Beltway Boxers Continue Travels!

Some local boxers will be making trips in the next few weeks. Laurel, MD junior middleweight Norman "The Shadow" Allen (6-3, three KO's) will be at The Arena in Philadelphia, PA on Friday, April 30 for a six-round contest against Philly boxer Ardrick Butler (4-1, one KO). This will be the first scheduled six-rounder for both boxers. Allen has lost his last two and has not fought since dropping a four-round majority decision to William Jackson on September 5 in Cincinnati, OH.

On Thursday, May 6, there is about in Little Rock, AR that even I think is a little strange. Normally, I don't say a lot about prospective bouts but this one..

Arlington, VA cruiserweight Justin Ridgway makes just his second appearance in a pro ring while his opponent is indeed a veteran -- Dumfries, VA's Derek Amos. Frankly, I don't think this says a lot about Arkansas's commission when they allow a boxer who is 1-0 against another who is 15-28, nine KO's. Granted, Amos is well past his prime and has fought a who's who in the cruiser and heavyweight divisions, but this could be a major risk on either side.

Say what you want about the commissions in the Beltway, but I can say with some certainity that Maryland would not allow this bout to take place. I'd like to think that DC and Virginia would feel the same way.

On Saturday, May 22 two Beltway Boxers will appear on a card at the Sovereign Center in Reading, PA. Charlottsville, VA junior middleweight George "War Time" Rivera will challenge York, PA's Keenan Collins in an eight-round contest for the vacant WBF All-Americas Junior Middleweight title.

Rivera (11-5, four KO's) is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision loss to James Stevenson on March 20th at Du Burns Arena in Baltimore. Collins (12-5-2, eight KO's) is winless in his last five bouts, but has fought the likes of Delvin Rodriguez, Jose Angel Rodriguez, Doel Carrasquillo and Clarence Taylor.

Also on the Reading card, undefeated DC heavyweight Maurice "Freight Train" Byarm (6-0, four KO's) is slated to take on Kevin Howard of Montgomery, AL (1-3-1) in a four-round encounter. Ironically, both boxers's last appearance in a ring were in separate bouts on a January 31 card at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, MD. Byarm knocked out Maurice Winslow in the first round while Howard lost by fourth-round TKO to Abodurin Akinyanju .

There are cards coming to Baltimore, MD and Lynchburg, VA on Saturday, May 8. We hope to have details soon.