Tucker Wins Split Decision in Westminster!

Eldersburg, MD light heavyweight Mark "TNT" Tucker remained undefeated with an eight-round split decision over Ross "The Boss" Thompson of Buffalo, NY tonight at the Shipley Arena in Westminster, MD.

Tucker also gained a learning experience along the way as he was taken through the eight-round distance for the first time in his young career. Tucker, who gave up nine pounds to his opponent (180 1/4 to 189 1/4), had a tough time dealing with the awkward style of Thompson, who used solid defense and countering shots to gain advantages.

Thompson might have lost his advantage on the scorecards near the end of the fight, where he slowed his offensive assault and seemed to look only to counter Tucker. However, judge Malik Waleed thought Thompson did enough to win and scored the contest 77-75. The other two judges -- Gary Camponeschi and Kenny Chevalier -- saw the bout differently at 78-74 and 77-75 for Tucker. BATB scored the bout 78-74 for Thompson.

With the win, Tucker is now 9-0, seven KO's while Thompson is 27-12-2, eight KO's.

In the co-feature, Laurel, MD super featherweight Ikem "The Warrior" Orji won a six-round unanimous decision over DC's Ron "Teflon" Boyd.

Boyd's gameplan employed more side-to-side movement, staying outside Orji's forward attack. Boyd, however, did not use a lot of offense in combination with the movement, so he was not given a lot of credit for ring generalship. The judges preferred Orji's forward movement, even though he didn't land a lot of punches either. Orji pitched a shutout on judge Don Risher's card (60-54) while judges Chevalier and John Gradowski scored the bout 59-55.

Orji bounces back from his loss to Anthony Flores in New Jersey in February and raises his record to 5-1, one KO. Boyd is now even at 6-6, two KO's.

Also on the card, Baltimore junior middleweight Omar Sims fought to a spirited four-round split decision draw with Jamar Freeman of Wilson, NC. Both men gave and took extremely well but neither man turned out to gain a clear advantage. If there was any advantage at all, it would have gone to Freeman if a knockdown had been judged in his favor. Late in the third round, Freeman seemed to drop Sims with a right hand. However, as Sims fell, Freeman tripped over him and also fell. Referee Camponeschi ruled there was no knockdown and the bout continued.

Sims has his second straight tough draw and is now 1-0-2, one KO while Freeman remains undefeated at 2-0-1.

In the opening bout, DC middleweight Robert "Rated X" Reed made an impressive pro debut as he stopped Zaid Malik of Cleveland, OH with a short right hand at 1:24 of the first round. Malik is 0-2.

Two other bouts were scratched because boxers in those bouts did not meet the medical guidelines of the Maryland State Athletic Commission.

Here is the BATB Post-Fight Wrap-Up for this card:

Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #163 - Full Report From The Shipley Arena!

"The Fight Doctor" Jerome Spears and I talk about the TNT Promotions card at the Shipley Arena in Westminster, MD, including the valuable lesson Mark Tucker received to stay undefeated in the main event.