More Ballroom Updates..Plus!

This story has a rather unique pattern and it ends up involving Beltway Boxers in more than one location.

The opponents have been confirmed for Mike "The Persecutor" Paschall and Joey Gilbert for this Thursday's Ballroom Boxing card at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD.

Paschall (17-1-1, four KO's) will battle Dallas, TX-based veteran "Gentleman" James Johnson in a six-round co-feature. Johnson (23-28-3, 13 KO's) is no stranger to the Ballroom and is well remembered by long-time Beltway Boxing fans for an epic four-round draw he waged against Jimmy Lange in Glen Burnie on May 13, 1999. The rematch went solidly to Lange via fifth-round TKO almost exactly two years later (May 10, 2001) in the same location. Johnson has fought one other time in the Ballroom, losing by fourth-round TKO to Said Ouali in November of 2003.

Throughout his career and in many different weight classes, Johnson has fought a who's who of champions and contenders including Bronco McKart, Lou Del Valle, William Guthrie, Sechew Powell, Yuri Foreman, BJ Flores and Alfredo Escalera, Jr. Johnson also lost a six-round unanimous decision to Juan Carlos Robles on April 28, 2007 in Fisherville, VA.

Despite his under-.500 record, Johnson is currently on a three-bout winning streak, he is unbeaten in his last four (including a six-round draw against former IBF Light Heavyweight champ Guthrie on May 12, 2007 at the George Mason University Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA) and he holds the North American Boxing Council (NABC) Light Heavyweight title.

Ironically, Johnson was originally slated to take on prospect Tommy Karpency in a six-round bout on November 28 at the Caravan Club in New Castle, PA. Stepping into that bout will be Takoma Park, MD light heavyweight Willis "The Prophet" Lockett (10-6-5, four KO's). Lockett last fought on November 6 at Fight Night at the Washington Hilton and Towers in DC in a no-contest against Henry Mayes.

You may remember Karpency (14-1-1, 10 KO's) from his highly-disputed eight-round draw against Demetrius Davis on June 13 at Du Burns Arena in Baltimore. After that bout, Karpency suffered his only loss, an eight-round unanimous decision to Rayco Saunders a month later. Since the loss, the Adah, PA native has reeled off three straight knockout victories.

Meanwhile, Gilbert (16-1, 12 KO's) will go up against William "Pete" Johnson (9-17-1, three KO's) who was originally slated to be the opponent in Dominic Wade's scheduled pro debut. This is slated to be a six-round encounter.