Nicklow Battles Kennedy For Maryland State Title Sept. 17 in Baltimore!

Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow will battle "Vicious" Julius Kennedy in a 10-round All-Baltimore-area bout for the Maryland State Middleweight title on Friday, September 17 at Du Burns Arena. This will be a Baltimore Pro Boxing card co-promoted with Prize Fight Promotions of Memphis, TN and will be shown on Fox Sports Net.

Nicklow (20-2-2, seven KO's) has not fought in a boxing ring since his 10-round unanimous decision victory over Scott Sigmon on March 20th at Du Burns. However, Nicklow did make a successful entry into Mixed Martial Arts with a victory in June in Ocean City, MD.

Kennedy (7-1, three KO's) lost his pro debut but is now riding a seven-bout winning streak, including a six-round unanimous decision over Ariel Espinal on November 20 at Martin's Valley Mansion in Cockeysville, MD. Kennedy has never gone 10 rounds before, but this is a matchup that Kennedy has wanted for sometime.

Promoter Jake Smith says he is working on another title for this bout that would put the winner closer to the top 10 in a governing body's ranking.

Also slated for this card are undefeated Maryland Boxers James "Keep 'Em Sleepin' Stevenson (welterweight, 13-0, 10 KO's) Steve "Show Stealer" Wheeler (cruiserweight, 5-0, four KO's) and Alex Guerrero (cruiserweight, 3-0-1, one KO, older brother of Fernando).

Baltimore heavyweight Jed "The Punisher" Phipps also returns to action coming off a second-round knockout of Maurice Winslow on May 8 at Du Burns. Phipps (18-7, 11 KO's) will take on Chicago, IL's Theron Johnson (3-3) in a six-round encounter. Johnson was last in the ring on March 6 at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA where he lost a six-round split decision to Dwayne McRae .

The card also marks the return of Baltimore junior middleweight Maxell "The General" Taylor. Taylor (13-2-1, five KO's) has not fought since winning a four-round unanimous decision over Oscar Gonzalez in August of 2006. Beltway Boxing fans still talk about his tremendous six-round draw against Derek Ennis on March 9, 2006 at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD. Taylor is the older brother of undefeated welterweight Emmanuel "Tranzformer" Taylor.

Also, Baltimore featherweight Jeremy Miller will make his pro boxing debut after two victorious MMA bouts. Miller will battle Willie Davis of Philadelphia, PA.

And, yes, this means there are two cards on consecutive Fridays at Du Burns. Bang Time Boxing has their show on September 10 followed by this show.