BATB Year-In-Review: Rookie of the Year!

Today, we begin our look back at 2008. I've decided to break this review in parts, starting with the Rookie of the Year. I give my choice and also list the fans's choice for this award as well as the prospect and boxer of the year.

BATB’s choice for 2008 Beltway Boxing Rookie of the Year is…

Fernando Guerrero, middleweight, Salisbury, MD, 12-0, 11 KO’s.

In a deep year for Beltway rookie candidates, Guerrero officially made this race non-competitive in October, when he drew 6,000 people to the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center in Salisbury for a nationally televised co-feature bout.

Guerrero started his career in December of 2007 with a second-round TKO over Derrick Douglas in Tunica, MS. The bout turned out to be just the start of a very busy run for the Dominican-born middleweight who came off a stellar amateur career. Guerrero knocked out his first nine opponents and made one nationally-televised (ESPN) appearance before his October 3 hometown date against undefeated Tyrone Watson. Guerrero went the distance for the first time (in his first eight-rounder) and scored a shutout on all three judge’s cards.

The future looks bright for Guerrero as he has been successful fighting under the Prize Fight Promotions banner throughout 2008. Immediately on tap will be another ESPN appearance in Salisbury in mid-February.


Others deserving consideration:

Mark “TNT” Tucker, light heavyweight, Eldersburg, MD, 6-0, five KO’s.

Tucker won the fan voting with 48 percent of the votes counted. The mohawk-sprouting light heavyweight had a solid rookie campaign with his first four bouts ending in first-round knockouts. Tucker advanced to six-round bouts after his first two bouts. Tucker defeated dangerous veteran Carlos Jones by fourth-round TKO before going the six-round distance for the first time against Terrence Wilson on November 1 in Las Vegas on the Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.-Matt Vanda undercard. The bout was shown live worldwide over the internet.

Tucker has trained with some of the best light heavyweights in the world, including former champ Glen Johnson and current champ Antonio Tarver, who claimed Tucker had the fastest hands he’s ever seen in the light heavyweight division.


Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell, heavyweight, Brandywine, MD, 8-0-1, five KO’s.

The former Michigan State football standout made a gradual and at times, seemingly smooth transition to boxing in 2008, coming off a limited but successful amateur career. After a close, four-round unanimous decision victory over Mike Miller, Mitchell won by knockout over Maurice Winslow, then signed a promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions. Mitchell’s Golden Boy debut ended in a draw in March against Alvaro Morales, a last-minute opponent. Mitchell turned the minor setback into a positive and proceeded to knock out four of his next six opponents while moving into the six-round ranks.

One of the six-round distance bouts was a much better showing in a rematch against Miller. Mitchell upgraded his arsenal and did a fine job going inside en route to an easier unanimous decision. Mitchell is still learning the boxing game but thus far, he has proven to be an apt pupil.


James “Keep ‘em Sleepin’” Stevenson, Jr., welterweight, Baltimore, MD, 5-0, five KO’s.

Only a pro since September, Stevenson has quickly turned a number of heads during his rookie campaign. None of his bouts have gone past the third round and Stevenson has also been able to knock people out on the road. Stevenson is scheduled to fight next in Winston-Salem, NC in late January.