Beltway Boxing 2009 -- Bout of the Year!

Digital's Choice for Beltway Bout of the Year is:

Cory Cummings TKO 9 Demetrius Davis – May 29 – Du Burns Arena, Baltimore, MD

This was a great contest where the winner fought through mounting adversity to beat the veteran opponent and capture the Maryland State Super Middleweight title.
Cummings did not get a minute out of the first round before the two veteran warriors clashed heads, causing a gash over Cummings's right eye. In the eighth round, the two clashed heads again, causing a cut on Cummings’s left eye.

While the ringside physicians were closely examining the cut in the corner after almost every round, Davis was showing superb ring generalship, switching from conventional to southpaw and showing slick veteran tricks.

Sensing urgency, Cummings quickly picked up the pace and landed some hard shots in the last minute of the eighth round. Davis was still boxing well but Cummings was shortening the distance and Davis was starting to trade more with the powerful Cummings.

In the ninth, Cummings caught Davis coming in with a right hook that dropped him. Davis beat referee Gary Camponeschi's 10-count but was deemed unfit to continue. The bout was stopped at 1:45 of the ninth. If you like bouts with definitive story lines, this was the bout for you and the best bout in the Beltway for 2009.

Other bouts deserving consideration:

Henry Mayes TKO 10 over Willie Williams -- April 10, Du Burns Arena, Baltimore, MD

This was the third bout in the Mayes-Williams trilogy and the two saved their best for last, making this a very close second for Bout of the Year honors. Both men had advantages with Mayes using his ring generalship in the early going and Williams picking up the pace as the bout headed to the middle rounds.

Mayes turned the tide of the bout for good late in the ninth round by landing a crushing left-right combination that dropped Williams to the canvas with 10 seconds remaining in the round. Williams barely beat referee Malik Waleed's count.

Mayes sealed the victory early in the 10th when he rocked the game Williams with lefts and rights, forcing the stoppage at 20 seconds of the round and winning the Maryland State Light Heavyweight crown.

Mark Tucker 10-round UD over George Armenta—December 11, Shipley Arena, Westminster, MD

Tucker made the first successful defense of his USBO Light Heavyweight crown with a tough victory over the veteran Armenta. Both men landed solid shots throughout the contest. Early on in the bout, Tucker held an advantage using his long right jab. By the middle rounds, Armenta found a way to get inside and do damage, testing Tucker's chin as no one had done previously throughout his young career. Tucker weathered the storm, however and was able to get a victory.


Barry Trotter four-round unanimous decision over Tracy Brewer – September 26, George Mason University Patriot Center, Fairfax, VA

This was a tremendous undercard contest that tested the resolve of both men. Trotter dropped Brewer in the third round as both men traded right hands. It's hard to say what kept Brewer going until the final bell. This was a great way to open up this card.