Nicklow, Mackey Battle to Eight-Round Draw!

Baltimore, MD junior middleweight Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow and Montgomery, AL's John "No Mercy" Mackey fought to a tough, eight-round majority draw at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD.

The bout went against pre-conceived notions of the contest. Nicklow, normally a slugger, became more of a boxer in his Ballroom Boxing debut, employing more side-to-side movement. Mackey, known for being a crafty boxer, became more of a slugger as he stalked Nicklow at times during the contest.

Nicklow seemed to take control in the middle portion of the contest, adding some aggression to his movement. Mackey picked up the pace in the final two rounds. Judge John Gradowski scored the bout 77-75 for Mackey while judges Kenny Chevalier and Don Risher, saw the draw, 76-76. BATB saw the contest 77-75 for Nicklow.

Nicklow is now 19-1-2, seven KO's while Mackey is now 11-3-2, five KO's.

The co-feature saw an elevation in the boxing game of Randallstown, MD junior middleweight Cecil McCalla. McCalla remained undefeated with a scintillating performance, scoring a six-round TKO over Jorge Barajas of Boise, ID.

McCalla's timing, accuracy and punching were superb throughout the contest as he kept the tough Barajas on his heels throughout. McCalla scored two knockdowns with solid right hands before referee Gary Camponeschi stopped the bout at 1:16 of the sixth round.

McCalla is now 9-0, four KO's while Barajas falls to 5-3, two KO's.

Also on the card, Baltimore, MD middleweight "Vicious" Julius Kennedy scored a stunning second-round TKO over Gevonte Davis on Gulfport, MS. After an even first round, the bout turned suddenly in the second as Kennedy landed a crushing right hand that stopped Davis in his tracks. The bout was stopped at 2:36 of the round.

Kennedy has won three straight and lifts his record to 6-1, three KO's while Gevonte Davis sees his record evened at 3-3-1, two KO's.

The card also saw two boxers from the Dominican Republic make their US debuts. Hard-hitting welterweight Francisco Contreras scored a crushing first-round TKO over Kansas City, MO's Gustavo Mejia to keep his record perfect at 9-0, nine KO's. Mejia is now 3-7-1, three KO's.

The other Dominican boxer did not fare as well. Previously undefeated junior lightweight Delvin Plascencia lost a six-round unanimous decision to veteran Jesus Perez of Miami, FL. Perez dropped Plascencia with the first punch he threw in the bout, then scored another knockdown in the fourth, before going on to the victory.
Perez now has a record of 26-25-3, 14 KO's while Plascencia is now 14-1, five KO's.


Here is the BATB Post-Fight Wrap-Up Show that gives some interesting viewpoints on the main event.

Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #180 - Full Report From the Ballroom!

"The Fight Doctor" Jerome Spears and I recap a solid night of Ballroom Boxing action from Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD! Promoter Scott Wagner weighs in on the action as well.