Sunday, January 01, 2012

Beltway Boxing 2011 -- Prospect of The Year!

The BATB Prospect of the Year for 2011 is the toughest choice to make. The 2010 Prospects of the Year -- Gary Russell, Jr. and Seth Mitchell have elevated themselves to contender status as both are ranked by the major governing bodies.

So who leads our next wave? In 2011, two guys stood out from the rest of the pack and, as in 2010, neither one distinguished himself from the other. The difference from the previous year is that both men did this under the radar, but there could be some big things in store for both of them in 2012.

The BATB Prospects of the Year for 2011 are:


Maurice Byarm (13-0-1, nine KO's), heavyweight, Washington, DC and Venroy July (9-0-2, three KO's), cruiserweight, Suitland, MD

While all the up-and-coming heavyweight press was deservedly going to fellow Beltway Boxer Seth Mitchell, Byarm was quietly going about the country doing his job. The year started off with Byarm stopping Willie Palms in the fifth round in DC on April 23. Byarm then signed with Greg Cohen Promotions of New York. Byarm's first bout under the Cohen banner was a dubious one as he fought to a six-round draw with Homero Fonseca on August 17 in Austin, TX. However, Byarm bounced back with two wins away from home winning a six-round unanimous decision over Rodricka Ray in Tunica, MS on July 30 and a first-round knockout over Clinton Boldridge on October 15 in Grand Island, NB. By the end of 2012, there could be two Beltway heavyweights looking to do great things.

July also had things moving in the right direction in 2011 winning four of his five bouts. July suffered a draw in a six-rounder against Paul Jennette on April 23 in Winston-Salem, NC. In July's four victories, he didn't lose a round. July won three decisions against Joe Broken Rope (January 28), Rayshawn Myers (July 16) and Willie Chisolm (August 19) and ended his year with a first-round knockout of Jason Pauley on November 19. The fact that July lives a dual life as a lawyer and a boxer and still have quality performances is amazing enough. It will also be fun to see his progression.

Honorable Mention:

Todd Wilson (11-0, three KO's), junior welterweight, Fairfax, VA

Wilson only fought twice in 2011, but his victories were notable because they came against true veterans. Wilson won by third-round disqualification over Dean White and then opened many people's eyes with his six-round unanimous decision over former world champion Eric Aiken. Wilson has one of the rising fan bases in the area and if he steps up his competition in 2012, could have a big year.

Alexander Johnson (12-1, five KO's), light heavyweight, Washington, DC

Despite his nationally-televised loss against Luis Garcia, the path Johnson forged to get to that point is what puts him on this list. Johnson won twice in 2011 including his big 10-round majority win over previously undefeated Farah Ennis on April 2 in New Jersey. If the loss to Garcia was a result in part of something wrong with Johnson's stomach, then expect him to bounce back strong in 2012.

Scott Sigmon, (19-3, 10 KO's), super middleweight, Bedford, VA

Sigmon was the busiest fighter in the Beltway region in 2011, fighting seven times in a seven-month period and notching six wins. Sigmon's lone setback was a 10-round majority decision against undefeated Chris Fitzpatrick. Sigmon scored two knockouts over faded contender Tiwon Taylor. With the exception of his win over John Terry, all of Sigmon's wins came against .500 or above veteran competition.

Previous BATB Prospects of the Year:

2006: Tyrell Samuel
2007: Tim Coleman
2008: Bayan Jargal
2009: Mark Tucker
2010: Gary Russell, Jr. and Seth Mitchell


Next: Knockout of the Year

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gary knockout of the year has to be Kevin Womack

Anonymous said...

Knock out the year was Big Bo!

Anonymous said...

If wilson wants a big year....start fighting the best competition around home before you venture off to lose terribly with leo's training! I wonder who's eyes were opened by wilson beating a known drunk.? Half of the 4 round fighters in the dmv would beat aiken as of now. Keep beating washed up drunks and cross dressing street walkers!

Anonymous said...

Gary we know that you are generous when it comes to talking up someone that you are trying to help promote (Wilson for the Patriot Center shows) but the win over Dean White was a discrace to the local boxing community and the Virginia Commission.Everyone knows that White fights the way he fights and the blows were not low enough to be called low blows.
Although Wilson was doing a good job because White starts slow the fight was about to take a dramatic change when they disqualified White,and I think that the officials knew this.Anybody in this area would be a fool to fight Wilson at the Patriot Center. They would be fighting more opponets than just Wilson.Gary all n all you have a great and entertaining site but every year at this time you create some ego mainiacs.My real complaint isn't Wilson just that Dean White got royally fucked.

Anonymous said...

Who want too fight Alexander Dagreat Johnson 168 too 175 lbs

Anonymous said...

Russell ain't got no power and a suspect chin. Not good for moving up.

Joe Hensley, Minor League Boxing said...

Scott Sigmon should have been the Prospect of the Year. We are working on some interesting things in 2012. Scott has been criticized in the past on his punching fundamentals. We have been working with the very best to improve Scott's mechanics. No more push/slap punching this year. Breakthrough year for Scott for sure.

Anonymous said...

U said 168-175? Anybody would take a fight with al agrees Fridays performance. So don't everybody jump at once!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Meant after.....

Anonymous said...

Gary I am glad Maurice Byarm received prospect of the year. Maurice deserves it. I hope 2012 is a great year for the freight train.

Anonymous said...

You again, Hensley, shamelessly self-promoting. Don't think I saw a card by you in 2011. Hope for the same in 2012. Stop trying to stay on the scene because you never were on it right.

Anonymous said...

Zain Shah doesnt even get an honorable mention?

Anonymous said...

Congrats

Gary Digital Williams said...

That couldn't be further from the truth. Zain Shah only fought twice this year and one of the wins, already controversial anyway, is possibly being changed to a no-contest by the Virginia commission.

The other win was against an 0-1 fighter. Shah is a good fighter, but he didn't do enough to win Prospect of the Year. Nothing against Middle Easteners.

Anonymous said...

Even if that does get changed to a nc Shah was destroying Kennedy. If he pulls out this win on feb11 that will turn some heads. And whoever put up the comment about this site and middle easterners was tacky.

Anonymous said...

"Fairfax, Va. (January 4, 2012) –Jimmy Lange Boxing officials announced today that highly-rated junior middleweight contender “Lightning” Harry Joe Yorgey (23-1-1, 11 KOs) of Bridgeport, Pa., will square off with undefeated local power puncher Zain “Tiger” Shah (5-0, 3 KOs) of Chantilly, Va., in a six-round contest on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at the Patriot Center."

Anonymous said...

Gr8 job Venroy & 'Freight Train'. -(right hook city)