Rivers, Nicholson Performances Highlight Week Two of Washington Golden Gloves!

Two of the Beltway's -- and the nation's -- best amateurs were featured tonight in the second week of action at the Washington Golden Gloves at the Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Center in Palmer Park, MD.

Kevin Rivers, Jr. and D'Mitrius Ballard of the No XCuse Gym both put on strong performances to win their bouts. In the Open Division at 132 pounds, Rivers, who is headed to the USA National Championships in June, scored a RSC-2 against Joshua Davis of Headbangers. Ballard, who has already qualified for the Olympic Trials, also won by RSC-2 against Malik Shelton of Round One in the 165-pound Open Division.

Four more championships were decided in the ring in the Junior Division. In the 10-11 age group at 60 pounds, Kali Edwards of Kenilworth defeated Kevon Cooke of Old School by RSC-1. Donte Baytop of UMAR of Baltimore defeated Dejon Corley of Kenilworth to capture the 10-year-old, 65-pound division title.

At 13-14, 90 pounds, Corey Moore of the Main Street Gym decisioned Traquan Whitley of Tony's Gym to win that championship. Also, in the female 15-16, 150 pound division, Kiera Bell of Tony's Athletic Club scored a RSC-2 over Gilkaswaldrina White of Old School.

There are a number of walkover champions for this week:

8, 55 Pounds: Deric Davis (Old School)
9, 70 Pounds: Donovan Plummer (Dream Team)
10-11, 70 Pounds: Juan Jenkins (Upton)
12, 90 Pounds: Mansabory Conde (Club One)
10, 95 Pounds: Lorenzo Simpson (Upton)
15, 95 Pounds: Tyjuan Wells (Hillcrest)
14, 100 Pounds: Martez Small (Enigma)
13-14, 119 Pounds: Manuel Rodriguez (Round One)
15-16, 165 Pounds: Malik Lewis (Mack Lewis)
13, 170 Pounds: William Cook (Old School)
15, 201 Pounds: Kamanta Heade (Keystone)
16, 178 Pounds: Devar Ferhadi (Frederick Fight Club)


In other Junior Division bout results:

12, 95 Pounds: Deonte Washington (Diamonds N tha Ruff) defeated Titus Murphy (Main Street)

15-16, 119 Pounds: Malik Jackson (Limelite) decisioned Carlton Gray (Dream Team)

15-16, 119 Pounds: Jalonte Cole (No Xcuse) over Joshua McKoy (Upton)

14-15, 125 Pounds: Lamont Roach (No Xcuse) over Devante Tolbert (Tony's Gym)

14-15, 125 Pounds: Phillip Poopolo, III (Loch Raven) RSC-2 over Delray Brown (Old School)


In the Novice Division:

141 Pounds: Drayvontay Rawls (No Xcuse) over Kenneth Britman (Dunlap Boxing)

141 Pounds: Tenkoran Ayeman (Old School) over Cornell Hines (Sugar Ray Leonard)

141 Pounds: Travis Roberts (Ground Control) over Jacob Okiya (Old School)

152 Pounds: Devin Wallace (Hillcrest) RSC-2 over Donnell Wahl (Sugar Ray Leonard)

165 Pounds: Steven Bucci (Ground Control) over Christopher Watson (Diamonds N Da Ruff)

178 Pounds: Edward Lay (Sugar Ray Leonard) over Ryan Watson (Main Street Gym)

A number of current and former pros were in attendance tonight including DC Boxing Hall of Famers Roger Leonard, Jermaine Fields, Isra Girgrah Wynn and Darryll Tyson as well as James Baker, DeMarcus Corley (Dejon's father), Tony Jeter, Fernando Guerrero and Dominic Wade.

Action resumes on Saturday, March 5 at 7:30 PM at the Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Center. The crowds the last two weeks have been tremendous -- standing room only. You need to get your ticket and get there early.