Hamlett of Mount Vernon, NY (0-2-1) in a scheduled four-rounder.

Heavyweight Kevin Johnson of Edgewood Arsenal, MD (1-0, one KO) will battle the debuting Joe Blasini of Brooklyn, NY in a four-round matchup. Johnson made his pro debut by stopping Danny Kisner in the fourth round on May 29 in Glen Burnie, MD.

Columbia, MD middleweight Tony "Mo Better" Jeter (5-2, five KO's), Arlington, VA's undefeated junior welterweight Todd "White Lightning" Wilson (4-0, one KO), undefeated Eldersburg, MD light heavy Mark "TNT" Tucker (4-0, four first-round KO's) and Waynesboro, VA cruiserweight "El Guerro" Juan Carlos Robles (9-2, four KO's) are all slated to be on the card. Tucker, by the way, has been training in Tampa, FL with IBF Light Heavyweight champ Antonio Tarver.

Results From Mayor's Cup -- Day 1!

Here are the results from the first day of action at the 23rd Annual Mayor's Cup Invitational Amateur Boxing Tournament that is being held at the Kennedy Recreation Center in DC:

55 Pounds: Dwayne Holmes (Old School Boxing) decisioned Christopher Nomile (Laurel)

60 Pounds: Jordan White (Keystone) dec. Gregory Burton (Langdon)

70 Pounds: Lorenzo Simpson dec. Deanardo Johnson

72 Pounds: Vernon Spriggs (Benning Park) dec. Tyrus Hall (Midtown)

145 Pounds: Xavier Ward (Supreme Defense) dec. James Holbrook III (Hillcrest)

149 Pounds: Deamonte Green (Nomis) dec. Sean Davis (Keystone)

141 Pounds: Ricky Cuevas (USMC-North Carolina) dec. Alvaro Mendoza (Midtown)

121 Pounds: Patrick Moody (USMC-North Carolina) RSC-2 over Daniel Mattox

165 Pounds: Robert Taylor (Tony's Gym) dec. Jorge Valencia (USMC-North Carolina)

Heavyweight: Ronald Gamble (Club One) RSC-3 over Clinton Price (Midtown)

72 Pounds: Caleb Harrison (Laurel) dec. Demetrius Young (Sugar Ray Leonard Center)


The championship day at the Mayor's Cup begins later today at 5 PM. Admission is free.

'The Reason' Grant Appears on Sept. 13 King Card in Biloxi, MS!

Riverdale, MD heavyweight Horace "The Reason" Grant will return to action on Saturday, September 13 at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, MS. Grant's scheduled eight-round bout will be on the non-televised undercard of a Don King promotion that features a matchup for the Unified Lightweight Championship bout between Nate Campbell and Joan Guzman.

The opponent for Grant (12-2, seven KO's) will be Mark "The Dominator" de Mori of Perth, Western Australia (13-1-2, 11 KO's). Grant will try to bounce back from his eight-round unanimous decision loss to Kevin Burnett on June 20 in Las Vegas in front of a nationally-televised ESPN2 audience. Grant almost pulled out the victory in the final seconds of that bout when he knocked down Burnett in the final round. For de Mori, this will be the first time fighting in the US. De Mori is 7-0-1 with six KO's in his last eight bouts over a three-year period.

Yet Another View of the Arvin-Thompson Controversy!

Here's another view of what happened at Ibiza Nightclub. There are obviously folks on both sides of the issue. This comes from John Lumpkin of SecondsOut.com:

This past Friday, we witnessed something new in boxing. The fight between Anthony Thompson and Ishmail Arvin was officially ruled as a TKO stoppage victory for Arvin due to a cut on Thompson that prevented him from continuing. The ruling would have made perfect sense as the referee had previously ruled the cut to be from a punch. However, unlike most fights, the broadcast team intervened on the behalf of Thompson in the belief that they had proof that the cut was caused by an accidental head butt. The tape they replayed did in fact appear to show that the cut was caused by a butt.

The broadcasters showed the tape to the referee before the official verdict was to be read prompting the referee to ask the Commissioners from the District of Columbia Boxing and Wrestling Commission at ringside to make a ruling as to what should be done. The Commissioners, to the outrage of many, after viewing the tape multiple times, elected to ignore the obvious evidence on the tape to the contrary and ruled the butt a result of a punch giving the victory the Arvin.

The Commissioners did the right thing for the right reasons. One of the most difficult things for people who are not engaged with the legal system to understand is that fact is not always admissible evidence. The Commission is a body whose purpose is to administer our sport under the prescribed rules and regulations for the area they serve. These rules specify procedures that need to be followed and determine what can and cannot be considered.

There simply was no provision for instant replay and it would have been grossly inappropriate for the Commission to ignore the rules because this opportunity presented itself during the contest. We should be applauding the Commission for having the fortitude to stick to its rules and regulations during what was most certainly a high pressure and highly public situation. It is this type of integrity that many of us repeatedly claim that boxing is lacking. Had they ruled otherwise, it would have been tantamount to making up a new rule on the fly.

Under the current Municipal Professional Boxing and Wrestling Regulations of the District of Columbia Boxing and Wrestling Commission, the appropriate mechanism for handling this type of situation is a hearing. Anthony Thompson and his representatives will have the opportunity to present the video tape evidence to the Commission in an offer of proof that the cut was indeed caused by a head butt. The Commission will then have the responsibility to review the tape and make a determination if there is ample evidence to overrule the referee’s call.

The Commission’s decision is not necessarily the final decision. The aggrieved party has the right to seek a ruling from the District of Columbia Court of Appeals which could uphold or reverse the opinion of the Commission. Appeals courts, however, do not reinvestigate the actual case. Their focus is on whether or not the Commission followed the rules when they made their decision. If they were to find that the Commission’s ruling was not consistent with its own rules, it could reverse the decision made by the Commission.

There are two interesting side notes to this situation. First is the action of the broadcasters. The broadcasters stepped outside their role as journalists whose responsibility is to cover the event and instead tried to influence the event. According to the code of ethics published by the Society of Professional Journalists, they were correct in reporting the discrepancy, but incorrect in trying to influence the District of Columbia Boxing and Wrestling Commission to violate their own rules. They essentially were trying to do the right thing in the wrong way.

The second item of note is the use of instant replay in boxing. In this particular situation, it does appear that having the benefit of instant replay can be an excellent tool. There are, however, several challenges to widespread use of the tool. The most obvious is that not all boxing matches are filmed. This is not a simple thing to address in our sport because it is not conducted under one body or jurisdiction. The best we could hope for is partial acceptance.

If the sport is to adopt instant replay in some limited fashion, the people responsible for the filming need to be officials and not random reporters. It is nice that ESPN was able to capture the exact sequence of events that created the controversy, but it is not the duty of the network to perform this function. It is not a good idea to give a network the ability to determine who wins or loses a fight. We also need to be cautious of films from other non-official parties as this may introduce questions of authenticity or doctoring.

Without official support of instant replay, the best method of handling those situations in which a film may show a different interpretation of an event is through a hearing. It is not as satisfying or expedient as an instantaneous ruling, but we must remember that the situations in which instant replay could be effectively utilized in boxing are much more complicated than whether or not a ball is on or off a line. And boxing is not the type of sport where a timeout is appreciated.

Lastly, we have to consider whether or not boxing has the capacity to support instant replay. Instant replay places two burdens on the sport that it may not be able to address. First, and probably the best argument for using the networks as the source of instant replay, is that it is not simple or cheap to create the quality of film necessary for instant replay to be effective. Second, the use of instant replay is bound to significantly increase the number of protests. Not all commissions have the personnel or budget to support such an increase.

Instant replay can be a great tool, but it is not without its challenges and repercussions. There are certain situations in which it can make a significant difference and the recent contest between Thompson and Alvin is great example. What will be interesting is what the Commission will rule if they accept the evidence on the tape as accurate. The right thing would be to overturn the TKO and go to the scorecards. Commissions, however, frequently favor rematches over reversals.

'Prophet' Attah Vies For NABF Super Featherweight Title Sept. 5 in New Mexico!

DC-based super featherweight Daniel "The Prophet" Attah will battle for the vacant NABF Super Featherweight title on Friday, September 5 at the Isleta Resort and Casino in Albuquerque, NM.

The Nigerian-born Attah (24-4-1, eight KO's) will take on undefeated Urbano Antillion of Maywood, CA (23-0, 16 KO's) in a nationally-televised (Telefutura) matchup.

Attah has not fought since losing by ninth-round TKO to Mario Santiago in Ponce, Puerto Rico on March 10, 2007. During his career, the 31-year-old Attah has gone the distance with a number of the sport's recent stars including former world champion Acelino Freitas and current IBF/WBA/WBO Lightweight champion Nate Campbell. Antillon, meanwhile, has won his last six bouts by knockout.

BATB Future File: Lange Returns November 1 to Patriot Center!

It's official: Great Falls, VA junior middleweight Jimmy Lange makes his return on Saturday, November 1 as he headlines his sixth card at the George Mason University Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA.

Lange has been idle for 17 months as he recovered from surgery on a shoulder injury that took place during his WBC Continental Americas Junior Middleweight title bout against Fontaine Cabell on May 12, 2007 at the Patriot Center. Because Lange was unable to box, he had to relinquish the Continental Americas title that is now held by Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.

No word yet on who Lange's opponent will be.

Another Perspective of USBO Title Bout!

There has been a lot of debate (as expected) concerning what happened this past Friday night in the USBO Junior Middleweight title bout between Ishmail Arvin and Anthony Thompson at Ibiza Nightclub in DC.

Here's an opinion from truly one of the best boxing writers in the world -- Dan Rafael of ESPN.com. Rafael truly pulls back no punches on his opinion.

Disgusting and unconscionable. That is all that can be said about this decision, which shoots near the top of the most outrageous calls made in the recent history of boxing. The D.C. Boxing and Wrestling Commission covered itself with utter shame by the way it screwed Thompson out of what should have been an obvious technical decision victory. Thompson manager Cameron Dunkin told ESPN.com that he will lodge an official protest. Hopefully it will be given true consideration instead of lip service.

Here's what happened: Thompson, 27, of Philadelphia, was fighting for the first time in 14 months, since losing a controversial decision to Yuri Foreman and subsequently being released by Top Rank. Trying to reignite his once-promising career, Thompson faced virtual hometown fighter Arvin, of nearby Baltimore, in the "Friday Night Fights" main event. Everything was going as planned for Thompson, who looked good despite what would happen to him.

In the third round, Thompson suffered a cut over his left eye. Referee Malik Waleed ruled it was caused by a punch, which seemed odd given the severity and placement of the cut. It would turn out to be the ruling on which the outcome hinged. Despite the cut, Thompson proceeded to score two official knockdowns and one that Waleed clearly missed later in the third round. Although the cut steadily got worse as the fight wore on, Thompson was dominating. But after the sixth round and an examination by the ringside doctor, the fight was stopped.

Although Waleed had ruled a punch, the video replays employed by ESPN2 clearly -- CLEARLY -- showed the cut was caused by an accidental head butt. FNF broadcaster Joe Tessitore, sensing what was about to happen to Thompson, literally placed a monitor inside the ring after the stoppage to allow those involved to see the replays. Waleed, Thompson and others involved with the commission and event all watched the replay. Obviously, the fight should have been ruled a technical decision and sent to the scorecards, where Thompson was leading 59-53, 58-54 and 57-55. But the commission, which has no rule disallowing replay, refused to go by common sense and instead allowed a blatant wrong result to be rendered. Even Waleed admitted after seeing the replay that the cut had been caused by a butt. Sure, he made a mistake by missing it in the first place, but at least he was man enough to admit the error. Not good enough for the incompetent commission.

So Thompson got robbed as badly as any fighter who ever lived and Arvin, 33, with his fans cheering for the theft, got a victory he simply did not deserve. Results such as this are the epitome of what is wrong with boxing. The video evidence is irrefutable, but that wasn't good enough for a bunch of clueless political hacks who run the commission. And Thompson has to pay for it. A damn shame.

Mayor's Cup Comes to Kennedy Recreation Center August 22-23!

The 23rd annual Mayor's Cup Invitational Amateur Boxing Tournament will be this Friday and Saturday, August 22-23 at the Kennedy Recreation Center, 1401 7th Street, NW in DC.

In the past, this event has featured truly the future of boxing as a number of Beltway Boxers went on to become world and regional pro champions. This year's event is being presented by the Boxing Information Center and the Midtown Youth Academy.

The event will get underway at 5 PM on both days and admission to the event is FREE!

Photos From Friday Night Fights in DC!

CD Brown of DC Urban Sports has more photos like this one of newly-crowned USBO Junior Middleweight champion Ishmail "The Arsenal" Arvin in a full photo spread from the Major Heavy Hitters/Duva Boxing card this past Friday night at Ibiza Nightclub in DC.

The link to her photos is here:

"http://www.backprint.com/storefront.asp?PID=bp%19yNv">

Bailey Upsets Robles in Portsmouth, VA!

In The Ring magazine, columnist Jim Bagg gives an award called a Stingray, where he honors a veteran boxer who wins a bout over a rising prospect.

Don't be surprised if Portsmouth, VA cruiserweight William "The Storm" Bailey gets the Stingray in a future Ring magazine. Last night, in front of his home crowd at the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel in Portsmouth, VA, Bailey scored an eight-round unanimous decision over "El Guero" Juan Carlos Robles of Waynesboro, VA. Power shots apparently proved to be the difference.

Bailey, who told me that he would retire after beating Derek Amos in Fisherville, VA in April of 2007, has won two of his last four since that bout. Bailey's record is now 9-14-2, five KO's.

Robles, who was trying to bounce back after his TKO loss to contender Rob Calloway last March, is now 9-2, four KO's.

In the co-feature, Norfolk, VA's Bobby Jordan, Jr. won an eight-round unanimous decision over Takoma Park, MD's Willis "The Prophet" Lockett. Jordan dropped Lockett en route to the victory. Jordan remains undefeated at 5-0-1, two KO's while Lockett is now 10-6-4, four KO's.

Also on the card, Montgomery, AL middleweight John "No Mercy" Mackey stopped DC's Larry "The Gladiator" Brothers at the end of the fourth round when Brothers could not come out for the fifth. This was the second time Mackey has defeated the veteran Brothers. Mackey is now 10-1, three KO's. Brothers falls to 7-31-3, five KO's.

Norfolk, VA lightweight Stephan Alexander scored a second-round TKO over Philadelphia's Gustavo Dailey. Alexander is now 3-0, three KO's while Dailey is 2-3.

In a female bout, Brooklyn, NY heavyweight Tanzee Daniels scored her second straight win over Wilson, NC's Tiffany Woodard. This time, it was a four-round unanimous decision. Daniels is 2-0 while Woodard is 1-2.

Miguel Gonzalez of Virginia won by second-round TKO over David Derby.

Thanks, once again, to Joe Hensley of MajorLeagueBoxing.com for providing this BATB Post-Fight Wrap-Up show.

Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #128 - Post-Fight From Portsmouth!

Joe Hensley of MajorLeagueBoxing.com recaps a rough night for Beltway Boxers at the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel in Portsmouth, VA!

Weights From Portsmouth, VA!

Here is the scale watch for tonight's card at the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel in Portsmouth, VA:

Juan Carlos Robles 197 vs. William Bailey 192 1/2

Willis Lockett 168 vs. Bobby Jordan 167

Larry Brothers 164 vs. John Mackey 161

Stephan Alexander 131 vs. Gustavo Dailey 131

Tiffany Woodard 209 vs. Tanzee Daniels 219

There are two rematches on this card. DC's Larry Brothers will try to avenge a four-round unanimous decision loss to Montgomery, AL's John Mackey. Brothers lost to Mackey back on February 24 in Springfield, VA. The other rematch is the female bout between Tiffany Woodard (1-1) and Tanzee Daniels (1-0). Daniels, a native of Brooklyn, NY won a four-round split decision over the Wilson, NC native Woodard on July 11 in Philadelphia.

Alexander, a native of Norfolk, VA is 2-0, two KO's. Dailey, who is from Philadelphia, PA is 2-2.

Joe Hensley of MajorLeagueBoxing.com will have the BATB Post-Fight Wrap-Up show from Portsmouth, VA later tonight.

Arvin Wins USBO Junior Middleweight Title in Controversial Fashion!

Baltimore junior middleweight Ishmail "The Arsenal" Arvin captured the vacant USBO Junior Middleweight title with a sixth-round TKO over Anthony "The Messenger" Thompson in front of a standing-room only crowd at Ibiza Nightclub in Washington, DC.

Arvin's victory did not come without controversy. The heads of the two boxers collided unintentionally in the third round. Although Thompson suffered a nasty gash and lump over his left eye, he dropped Arvin twice in the same round.

To his credit, Arvin fought back bravely and managed to gain ground in the bout. Along the way, Thompson's eye got progressively worse. In the last two rounds of the bout, both ringside doctors Dawne Carroll and Greg Banks took close looks at Thompson's cut.

Finally after the sixth round, Doctor Banks decided that Thompson's cut had suffered enough and advised referee Malik Waleed to stop the contest.

Here's where the controversy comes in. Although ringside replays showed there was a headbutt, referee Waleed did not rule that way. Waleed gave no signal that the cut was a result of a head butt, which means the cut came as the result of a punch. Since instant replays can't be used to officially overturn a decision in DC (or anywhere else for that matter, the scorecards did not come into play and Arvin wins by technical knockout.

With the win, Arvin's record rises to 15-1-4, seven KO's. Thompson's record falls to 23-3, 17, KO's.

Oxon Hill, MD light heavyweight Alexander "The Great" Johnson made his national television debut a successful one, remaining undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over Zeferino Albino of Philadelphia. This is the second time Johnson has beaten Albino by unanimous decision. Johnson is now 6-0, three KO's. Albino falls to 3-7-2, one KO.

On the non-televised portion on the card, Brandywine, MD heavyweight Seth "Mayhem" Mitchell remained undefeated with a bruising second-round TKO over Ryan "The Gatekeeper" Ryan St. Germain. Mitchell is now 5-0-1, four KO's.

In the co-feature, cruiserweight Ola "Kryptonite" Afolabi of West Hills, CA won an eight-round unanimous decision of DeLeon Tinsley of Orlando, FL. Afolabi's record goes to 13-1-3, five KO's. Tinsley falls to 9-4-1, five KO's.

Also on the card, Ismayl Sillakh of the Ukraine scored a first-round TKO over Walter Edwards of Wilson, NC. The bout was stopped at 1:50 of the first. Sillakh is 3-0, three KO's while Edwards is 1-3, one KO.

Nigerian heavyweight Lateef Kayode won a four-round unanimous decision over Mike Miller of Akron, OH in Kayode's pro debut. Miller is now 4-12-2, two KO's.

The bout between BJ Flores and Cory Phelps did not take place because of time constraints.

Here's the BATB Post-Fight Wrap-Up Show where "The Fight Doctor" Jerome Spears and I give a full recap on the card.

Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #125 - Post-Fight From Ibiza Nightclub in DC!

"The Fight Doctor" Jerome Spears and I recap the controversy over the USBO Junior Middleweight title bout and the rest of the action on the Major Heavy Hitters/Duva Boxing card!




After the Post-Fight show, we had a chance to talk to the new USBO Junior Middleweight champion Ishmail Arvin and undefeated heavyweight Seth Mitchell.

Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #127 - Arvin Talks About Championship Win!

Newly-crowned USBO Junior Middleweight champion Ishmail "The Arsenal" Arvin , along with his trainer, David Sewell, talk about Arvin's sixth-round TKO victory over Anthony "The Messenger" Thompson.



Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #126 - 'Mayhem' Mitchell Talks About Body-Snatching Victory!

Undefeated Brandywine, MD heavyweight Seth "Mayhem" Mitchell talks about his second-round TKO victory over Ryan St. Germain at Ibiza Nightclub!

Examiner Looks At UMAR Program; Post Profiles Bynum!

There ar two good recent articles that feature parts of the wonderful Beltway amateur scene.

The Baltimore Examiner takes a look at the successful UMAR Boxing program run by Marvin McDowell in Baltimore. The article is written by Luke Broadwater and can be found here:

"http://www.examiner.com/a-1538397~_Put_the_guns_down___boxing_coach_says.html">

The Washington Post talks to Traon Bynum of DC about winning the 132-pound championship at the Under-19 National Championships in Kansas City, MO. Reporter Zach Berman also talks to Bynum about his future plans in this article:

"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/13/AR2008081303939.html">

Weights and Comments from DC!

Here is the scale watch for tomorrow's nationally televised card at the Ibiza Nightclub in DC:


Ishmail Arvin 154 vs. Anthony Thompson 152

Alexander Johnson 173 vs. Zefferino Albino 178

Seth Mitchell 242 vs. Ryan St. Germain 220

Ola Afolabi 200 vs. DeLeon Tinsley 196

Ismael Sillaht 176 vs. Walter Edwards 176

Lateef Kayode 202 vs. Mike Miller 255

BJ Flores 204 vs. Cory Phelps (will weigh in tomorrow)


Both Ishmail Arvin and Anthony Thompson spoke to BATB about their USBO Junior Middleweight title main event bout. Here are their comments.

Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #122 - 'The Arsenal' Discusses USBO Title Shot!

Baltimore, MD junior middleweight Ishmail "The Arsenal" Arvin talks about tomorrow night's nationally televised USBO Junior Middleweight title bout against Anthony Thompson!




Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #123 - 'The Messenger' Delivers Comments on USBO Title Tilt!

Philadelphia, PA's Anthony "The Messenger" Thompson talks about his USBO title bout against Ishmail Arvin!




Also BATB talked to the Chair of the DC Boxing and Wrestling Commission, Jason Turner about the first pro card under his watch:


Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #124 - DC Commission Chair Turner Comments on DC Pro Card!

BATB talks to DC Boxing and Wrestling Commission Chair Jason Turner about the first pro boxing card under his leadership!

Friday Night ESPN2 Card Update!

There are some changes and additions to the Friday, August 15 nationally televised (ESPN2) Major Heavy Hitters/Duva Boxing card at the Ibiza Nightclub in DC.

The opponent for undefeated Oxon Hill, MD light heavyweight Alexander "The Great" Johnson has changed. Johnson (5-0, three KO's) will take on Zeferino Albino (3-6-2, one KO) of Philadelphia, PA in a six-round rematch. Johnson defeated Albino by four-round unanimous decision on November 29, 2007 at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD. Albino has had a rough time since the first Johnson bout as he has just one win in his last seven outings.

Albino replaces Reggie LaCrete who was injured in training.

Undefeated USBA Cruiserweight champion BJ "El Peligroso" Flores has been added to the card. This will be the first bout for the Chandler, AZ resident since his unanimous decision championship win over Darnell Wilson on February 8 in Dover, DE. Flores (21-0-1, 13 KO's) will fight a six-round contest against Cory "The Cobra" Phelps of Cattlesburg, KY (13-4-1, seven KO's).

The co-feature bout will match West Hills, CA cruiserweight Ola “Kryptonite” Afolabi against DeLeon Tinsley of Orlando, FL in an eight-round contest. Afolabi (12-1-3, five KO’s) is unbeaten in his last 10 bouts and scored a 10th round TKO over previously undefeated Eric Fields in his last outing on April 12 in Tacoma, WA. Tinsley (9-3-1, five KO’s) is coming off an eight-round unanimous decision over former WBA Light Heavyweight world champion Lou Del Valle on July 18 in Miami, FL.

Undefeated McKeesport, PA super middleweight Tyrone "T.T." Watson (7-0, three KO's) will take on veteran James North of Weston, WVA (8-20-3, three KO's) in a four-round contest.

The main event remains the same -- a 10-round bout for the vacant United States Boxing Organization (USBO) Junior Middleweight title. Ishmail “The Arsenal” Arvin of Baltimore, MD will battle Philadelphia, PA’s Anthony “The Messenger” Thompson.

Arvin (14-1-4, six KO's) has only fought twice since December of 2007 with both bouts ending in draws. Arvin will be looking for his first win since June 15, 2006 when he won a six-round unanimous decision over David Estrada in Glen Burnie.

Thompson (23-2, 17 KO’s) will be coming off an even longer time of inactivity. Thompson has not fought since losing a 10-round split decision to Yuri Foreman on June 9, 2007 in Madison Square Garden in New York City. The loss broke an eight-bout winning streak.

Undefeated Brandywine, MD heavyweight Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell (4-0-1, three KO’s) also remains on the card and will take on Elkhart, IN’s Ryan “The Gatekeeper” St. Germain in a four-round contest. Mitchell scored a first-round knockout over Henry Namauu on July 23 in Cabazon, CA. St. Germain (2-2, two KO’s) will be trying to bounce back from a four-round unanimous decision to Jim Emrick on May 30 in Monroeville, PA.

Beltway Amateurs Win 12 Titles at Ringside Championships; Bynum Named Outstanding Boxer of Under-19 Tourney!

Twelve Beltway Boxers won titles at the Ringside World Championships in Kansas City, MO last weekend. Here is the list:

Dwayne Holmes 9-10 year old 55lbs. Novice

Zimmie Dickinson 11-12 year old 70lbs. Open

Aujee Tyler 13-14 year old 80lbs. Open

Marquel Tyler 13-14 year old 85lbs. Open

Gervonta Davis 13-14 year old 90lbs. Open

Lamont Roach 11-12 year old 100lbs. Open

Dusty Harrison 13-14 year old 112lbs. Open

Kareem Martin 11-12 year old 132lbs. Open

Dimitrius Ballard 15-16 year old 152lbs. Open

Jerry Odom 15-16 year old 165lbs. Novice

Thomas Williams 17-34 year old 178lbs. Open

Antonio Russell 15-16 year old 106lbs. Open

Calvin Ford Master's 34-45 year old 152lbs.

Joel Young 17-34 year old 141lbs Open

The Ringside championships were held in the same location as the Under-19 Championships, where Traon Bynum and Nick Kisner won their titles.

We've learned that Bynum was named the Outstanding Boxer of the Under-19 Tournament!

Russell Jr. Gives His Side of the Story!

In a very classy interview with NBC's Jim Gray, Gary Russell, Jr. talks about what happened in China and gives a little hint on his future plans.

Here's the link:

"http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/player.html?assetid=0810_boxrussell_ja045&channelcode=sportbx">

Farmer, Jargal Win Impressively in Salem, VA!

Beltway Boxers Andrew "The Doo Man" Farmer and "The Mongolian Mongoose" Bayan Jargal scored impressive victories on a Pro-Motion Sports card last night at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, VA.

In the main event, Farmer won an eight-round unanimous decision over Cesar Vega of Louisville, KY. The Front Royal, VA junior welterweight dropped Vega twice in the first round en route to the victory. Farmer is now 11-1, seven KO's while Vega falls to 10-15, two KO's.

In a junior welterweight bout, Jargal, fighting out of Arlington, VA scored a fourth-round knockout over Maurice Chalmers of Lynchburg, VA to remain undefeated at 7-0-1, four KO's. Chalmers is now 7-8-1, four KO's.

The co-feature saw the bout between undefeated Virginia cruiserweights Terry "T-Brick" Roy of Front Royal and Jaywon Woods of Danville go to a third-round technical draw. Roy is now 7-0-2, six KO's while Woods is 7-01, five KO's.

In other bouts on the card:

Junior middleweight Dontre King of Cumberland, Maryland won a four-round unanimous decision over David Novia of Roanoke, VA. King is 1-1 while Novia is 0-2.

"The Pride of Portsmouth" Dorin Spivey won a four-round unanimous decision over Edward “Nuckie” Anderson of Richmond, VA in a junior welterweight bout. Spivey is now 35-5, 28 KO’s. Anderson is 4-13, three KO’s.

Light heavyweight Scott "Cujo" Sigmon of Bedford, VA won a four-round unanimous decision over Daniel Shull of Virginia. Sigmon is now 2-1, one KO. While Shull is 0-4.

Heavyweight James Price of Bassett, VA lost a four-round split decision to Nathan Petty of Louisville, KY. Petty wins pro debut while Price is now 2-1, two KO’s.

Junior welterweight David Hopkins of Roanoke, VA won his pro debut with a four-round majority decision over Salisbury, MD’s Randolph Scott. Scott is 0-2.

This was the maiden voyage card for Pro-Motion Sports of Roanoke, VA. The matchmaker was Scott Farmer.

My thanks to MajorLeagueBoxing.com's Joe Hensley for putting together this extensive BATB Post-Fight Wrap-Up show.

Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #121 - Results From Salem. VA!

Joe Hensley of MajorLeagueBoxing.com gives a detailed Post-Fight Wrap-Up of the Pro-Motion Sports card at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, VA!

Weights From Salem, VA!

A number of Beltway Boxers will be on a card at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, VA tonight.

Here are the weights:

Andrew Farmer 139 1/2 vs. Cesar Vega 139 1/2

Terry Roy 199 vs. Jaywon Woods (will weigh-in later today)

Bayan Jargal 144 1/2 vs. Maurice Chalmers 146 1/2

Scott Sigmon 178 1/2 vs. Daniel Shull 179

Dorin Spivey 142 1/2 vs. Edward Anderson 145 1/2

Joe Hensley of MajorLeagueBoxing.com is slated to handle the BATB Post-Fight Wrap-Up Show after the card.

Bynum, Kisner Win Under-19 Titles; Rivers Falls in Finals!

DC 132-pounder Traon Bynum and Glen Burnie 201-pounder Nick Kisner have won championship bouts in the Under-19 National Championships in Kansas City, MO!

Bynum stopped Arlo Argueta of Phoenix, AZ at 1:58 of the first round. Kisner defeated Hasim Rahman, Jr. of Las Vegas by decision, 13-7. Both men will be on the US Under-19 team that will travel to Guadalajara, Mexico for the Under-19 World Championships October 25-November 1.

Kevin Rivers of Palmer Park, MD, however, will not join Bynum and Kisner on the US Under-19 team. Rivers lost his final bout in the 125-pound division to Olympic Trial participant Ronny Rios of Santa Ana, CA by decision, 22-12.

Beltway Amateurs in Finals of Ringside World Championships!

There are actually two amateur tournaments taking place in Kansas City, MO this week. Not only are the Under-19 National Championships finishing up today, but so are the Ringside World Championships. The Beltway is very well represented on the final day of competition as 19 Beltway Boxers will be participating in championship bouts.

Here is the list:

Wayne Holmes 9-10 year old 55lbs.

Zimmie Dickinson 11-12 year old 70lbs. Open
Jalonte Cole 11-12 year old 85lbs. Open
Kareem Martin 11-12 year old 132lbs. Open
Lamont Roach 11-12 year old 100lbs. Open

Lawrence Singh 13-14 year old 80lbs. Open
Aujee Tyler 13-14 year old 80lbs. Open
Marquell Tyler 13-14 year old 85lbs. Open
Gervonta "Tank" Davis 13-14 year old 90lbs. Open
Dusty Harrison 13-14 year old 112lbs. Open

Tony Magruder 15-16 year old 119lbs. Open
Marcus Robinson 15-16 year old 132lbs. Novice
Tavon Sol 15-16 year old 141lbs. Novice
Alantez Fox 15-16 year old 141bs. Open
Dimitrius Ballard 15-16 year old 152lbs. Open
Jerry Odom 15-16 year old 165lbs. Novice

Andre Morgan 17-34 year old 132lbs. Open
Thomas Williams 17-34 year old 178lbs. Open
Travis Coley 17-34 year old 178lbs. Open

It has been more difficult getting results from the Ringside Championships but I hope to get those later today.

Post Follows Up on Russell Disappointment!

The Washington Post's Les Carpenter continues to chronicle the disappointment felt by Gary Russell, Jr. and his family as their Olympic hopes are dashed.

Here's the link:

"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/08/AR2008080801412.html">a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/08/AR2008080801412.html">

A. Russell vs. E. Taylor Video from Under-19 Championships!

Thanks to the folks at DC Amateur Boxing.blogspot.com, who sent video of what many people are considering the best matchup of the Under-19 National Championships thus far -- The quarterfinal bout between Capitol Heights, MD's Gary Allan Russell and Edgewood, MD's Emmanuel Taylor. Taylor is in red and Russell is in white.

This is from DC Amateur Boxing's YouTube page that has received more than 900,000 hits since its inception just five months ago. The page is loaded with great video of many of our Beltway amateurs.

Rivers, Bynum Advance to Under-19 Finals; A. Russell Loses in Walkover!

Beltway Boxers Kevin Rivers and Traon Bynum have advanced to the finals of the Under-19 National Championships in Kansas City, MO.

In the 125-pound semi-finals, Palmer Park, MD's Rivers scored his second straight stoppage of the tournament, halting Daniel Guerrero of Bryan, TX at 34 seconds of the first round. Rivers will battle Olympic Trial participant Ronny Rios of Santa Ana, CA in tomorrow's final.

DC's Bynum won his matchup in the 132-pound semis by defeating Robert Easter of Toledo, OH by decision, 23-16. Bynum will take on Arlo Argueta of Phoenix, AZ in the finals.

Allen Russell of Capitol Heights, MD lost by walkover in the 141-pound semifinals to Roscoe Hill of Spring, TX. We're hearing reports that Russell was late getting to the scales for the weigh-in today. Tournament officials reportedly would not let Russell weigh-in because he was not ready to weigh-in when his name was called.

No official word yet on this, but there may be an interesting championship bout in the 201-pound division. Nick Kisner of Glen Burnie, MD is slated to take on Hasim Rahman, Jr of Las Vegas. Kisner has not fought in the tournament yet. However, he may have received a bye to the finals because there were only three boxers in his weight class.

Russell Jr. Collapses, Will Miss Olympics!

Gary Russell, Jr's hopes for an Olympic medal are over before they even start.

The Capitol Heights, MD resident collasped late Thursday night after trying to make weight. At the weigh-in, Russell was disqualified for being one pound over the 119-pound bantamweight limit. Later, Russell was found unconscious and severely dehydrated by one of his teammates, Luis Yanez. According to NBC, medical personnel were able to rehydrate him after he made a final attempt to make weight.

"We became alarmed a couple of days ago when we saw he wasn't sweating like he should," US Head Coach Dan Campbell told NBC after Friday's draw. "When these kids try to make weight, sometimes they cut corners. What we believe is he did not increase his fluid intake after we told him to."

According to Teddy Atlas, who is calling the boxing tournament for NBC, Russell was five to six pounds overweight earlier in the week but assured Atlas that he would be fine come weigh-in.

"It's the fighters - and the coaches' responsibility - to make sure they are on weight," Atlas said. "Plus USA Boxing started a residential program to better prepare its boxers and you would have expected that this type of situation would never have happened. Its embarrassing."

Russell weighed 121 pounds Thursday and was trying to get to the required 119 before the weigh-in at 6 a.m. Friday. He went running to get the last two pounds off and collapsed after returning to the Olympic Village. His father Gary Russell Sr., said that his son passed out after resting from the run. He was treated with fluids by doctors at his dormitory but was not hospitalized.

Russell Jr. is the first USA boxer to be disqualified from the games since David Jackson in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

"I'm extremely disappointed," Russell said in a statement released by USA Boxing Friday afternoon. "Competing in the Olympic Games has always been one of my dreams, and I wish I would have been able to represent my country alongside my teammates."

The USA Team now has only eight boxers -- its smallest contingent since 1948.

Thompson Moves Toward Next Challenge!

DC heavyweight Tony "The Tiger" Thompson is looking for redemption as well as his next challenge as he looks to bounce back from his July 12 world title loss to Wladimir Klitschko in Hamburg, Germany.

“I definitely learned from this fight what it takes to become the heavyweight champion of the world and I look forward to redeeming myself for my team and my fans,” said Thompson in a press release. “This was not my greatest performance and I know I can do better. I want the opportunity to show everyone that this was a fluke. I will do whatever it takes to get there and fight who ever I need to fight to get another shot at becoming the heavyweight champion.”

The next challenge could come from a new name in the heavyweight division. Prior to the Klitschko bout, former cruiserweight champion and now heavyweight challenger David Haye called out every fighter at the top of the heavyweight division including going to the lengths of calling Thompson a "bum". Thompson, who is never short on words, said he would love to give Haye and any other fighter the opportunity to fight a real heavyweight.

“David 'soft as Haye' doesn’t have the right to call anybody out. He can’t take a cruiserweight punch and he definitely will not be able to withstand the punishment that I will give him,” said Thompson. “Remember the last guy he fought by the name of Thompson (cruiser weight Carl Thompson) knocked his ass out. I would love the opportunity to do the same. When I’m finished with him I will be the reason he returns his ass to the cruiserweight division where he belongs. But this challenge stands for any of the top heavyweights in the world who wants to step up and fight someone like me. If you think you are there then use me as a measuring stick.”

G. Allen Russell Decisions Taylor at Under 19 Championships!

In an all-Beltway quarterfinal at the US Under 19 National Championships in Kansas City, MO, Gary Allen Russell of Capitol Heights, MD defeated Edgewood, MD's Emmanuel Taylor, 17-14 in a junior welterweight bout that USAboxing.org called the best bout of the day.

Russell took a quick 5-1 lead after one. Each boxer scored three in the second, making the score 8-4. The crowd really got into it in the third round and their support helped Taylor cut Russell's lead to three. The punches flew in the fourth round and Russell came out victorious.

Two other Beltway Boxers won their quarterfinal matches. Palmer Park, MD's Kevin Rivers stopped Panell Fisher of Las Vegas by retirement before the start of the third round of a 125-pound bout. DC's Traon Bynum won a decision over Adrian Martinez of Milwaukee, WI, 8-5 in a 132-pound bout.

Former Pro Looks Back at Career of Andrew Maynard!

No other boxing website does a better job of balancing news of current-day boxing with looks back at many of the sport's greats than Ringside Report, the website led by my good friend, the top-notch boxing interviewer "Bad" Brad Berkwitt.

BATB was the first site to talk about the recent plight of Beltway Boxing legend "Smilin' Drew" Andrew Maynard. Word has been getting around the boxing world about Maynard's situation, which is wonderful.

Ringside Report is featuring a heartfelt first-person account from someone who remembers Maynard from his days as an amateur leading up to the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea where Maynard won a gold medal. The writer of this article is former pro boxer "Finesse Mahogany" Mark Buchanan of Kinston, NC.

Long-time Beltway Boxing fans may remember Buchanan because, for a while, he fought out of Norfolk, VA and fought in Maryland three times during his pro career, two of those appearances were very memorable.

On September 12, 1995, Buchanan stopped rising Baltimore cruiserweight prospect Courtney "Pound For Pound" Butler in the seventh round at Martin's West in Woodlawn, MD. On August 21, 1996, Buchanan was stopped by a very angry Andrew Council in the third round during an outdoor show at Byrne Manor in Oxon Hill, MD. If I remember correctly, Buchanan and Council had words prior to this bout and the normally calm Council was very peeved that night. There were also claims of a headbutt during the bout that may have led to the stoppage.

Buchanan (12-16-2, nine KO's) fought other notable contenders during his career including Merqui Sosa, Charles Brewer and Richard Hall and he was the chief sparring partner for Roy Jones, Jr. Currently, Buchanan coaches amateur boxing in North Carolina where he and his wife are both affiliated with USA Boxing.

Here is the link to the article:


="http://www.ringsidereport.com/rsr/news.php?readmore=960">

Under-19 Championships Begin in Kansas City!

The first day of competition is over at the Under-19 National Championships at the KCI Expo Center in Kansas City, MO.

Only one Beltway Boxer was scheduled to be in action today. However, Joshua Davis of Catonsville, MD lost by walkover to Rockne Harris of Garland, TX. Reports are that Davis had a separated rib and could not participate.

The champions in each division will earn a spot on the US Under-19 team that will travel to the Under-19 World Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico.

According to USAboxing.org, Emmanuel Taylor of Edgewood, MD is one of the boxers to watch in the tournament. Taylor is a favorite in the Light Welterweight division.

Robles-Bailey; Lockett-Jordan Highlight Portsmouth VA Card August 16!

Two interesting bouts highlight a card on Saturday, August 16 at the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel and Waterfront Conference Center in Portsmouth, VA.

The main event will be a matchup of popular Virginia cruiserweights as Waynesboro's "El Guero" Juan Carlos Robles takes on Portsmouth's William "The Storm" Bailey.

Robles (9-1, four KO's) will be trying to bounce back from his eight-round TKO loss to Rob Calloway on March 15 in Allentown, PA. Bailey (8-14-2, five KO's) is a tough veteran who has won three of his last five bouts, but is also coming off a loss in his last bout, a second-round KO loss to Larry Robinson on May 9 in Philadelphia, PA.

The co-feature bout has Takoma Park, MD light heavyweight Willis "The Prophet" Lockett taking on tough, undefeated Bobby Jordan of Norfolk, VA.

Lockett (10-5-4, four KO's) has not fought since December of 2007 when he lost a six-round majority decision to Willie Williams in Pikesville, MD. Jordan (4-0-1, two KO's) is coming off a six-round unanimous decision over Antonio Baker on March 14 in Norfolk.

Times Chimes In on Russell Story!

The Washington Times has a lengthy article on US Olympian Gary Russell, Jr. that, for now, can only be found online because the Times no longer has weekend edition.

Mike Jones writes a very comprehensive story on the Capitol Heights, MD native that can be found here:

"http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/03/quest-leads-dad-boxer-to-beijing/">

Peterson Wins Unanimous Decision!

Anthony Peterson remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over former IBF Lightweight champion Javier Jauregui tonight at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

Peterson scored a shutout on two of the judges's scorecards, 100-90 while one judge scored the bout, 99-91. According to Fightnews.com's Andres Hale, the bout was more competitive than the scores indicate.

Peterson, who is ranked number three in the world by the WBO, raises his record to 28-0, 19 KO's. Jauregui falls to 53-15-2, 36 KO's.

Paschall Stopped in Fourth Round!

Mike "The Persecutor" Paschall suffered his first pro loss after a blistering left hand from Andre "The Matrix" Dirrell dropped him and caused a deep cut on his forehead that the ringside physician could not stop.

The stoppage came at 1:32 of the fourth round at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA in front of a nationally televised Showtime Championship Boxing audience.

Paschall's record drops to 17-1-1, four KO's. Dirrell is now 16-0, 11 KO's.

Paschall Weighs 166 1/2 For Tonight in Tacoma!

Mike "The Persecutor" Paschall weighed in at 166 1/2 pounds for tonight's nationally televised Showtime bout against fellow unbeaten Andre "The Matrix" Dirrell at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA. Dirrell tipped the scales at the super middleweight limit of 168.

The scheduled 10-round bout opens the Showtime Championship Boxing telecast at 9 PM ET.

Gary Russell Profiled in Post!

Washington Post writer Les Carpenter continues his series on Gary Russell, Jr. as we are now less than a week away from Beijing!

Here's the link:

"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/01/AR2008080103146.html">

Under-19 Beltway Boxers Headed to Kansas City August 6-9!

A number of Beltway amateurs will be in Kansas City, MO on August 6-9 for the USA Boxing Under-19 National Championships at the KCI Expo Center.

According to USABoxing.org, here is the list of local boxers in the tournament:

119 Pounds: Kevin Rivers, Palmer Park, MD

132 Pounds: Joshua Davis, Catonsville, MD; Traon Bynum, Washington, DC; Russell Gaskins, Washington, DC

141 Pounds: Emmanuel Taylor, Edgewood, MD; Gary Allen Russell, Capitol Heights, MD

152 Pounds: Marquis Moore, Fort Washington, MD

165 Pounds: Dominic Wade, Largo, MD

201 Pounds: Nick Kisner, Glen Burnie, MD

Hasim Rahman, Jr., fighting out of Las Vegas, NV, is also in the 201-pound class.

Peterson Weighs 136 For Las Vegas Bout!

(Photo by Chris Cozzone)

Anthony Peterson weighed in at 136 pounds for tomorrow night's 10-round contest against former IBF Lightweight champion Javier Jauregui at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Jauregui came in at 136 1/2 pounds.

It looks like this bout will not be on HBO's telecast tomorrow night.

Corley Loses Eight-Round Decision in Rochester!

Former WBO Junior Welterweight champion DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley lost an eight-round unanimous decision to Ashley Theopane last night at Frontier Field in Rochester, NY.

According to Fightnews.com's Bob Caico, Corley started out strong and won the first two rounds, but from there it would be hard pressed to give him another stanza as Theopane put on constant pressure. Scores were 78-74, 78-75 and 79-73.

Corley's record now falls to 31-9-1, 17 KO's and has now lost five bouts in a row. Theopane's record is now 22-3-1, seven KO's.