Holmes Wins Eight-Round Decision Over Lockett in DC!

Former two-time WBC Middleweight champion Keith Holmes returned to action with an eight-round unanimous decision victory over Willis "The Prophet" Lockett tonight at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in DC.

Fighting for the first time in almost two years and amazingly at a weight close to the middleweight limit (after fighting at 168 and 175 pounds over the last four years), Holmes looked a little rusty but his experience and defensive skills proved to be the difference in the contest. Lockett was aggressive but not very accurate throughout the contest.

Scorecards had Holmes winning by tallies of 80-71, 79-72 and 77-74. With the win, Holmes now has a record of 41-5, 25 KO's while Lockett falls to 12-8-5, five KO's.

In the co-feature, DC super bantamweight Clarence "Untouchable" Vinson looked surprisingly sharp after an almost two-year layoff by defeating Jacksonville, FL's Robert "Don't Lose" DaLuz of Jacksonville, FL by an eight-round majority decision.

This was a rematch of a June 23, 2007 bout at Howard University's Burr Gymnasium in DC. This was also a better-fought contest than the first one that Vinson won by unanimous decision. Vinson had not fought since the first contest while DaLuz was participating in his 14th bout since the first encounter. Although DaLuz has only won two bouts in that 14-bout stretch, he seemed to be a much improved boxer this time then in the first bout.

As in the first encounter, Vinson battled some adversity. Instead of a knockdown in the first encounter, Vinson was cut along the left side of his face by an accidental headbutt in the second round. However, Vinson fought on, using very fast hands and withstood a late DaLuz rally to get the victory.

Vinson is now 17-2, seven KO's while DaLuz is 12-19-2, two KO's.

Other bouts on the card saw the return of "The Next Generation" Louis "Heidi" Curtis, Jr. as he fought Gabriel Cruz of Oceanside, CA to a four-round majority draw.

Curtis, who hasn't fought since winning a minimumweight bout in 1998, fought well and tried to trade with the gritty Cruz. Curtis did enough to win the bout on one judge's scorecard, but the other two saw the bout even. Curtis had his father -- 1976 US Olympian Heidi Curtis, Sr. -- as well as Darryll Tyson working his corner. Curtis is now 1-0-1, one KO while Cruz is now 3-2-1, one KO.

Also, welterweight Terrell Davis of DC made his return after an almost four-year absence and lost by second-round TKO to undefeated Jamal "The Hitman" Charlo of Houston, TX. Davis is now 0-4 while Charlo is 4-0, one KO.

There was a three-round heavyweight exhibition between DC's John "Nature Boy" Chavis and Tim "Brass Knuckles" Bolden as well as three amateur bouts. In the 65-pound contest, Malcolm Lowery of the Headbangers Gym stopped Philadelphia's Shamsideen Justice. In the 72-pound bout, Zimmie Dickinson of Dream Team defeated Jordan White. And in a women's 164-pound bout, Tori Nelson of Old School Boxing defeated Kaelon Hollon of Tony's Gym.

The card was promoted by Universal Madness in association with the organization Cease Fire: Don't Smoke the Brothers and Sisters. Jack Crider served as matchmaker.

Here is the BATB Post-Fight Wrap-Up Show:

Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #172 - Full Report From DC!

"The Fight Doctor" Jerome Spears and I break down the return of boxing to the Nation's Capital plus give other breaking news.