First Annual Arnold McKnight Event Takes Place September 10!

(Photo by Linda "Great Shot" Siadys)

There is yet another amateur boxing event taking place on Saturday, September 10th. This will be the first annual Dr. Arnold W. McKnight Amateur Boxing Invitational which will be held at the Harry Thomas Recreational Center, 1743 Lincoln Road in Northeast Washington.

For those who don't know, Dr. McKnight (pictured above) was the longest tenured chair of the DC Boxing and Wrestling Commission, serving as a commissioner in 1991 and as head of the commission from 1993 until his passing in July of 2007. Dr. McKnight presided over some big boxing cards in DC including the "Triple Jeopardy card at Verizon Center in 1999 and Mike Tyson's last bout -- his loss to Kevin McBride -- in 2005.

Dr. McKnight also was one of the people who was at the start of the campaign to bring mixed martial arts to DC, therefore, there will also be an MMA exhibition and some kickboxing incorporated into this event. The event is free and open to the public and will run from noon until 8 PM. This is in conjunction with a community day event being held at the center.

Nelson to Face 'Monster' Garland in Female Bout September 10!

It is official. Newly-crowned WBC Female Middleweight champion Tori Nelson of Ashburn, VA has been added to the Saturday, September 10 ICE Promotions card at the George Mason University Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA.

Nelson (4-0-1) will take on former National Golden Gloves champion Michelle "The Monster" Garland of Philadelphia, PA (1-1-1) in a four-round non-title bout.

Nelson won the title with a split decision over Lorissa Rivas on July 29 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Nelson's story -- juggling three jobs plus a boxing career -- has inspired many people. One example is featured in this blog called "I Am Modern." The blog is listed as a lifestyle magazine for the modern woman. Writer Shelly McCullers posted this article about Nelson.

"http://www.iammodern.com/tori-nelson-2.html">

Is Youth Boxing Unsafe? Local Papers Examine Debate!

There are two interesting stories that will appear in two of tomorrow's local papers. You may know by now that the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Pediatric Society have come out with a joint statement saying that boxing is unsafe for children and teenagers. The two organizations cite the possibility of concussions, facial damage and other injuries among young people and are trying to get doctors and parents to steer youngsters towards supposedly safer sports like swimming and tennis.

Both the Washington Post and the Washington Times look at this situation and talk to local boxing people who are directly involved in this situation.

The Post's Shemar Woods features the controversy in his profile of 17-year-old DC welterweight Dusty Harrison. The link to that story is here:

"http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/boxing-mma/at-17-dc-fighter-dusty-harrison-may-have-to-wait-for-next-chance/2011/08/18/gIQAQn1KoJ_story.html">

Meanwhile, the Times's story, written by Ben Wolfgang, focuses on the statements themselves and talk to long-time local boxing coach and official Marshall Cunningham. Here is that article:

"http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/29/pediatricians-take-a-swing-at-youth-boxing-as-unsa/">

I would love to hear what the fans think. I may put up a poll question on this later this week.

September Is A Great Month For Amateur Boxing Action!

If you like Beltway amateur action, then September will be your month. A number of Amateur events are taking place early in the month.

The Cease Fire Don't Smoke The Brothers And Sisters event that was slated for August 27th has now been moved to Saturday, September 3. The event, which also features a cookout, will still be at the Upshur Recreation Center on 14th street and Arkansas Avenue in Northwest Washington.

There will be an all-female amateur boxing card at the Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Center in Palmer Park, MD on Friday, September 9. The card begins at 7:30. Yours truly will serve as ring announcer.

(Just as a personal aside, the weekend of September 9 will be a busy one for me. I am honored to say that I have been chosen as the public address announcer for the AT&T Nation's Football Classic at RFK Stadium in DC on Saturday, September 10. The game matches the Howard University Bison and the Morehouse College Maroon Tigers. I will still try to make the Patriot Center card on that night as well.)

Also on September 10, Mike Paschall is promoting an amateur card at the Maryland Sportsplex in Millersville, MD.

Harrison Off Patriot Center Card; Nelson Possibly On!

BATB has learned that 17-year-old DC welterweight Dusty Harrison is now off the Saturday, September 10 ICE Promotions card at the George Mason University Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA.

Sources tell BATB that the Virginia Department of Licensing and Regulations (the agency that oversees boxing in the state) nixed the bout because the age limit in the Commonwealth is 18. There was talk of an exhibition, but that offer was turned down by the Harrison camp.

Meanwhile, there is a possibility that newly-crowned WBC Female Middleweight champ Tori Nelson of Ashburn, VA may be added to the card. No official word on that nor has there been an opponent mentioned for the contest.

DC Star Card Postponed!

Due to Washington, DC Mayor Vincent Gray's declaration of a State of Emergency for the city because of Hurricane Irene, tonight's card at the DC Star has been postponed. No word on a new date.

Weights From DC!

Here is the scale watch for tonight's Diva-Rize-N card at The DC Star Nightclub in Washington:

Henry Buchanan 179 vs. Ariel Espinal 187

Tony Jeter 159 vs. Darrett Crockett 156

Dwayne McRae 246 vs. Kevin Howard 278

Brandon Quarles 154 vs. Andrew Jones 150

Alantez Fox 153 vs. Aaron Williams 157

Jacey Thompson 152 vs. Michael Taylor 143

Angel Concepcion 181 vs. Phillip Hannah 174

John Thompson 158 vs. Lee Snow 165

John Watson 168 vs. Bennie Meeks 175

No bouts featuring Thomas Snow or Cecil McCalla on this card.

We tell you this knowing that DC Mayor Vincent Gray has declared a state of emergency for the city, which could very well force a postponement of this card.

Your Boxing-Hurricane Update!

Here's what we know at this moment about the status of the cards in Winchester and in DC slated for this weekend.

Baltimore boxer Mischa Christensen said through his Facebook page that his bout scheduled for tonight at the Best Western in Winchester is off. His opponent is from Virginia Beach and he apparently was afraid of getting caught in the track of Hurricane Irene. As far as we know, the rest of the card is still on.

Tomorrow's Diva-Rize-N card at DC Star is also STILL ON. Promoter Renee Aiken has told BATB that the DC Boxing and Wrestling Commission is still planning to have the show.

Beltway Boxers Compete on Multi-Combat Card in Winchester!

Four Beltway pro boxers will be participating in a combination boxing, muay thai and mixed martial arts card on Friday, August 26 at the Best Western - Lee Jackson Hotel in Winchester, VA.

Frederick, MD junior middleweight Mischa "The Assassin" Christensen will be on the card in a four-round bout against Jason "The Warrior" Wahr of Virginia Beach, VA. Christensen (3-1, one KO) is coming off a four-round unanimous decision win over Stephen Franklin on April 15 in Millersville, MD. Wahr (1-6-2) has not fought since December of 2010 and will be trying to break a six-bout losing streak.

Making his return to action will be Ashburn, VA junior welterweight Edgar "The Tiger" Torres who hasn't fought since winning his only two bouts in 2007, scoring first-round knockouts in both bouts. Torres will face the debuting Richie Andrews of Staunton, VA.

Also continuing his return will be Falls Church, VA middleweight "Money" Mike Sawyer (4-2, two KO's) who will be trying to bounce back from a second- round knockout loss to Shakee Williamson on March 26 in Ransom, WVA. Sawyer will battle Tony Dewey of Lafayette, IN (0-3) in a four-round contest.

Dusty Harrison Added To September 10 Patriot Center Card!

DC welterweight Dusty Harrison has been added to the Saturday, September 10 ICE Promotions card at the George Mason University Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA. The bout will be the 17-year-old Harrison's first pro bout in the Beltway area.

Harrison (2-0) was originally slated to appear on the Saturday, August 27 card in San Jose, CA but his opponent backed out of the bout and the card was eventually cancelled because of an injury to a boxer in the main event.

Harrison will take on debuting DC welter Josh Rupard in a four-round bout.

August 27th A Big Boxing Day Along The Beltway!

Lot of boxing-themed action will be taking place on Saturday, August 27th. We already know about the Diva-Rize-N Promotions card at the DC Star and that would make a nice night cap for the other events taking place during the day.

One man who is a HUGE supporter of the Beltway Boxing scene is a man by the name of Al-Malik Farrakhan. He has helped promote cards in the area in tandem with Madness Connection, but more importantly, he comes out to every card in DC and shows his support for the boxers. A few years ago, Mr. Farrakhan organized a community event and parade to honor a number of our pro world champions.

Also, Mr. Farrakhan is a community activist -- the founder of Cease Fire: Don't Smoke the Brothers and Sisters, an organization dedicated to increase the peace and stop the violence in our community. Every year, Mr. Farrakhan's organization has a community cookout that features a card of amateur boxing, both are free and open to the public. The event will be held at the Upshur Recreation Center, located on 14th Street and Arkansas Avenue in Northwest DC. The event also calls for a six-month moratorium on the violence in the city. The cookout starts at noon and the boxing begins at 2:30.

Also on the 27th, the Washington, DC Boxing Hall of Fame will be having their annual Crab Feast at the newly-reopened Rosecroft Raceway, 6336 Rosecroft Drive in Fort Washington, MD. Rosecroft will be open for new racing business later this week and live racing is slated to resume this fall. Boxing will be a big part of their events as well, according to my sources.

The crab feast is an all you can eat and drink affair that will begin at one PM and go until four PM. Admission is $40 for adults and kids 12 and under are just $10. For more info, call 301-760-8746 or 301-881-6596.

Recap of Du Burns Card!

Nice night for the locals at Du Burns Arena in Baltimore, MD. In the main event, Baltimore welterweight James "Keep 'Em Sleepin'" Stevenson won a six-round unanimous decision over Jose Angel Roman, now fighting out of Valdosta, GA. Stevenson put some nice combinations together, dropping Roman in the third. When Roman got up, he made a face towards one of the nearby photographers. All three judges (John Gradowski, Don Risher and Paul Wallace) scored the bout 60-53 for Stevenson, who remains undefeated at 15-0, 10 KO's. Roman falls to 11-33-5, five KO's.

In the co-feature, Baltimore super middleweight Maxell "The General" Taylor won by fourth-round disqualification over Rockville, MD's Willis "The Prophet" Lockett Taylor used a series of punches to drop Lockett in the second round. From there, the bottom dropped out for Lockett, who lost two points for holding and eventually disqualified by referee Gary Camponeschi for excessive holding.

Taylor is now 17-3-1, eight KO's while Lockett falls to .500 at 12-12--5, five KO's.

Laurel, MD cruiserweight Venroy "Hard Work" July put together a solid performance winning a six-round unanimous decision over Willie "Blackout" Chisolm of St. Petersburg, FL. July did a nice job of putting his punches together throughout the contest as he pitched a shutout on the judges's scorecards (60-54). July is now 8-0-2, two KO's while Chisolm falls to 6-13, three KO's.

Emanuel "Tranzformer" Taylor was incredibly accurate en route to a third-round knockout over Laurel, MD's Lenwood "Mr. Composure" Dozier. After forcing Dozier into retreat mode for most of the contest, the younger of the Taylor Brothers finished the job in grand style with a devastating two-punch combination that toppled Dozier to the canvas. Dozier could not beat referee Kenny Chevalier's count and the bout was halted at 2:25 of the third.

Taylor remains undefeated at 14-0, 10 KO's. Dozier is 6-3-1, two KO's.

Baltimore cruiserweight "Slick" Nick Kisner kept his unblemished record intact with a four-round unanimous decision over Rayshawn Myers of Cleveland, OH. Kisner was in control for most of the bout and that control forced Myers to try to do a lot of taunting and holding which turned the bout into a messy one to watch. Kisner kept his poise throughout the contest and won the bout 40-36 on two of the scorecards -- the other had it 39-37.

Kisner is also in double figures at 10-0-1, five KO's. Myers falls to 4-10, three KO's.

In the curtain-raising contest, Super middleweight Sherman "Tank" Artis of Baltimore won a four-round majority decision over debuting Lee Snow of Baltimore. Snow managed to land some nice uppercuts in close, but overall, just wasn't active enough to eek the victory out. Artis landed some nice shots from the outside and was just busier than his opponent. Judge Chevalier saw the draw at 38-38 but judges Don Risher and John Gradowski scored the bout for Artis at 40-36 and 39-37 respectively for Artis, who is now 2-0.

United Boxers, in association with Keystone Boxing, promoted the card. The matchmaker was Chris Middendorf.

Here is the Post-Fight Wrap-Up:

James Stevenson wins easy six-round unanimous decision over Jose Roman. Scored one knockdown during the bout! Good night from Baltimore -- post fight coming!

Main event coming up -- James Stevenson rematches with Jose Roman!

Taylor is now 17-3-1, eight KO's. Lockett is now 12-12-5, five KO's.

Maxell Taylor wins by fourth-round disqualification over Willis Lockett. Lockett was penalized twice for holding before the bout was stopped at 1:24.

Co-feature -- Maxell Taylor vs. Willis Lockett in the ring!

July is now 8-0-2, two KO's. Chisolm is now 6-13, three KO's.

Venroy July wins six-round unanimous decision over Willie Chisolm. Shutout victory for July as he put his punches together very well!

By the way, crowd has picked up in numbers tonight! Not a great crowd but decent. Big crowd for July.

Venroy July-Willie Chisolm in the ring now!

Taylor is now 14-0, 10 KO's. UDozier is now 6-3-1, two KO's.

With a brutal left-right combination, Emanuel Taylor knocks out Lenwood Dozier at 2:25 of the third round! Taylor in complete control throughout!

Another all-Maryland bout in the ring -- Emanuel Taylor vs. Lenwood Dozier -- four rounds welterweight!

Kisner remains undefeated at 10-0-1, five KO's. Myers is 4-10, three KO's.

Nick Kisner wins four-round unanimous decision over Rayshawn Myers! Lot of clinches in bout. That led ref John Gradowski to say, "I'm gonna let you guys waltz

Bout 2: Nick Kisner vs. Rayshawn Myers. Four rounds cruiserweight!

Good bout to open the card tonight! Sherman Artis wins a four-round majority decision over the debuting Lee Snow!

We are underway from Du Burns Arena! Two Baltimore boxers -- Sherman Artis vs. Lee Snow -- super middleweights!

We should be getting underway in a few moments!

Good evening from Du Burns Arena in Baltimore! Light crowd on hand for this one. By the way, as someone posted, Lee Snow of Baltimore makes his pro debut here

Weights From Baltimore!

Here is the scale watch for the United Boxers card tonight at Du Burns Arena in Baltimore:

James Stevenson 153 1/2 vs. Jose Roman 159

Maxell Taylor 173 vs. Willis Lockett 188

Venroy July 202 1/2 vs. Wilie Chisholm***weighing in Friday

Emmanuel Taylor 144 1/2 vs. Lenwood Dozier 147

Nick Kisner 195 vs. Rayshawn Myers 193 1/2

Sherman Artis 166 vs. Stephen Franklin, 161 1/2

Baltimore Sun Profiles Boxing Lawyer Venroy July!

The Baltimore Sun has a nice profile on Suitland, MD cruiserweight Venroy "Hard Work" July as he prepares for his bout tonight at Du Burns Arena in Baltimore. Also, writer Robbie Levin talks about July's dual role as corporate lawyer and pro boxer.

Here's the link:

"http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bs-sp-boxer-lawyer-08xx-20110818,0,865759.story">

Mitchell, Harrison Bouts, Entire Card Cancelled in San Jose!

This story comes in two parts over a two-day period. Late yesterday, BATB learned that Dusty Harrison's bout versus undefeated Marcus Robinson on August 27 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA had been cancelled. Reportedly, Robinson (3-0) turned down the contest.

Now comes word that the entire card has been cancelled. Fightnews.com reports that Robert Guerrero, who was scheduled to face Marcos Maidana in the main event for the vacant WBA Junior Welterweight title (now that Amir Khan is a SUPER champion {hoo boy}) suffered a shoulder injury in training. The injury forced the card's cancellation.

The other big loser in this situation is undefeated Brandywine, MD heavyweight Seth "Mayhem" Mitchell, who was slated to make his HBO debut on this card against Mike Mollo in a 10-round contest. No word if the bout will be rescheduled.

'White Lightning' Wilson Faces Former IBF Champ Aiken on Patriot Center Card!

In what is a true definition of a crossroads bout, undefeated Fairfax, VA junior welterweight Todd "White Lightning" Wilson will battle former IBF Featherweight champion Eric "Mighty Mouse" Aiken of DC in a six-round contest on the Saturday, September 10 ICE Promotions card at the George Mason University Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA.

Wilson (10-0, three KO's) will be facing his second straight Beltway Boxing veteran at the Patriot Center. Wilson won by third-round disqualification over Dean White on March 12.

Aiken (16-7-1, 12 KO's) has not stepped into a ring since his seventh-round TKO loss to Monty Meza-Clay in February 2008 in Monroeville, PA. Aiken reached the pinnacle of his division when he won the IBF Featherweight title on May 13, 2006 with an eight-round disqualification victory over Valdemir Pereira in Boston, MA. Aiken lost the title in his first defense when he was stopped by Robert Guerrero on September 2, 2006 in Los Angeles, CA.

Update on August 19 Card at Du Burns!

The matchups are now set for the United Boxers card on Friday, August 19 at Du Burns Arena in Baltimore.

In the main event, undefeated Baltimore welterweight James "Keep 'Em Sleepin'" Stevenson will battle Jose Angel Roman of St. Augustine, FL by way of Bayamon, Puerto Rico in a six-round rematch. Stevenson (14-0, 10 KO's) won a six-round unanimous decision over Roman in their first meeting on April 15 in Millersville, MD. Stevenson has not fought since that bout while Roman (11-32-5, five KO's) lost a six-round unanimous decision to Emmanuel Taylor on July 16 at DC Star in DC.

Speaking of Emmanuel "Tranzformer" Taylor (13-0, nine KO's), the welterweight from Baltimore will face Glen Burnie, MD's Lenwood "Mr. Composure" Dozier in another six-round contest. Dozier (6-2-1, two KO's) has not fought since winning a six-round unanimous decision over Mike Denby on November 6 in Waldorf, MD.

The other half of the fighting Taylor Brothers -- super middleweight Maxell "The General" Taylor -- will also be in an all-Maryland showdown as he faces Takoma Park, MD's Willis "The Prophet" Lockett. This will be the second straight bout for Taylor (16-3-1, seven KO's) against a fellow Beltway Boxer, having knocked out Purcell Miller in the first round on May 21 in Millersville, MD. Lockett (12-11-5, five KO's) has lost four straight, but all to well-known competition -- Tarvis Simms, Aaron Pryor, Jr., Jerson Ravelo and Keith Holmes.

Undefeated Suitland, MD cruiserweight Venroy "Hard Work" July will take on Willie "Blackout" Chisolm of St. Petersburg, FL in a six-round contest. July (7-0-2, two KO's) is coming off a six-round unanimous decision over Rayshawn Myers on July 16 in DC. Chisolm (6-12, three KO's) lost a six-round unanimous decision to Joell Godfrey on May 14 in Atlanta, GA. Chisolm last fought in the Beltway region on April 15 and lost a six-round unanimous decision to Russ Shiflett in Millersville.

Myers (4-9, three KO's), a native of Cleveland, OH, will return to the area as the opponent for undefeated Baltimore cruiserweight "Slick" Nick Kisner in another six-round contest. Kisner (9-0-1, five KO's) won a six-round unanimous decision over DeLeon Tinsley on May 21 in Millersville.

Also on the card will be a four-round contest between Sherman Artis of Severn, MD (1-0) and Stephen Franklin of Martinsburg, WVA (0-6).

Lange Bout Has WBU Title On Line!

Jimmy Lange's Saturday, September 10th bout at the George Mason University Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA will now be for the vacant WBU (World Boxing Union) Junior Middleweight title.

The opponent for Lange (36-4-2, 24 KO's) in this 10-round main event bout will be Raul "El Toro" Munoz of Topeka, KS. (22-14-1, 16 KO's). Munoz has fought a number of world-class opponents including Alfonso Gomez, Yory Boy Campas, Dmitry Salita, Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., Sam Soliman and Hector Camacho, Sr.

A number of notable boxers have worn WBU belts including Hasim Rahman, George Foreman, Micky Ward, James Toney and Ricky Hatton. The WBU, after originating in England, is now based in Atlanta, GA.

'Boxing Diva' Aiken Makes Promotional Debut August 27 at DC Star!

Over the past few months, Renee Aiken has made her mark as one of the few successful female matchmakers in the sport. Now, "The Boxing Diva" will make her entry into the promotional ranks as her "Diva Rizen" Promotions will have its initial card on Saturday, August 27 at DC Star Nightclub.

Capitol Heights, MD super bantamweight Thomas "KO" Snow will be in the main event facing off against Colombian veteran Ever Luis Perez in a six-round contest. Snow (15-1, nine KO's) has won five straight since his 2008 loss to Teon Kennedy. Snow is coming off a six-round unanimous decision over Robert DaLuz on July 16 at DC Star. Perez (12-20, nine KO's) has lost two straight and three of his last four. Perez has been stopped in 17 of his 20 losses.

The main event will be one of five scheduled six-round matchups on the card. The co-feature has another Capitol Heights boxer -- super middleweight Henry "Sugar Poo" Buchanan -- taking on Brooklyn, NY vet Ariel "Iron" Espinal. Buchanan (20-2, 13 KO's) has not fought since stopping Bobby Jordan on August 14, 2010 in the ninth round in Norfolk, VA. With this bout, Espinal (8-19-3, four KO's) will be facing a Beltway Boxer for the sixth time in his last seven bouts and the 11th time in his career. Espinal is 1-9 against Beltway Boxer competition as he has faced Russ Shiflett, Dale Robeson-El, Maxell Taylor, Mike Paschall, Steve Wheeler, Scott Sigmon, Julius Kennedy, Alexander Johnson, Larry Brothers and Ishmail Arvin.

Laurel, MD heavyweight "The Big Ticket" Dwayne McRae returns to action on this card against Montgomery, AL heavyweight Kevin Howard. McRae (10-2, six KO's) is coming off a fifth-round stoppage of James Porter at DC Star on April 23. Howard (2-4-1) has not fought since winning a four-round split decision over Abodurin Akinyanju on November 6 in Waldorf, MD.

Undefeated Baltimore junior middleweight Cecil McCalla is also slated to be on this card as he faces "The Bean City Boy" Brian Paul of Lima, OH in a six-rounder. McCalla (13-0, five KO's) scored a third-round TKO over Joey Ortega on May 21 in Wilson, NC. Paul (5-20, three KO's) has lost his last three to name competition -- Billy Lyell, Jeremiah Wiggins and Deandre Latimore.

Also, Columbia, MD middleweight Tony "Mo Better" Jeter will fight a six-round rematch against Darrett Crockett of Rock Hill, SC. Jeter (11-2-1, nine KO's) stopped Crockett in the second round in November of 2008 in Millersville, MD. Crockett (6-24, four KO's) will be trying to break a four-bout losing streak. Should Jeter win this bout, he is scheduled to battle Baltimore's Jessie Nicklow in a highly-anticipated bout in November.

Three local undefeated prospects are slated to be in four-round bouts on this card. Forestville, MD welterweight Alantez "Tez" Fox (5-0, three KO's) will battle Aaron Williams of Ocean Springs, MS (0-1). The 19-year-old Fox put on a strong showing last time at DC Star on July 16, winning a four-round unanimous decision over veteran Mike Denby.

Alexandria, VA middleweight Brandon Quarles (6-0, two KO's) will face Andrew "Drama" Jones of Buffalo, NY (0-8-1). Quarles won a four-round split decision over Corey Preston on July 9 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Also on the card will be DC middleweight Jacey Thompson who won his pro debut at DC Star on July 16 with a first-round TKO over Tevin Parker. Thompson is still looking for an opponent. Four other bouts are scheduled for this card.

Harrison Leaves Prize Fight; Lands Spot On August 27 Card In San Jose, CA!

After only two bouts with the company, DC welterweight Dusty Harrison will be leaving the Memphis-based promotional company, Prize Fight. No official word has been given for Harrison's decision to leave but sources tell BATB that Prize Fight may be moving in a new direction, transitioning out of boxing into mixed martial arts.

The move has provided an interesting opportunity for the undefeated 17-year-old (2-0)because he has been added to the Robert Guerrero-Marcos Maidana undercard on Saturday, August 27 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA. Ironically, that is the same card that undefeated Brandywine, MD heavyweight Seth "Mayhem" Mitchell will be on when he makes his HBO debut against Mike Mollo.

Patriot Center Hosts Boxing September 10!

Pro boxing returns to the George Mason University Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA on Saturday, September 10. Great Falls, VA junior middleweight Jimmy Lange (36-4-2, 24 KO's) will headline his 13th Patriot Center card against an opponent to be determined. This will be another ICE Promotions card promoted by Jackie Kallen.

The co-feature is set for this card. This will be an eight-round contest between junior middleweights George "Wartime" Rivera of Charlottsville, VA and Jonathan "Reid Dawg" Reid of Nashville, TN. Both boxers fought on the last Patriot Center card on March 12. Rivera (12-6, four KO's) won a six-round unanimous decision over Shakir Ashanti while Reid (35-12, 19 KO's) won a six-round unanimous decision over Mike McFail.

Other bouts slated for the card include undefeated Fairfax, VA welterweight Todd "White Lightning" Wilson who will face Raymond Betancourt of West Palm Beach, FL in a six-round contest. Wilson (10-0, three KO's) makes his fourth straight appearance at the Patriot Center. In his last outing, Wilson won by third-round disqualification over Dean White. Betancourt (8-6, three KO's) once held the Florida State Junior Welterweight title, but has lost his last two bouts.

In what should be a very interesting six-round bout, undefeated Chantilly, VA junior middleweight Zain "Tiger" Shah will take on "Vicious" Julius Kennedy of Baltimore. In his last outing, Shah (5-0, three KO's) scored a second-round TKO over Tevin Parker at DC Star on April 23. This will be Shah's second time facing a tough Baltimore boxer. In his last appearance at the Patriot Center on November 6, Shah won a tough six-round unanimous decision over Omar Sims. Kennedy (7-2-1, three KO's) has not fought since losing a 10-round unanimous decision to Scott Sigmon on December 11 at the Pikesville Armory in Pikesville, MD in one of the best Beltway bouts of 2010.

Speaking of Scott "Cujo" Sigmon, the super middleweight from Bedford, VA will make his second appearance at the Patriot Center when he takes on veteran Bruce "The Rage" Rumbolz of Sterling, IL in a scheduled eight-round contest. Sigmon (16-3, eight KO's) will try to bounce back from his 10-round unanimous decision loss to Chris Fitzpatrick on July 16 in Greensboro, NC. Rumbolz (22-22-2, 15 KO's) will be looking to stop a four-bout losing streak.

Reston, VA junior middleweight Lawrence Jones will also be looking to get back on the winning side when he faces Jose Felix of Richmond Hill, GA in a six-round bout. Jones (3-5-1, two KO's) has lost his last three including a four-round split decision to Todd Eriksson on March 4 in Atlantic City. Felix (10-9-2, three KO's) has lost his last seven bouts, all by knockout.

Also on the card will be New Castle, DE junior welterweight and former number one contender Michael "No Joke" Stewart. Stewart, a cast member on the second season of "The Contender" (47-6-3, 24 KO's) will be in a six round bout against an opponent to be determined. Stewart once challenged Sharmba Mitchell for the interim IBF Junior Welterweight title in 2004, losing a 12-round unanimous decision in Manchester, England.

Boxing Returns to Du Burns August 19!

The United Boxers promotional group will have a card on Friday, August 19 at Du Burns Arena in Baltimore.

A number of top Baltimore prospects are slated to be on the card including undefeated welterweight James "Keep 'Em Sleepin' Stevenson (14-0, 10 KO's) who returned to action on April 15 and won a six-round unanimous decision over Jose Roman at the Maryland Sportsplex in Millersville.

Also, the battling Taylor Brothers -- Emmanuel and Maxell return to action on this card. Undefeated welterweight Emmanuel "Tranzformer" (13-0, nine KO's) also defeated the same Jose Roman in his last outing on July 16 at the DC Star in DC via six-round unanimous decision. Older brother Maxell "The General"(16-3-1, seven KO's) returned to his winning ways with a first-round knockout of Purcell Miller on May 21 at the Maryland Sportsplex.

Undefeated Baltimore heavyweight "Slick" Nick Kisner will be on the card. Kisner (9-0-1, five KO's) is coming off a six-round unanimous decision over DeLeon Tinsley on the May 21 Maryland Sportsplex card.

Also undefeated cruiserweight Venroy "Hard Work" July of Suitland, MD by way of St. Catherine, Jamaica will be in action. July (7-0-2, two KO's)won a six-round unanimous decision over Rayshawn Myers on the July 16 DC Star card.

So Where Have I Been?

Let me apologize for not posting as frequently as normal this past week. It was not my intention. I went on a little vacation, but I did plan to continue posting, especially with a lot taking place this past weekend. However, a virus creeped up on the computer that was available to me and shut me down. Although, I could have done posts with my phone, I just didn't think that was enough.

I do want to discuss a little bit about one of the reasons I was away. Many of you who know me know that I am an old-school pro wrestling fan. I go back to the days of Bruno Sammartino's second WWWF (World Wide Wrestling Federation) title reign, the birth of Hulkamania and the creation of the Four Horsemen. I go back to the days of the territories around the country that created great wrestling for the fans.

I got a chance to relive some of those glory days by attending the 2011 NWA Wrestling Legends Fanfest at the Airport Marriott Hotel in Atlanta, GA. There were about 60 legendary pro wrestlers, many of whom made their name in the southern territories. However, many of them made their way into the WWE.

I've decided to chronicle this event by creating a new blog entitled Digital's Journey Through A Pro Wrestling Legacy. You will see pictures I took at the event and hear some brief audio interviews I conducted with some of the wrestling greats there.

Also, I plan to put some of the footage of these great ones and show why they are truly legends. I won't be updating this blog as frequently as BATB, but it was an event that I will never forget and I just wanted to share. Hopefully in the next two days, I will begin to post on the second blog, but here is the link:

"http://digitalsprowrestlinglegacy.blogspot.com/">"http://digitalsprowrestlinglegacy.blogspot.com/">

We will play catchup here on Wednesday! Lot's of info to get to!! Thanks again!

Tim Coleman suffers seventh round knockout against Vernon Paris in Santa Ynez, CA. Coleman scored a knockdown in round two but Paris drops Coleman twice later.

My apologies for the lack of results from Mobile! I am experiencing computer issues and haven't been able to post like normal. I am also away from BATB office

Rough Time Continues For Locals at US Olympic Trials; Junior Olympics Get Underway!

Four more Beltway amateurs were eliminated from competition on Tuesday at the Men's US Olympic Trials in Mobile, AL. All four lost by very close margins in the Challenger's bracket.

In the 108-pound class, Greg Outlaw lost a 15-11 decision to David Carlton of Cincinnati, OH.

The toughest loss was suffered by 2011 National Golden Gloves champion Michael Reed, who fell to George Rincon of Carrollton, TX via punch-count stats 23-23 (110-108) in the 141-pound class.

D'Mitrius Ballard is also out of the competition, losing in the 165-pound division to Edgar Alvarado of San Bernadino, CA, 26-24.

And the surprising ride of Shaborn Ryals is over as well as Ryals fell in the 178-pound class to Jeffrey Spencer of Fort Carson, CO, 12-11.

This leaves just Antoine Douglas (165)and Jerry Odom (178) remaining in the competition. Both are still in the Winner's Bracket.

Meanwhile, competition for locals got underway in the US Junior Olympics, also being held in Mobile. Four Beltway amateurs won their opening round matches.

At 114 Pounds, Gary Antuanne Russell of Capitol Heights, MD won a 24-11 decision over Marco Ojeda of Fort Walton Beach, FL.

119-pounder Joshua McKoy of Laurel, MD defeated E'Kearn Perro of Carenco, LA, 16-8.

Gervonta Davis of Baltimore won his first bout in the 125-pound class, defeating Jason Sanchez of Albuquerque, NM, 15-10.

And 176-pounder Daquan Johnson of Capitol Heights moved into the second round with a 23-21 decision over DeMarkus Manter of Akron, OH.

Douglas Advances, Russell Is Eliminated at US Olympic Trials!

A rough Day 2 for Beltway amateurs at the Men's US Olympic Trials in Mobile, AL. Only one local advanced to the next round in the Winner's bracket and one Beltway Boxer has already been eliminated from competition.

Antoine Douglas scored a nice victory in the 165-pound bracket, defeating 2008 Olympian Luis Arias of Milwaukee, WI, 27-12.

However, Gary Allen Russell's bid to follow his brother onto an Olympic team has ended without him getting into the ring. For the second straight day, Russell was disqualified because he couldn't make the 141-pound limit.

The other Beltway hopeful at 141 -- Michael Reed -- will also have to battle from the Challenger's bracket. Reed lost his second-round bout to Jamal Herring of Camp Lejeune, NC, 19-18.

In the 165-pound bracket, D'Mitrius Ballard lost a 20-8 decision to Jesse Hart of Philadelphia, PA.

Up at 108, Greg Outlaw lost a 21-12 decision to another 2008 Olympian, Louie Byrd of Denver, CO.

Both local 178-pounders are still in the competition. Jerry Odom scored a big victory in the Winner's bracket, defeating Siji Shabazz of Las Cruces, NM by a 32-19 decision. Shaborn Ryals won his first bout in the Challenger's bracket, defeating Robert Brant of Oakdale, MN, 20-10.

Five Locals Advance To US Trials Second Round!

During the first round of competition at the Men's US Olympic Trials in Mobile, AL, five Beltway Boxers have moved into the second round of the winner's bracket.

In the evening session, Jerry Odom of Bowie, MD won a 31-20 decision over Shaborn Ryals of Capitol Heights, MD in the 178-pound bracket. Ryals will now compete in the Challenger's bracket.

Four more locals advanced past the first round during the afternoon session. Greg Outlaw of Glenarden, MD won a close 17-16 decision over Santos Vasquez of Sun Valley, NV in the 108-pound division. Michael Reed of Waldorf, MD defeated Duran Caferro of Helena, MT 26-16 in the 141-pound bracket.

Both local 165-pounders won their opening bouts. D'Mitrius Ballard of Temple Hills, MD edged Martez Jackson of Valdosta, GA 20-19 while Burke, VA's Antoine Douglas won a 26-14 decision over Damarius Russell of Minneapolis, MN.

Gary Allen Russell of Capitol Heights was disqualified before his bout with Pedro Sosa of the Bronx, NY when he failed to make the 141-pound weight. Russell will now try to take the same path his brother, Gary, Jr. did in 2008-- come through the challengers bracket to earn a spot on the US squad.