Beltway Boxing 2012 -- Prospect Of The Year!

Now comes the Prospect of the Year!

The 2012 Prospect of the Year has done a lot of traveling since his debut just two years ago.  However, he has made a steady progression in his bouts that may put him into position to make a bigger move in 2013.

The 2012 Beltway Boxing Prospect of the Year is:

Thomas “Top Dog” Williams, Jr. (11-0, eight KO’s), light heavyweight, Fort Washington, MD

The 25-year-old son of the former heavyweight contender fought five times in 2012 and scored knockouts in his last four contests.  Three of his performances were in Texas, Alabama and California.  Williams’s last two bouts raised positive eyebrows, especially his first-round knockout of Harley Kilfian on August 4 in Mobile, AL.

However, Williams’s tough fifth-round knockout of Mexican Ricardo Campillo on December 8 in Anaheim, CA opened some doors for him. The win was against a guy with a winning record on the west coast.  This was a good, gritty performance that has led to Williams’s first scheduled eight-rounder coming up on January 12 in Sunrise, FL.  This was a very solid year for Williams and has made him deserving of this selection.

Honorable Mention:

Dusty Harrison (11-0, seven KO’s), welterweight, Washington, DC

The 2011 Beltway Boxing Rookie of the Year was very busy in 2012, appearing in eight contests, seven in his hometown.  The 18-year-old Harrison moved up to a scheduled eight-round contest in just his second year of pro competition.  The fan favorite also faced some adversity as he was knocked down for the first time ever as a boxer (amateur or pro) in his August 25 bout against Marques Jackson but held on to win the contest.

Harrison has made it known that he wants to step up his level of competition in 2013.  Harrison’s new connection with noted attorney Jeff Fried could make things very interesting in the coming months.

Brandon Quarles (9-0-1, two KO’s), middleweight, Alexandria, VA

Quarles fought solid competition in three bouts in 2012.  His six-round unanimous decision win over Omar Sims on February 25 in Millersville, MD set the tone for what would be an interesting year.  Two months later, Quarles would win another six-round unanimous decision over veteran Ike Ezeji in Wilson, NC.

However, Quarles may have received more notoriety from his six-round draw against another tough veteran in John Mackey.  The October 27 bout at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA ended up being a show-stealer on the most-talked about card of the year. Quarles learned a lot during that bout and, despite not getting the win, received a solid matchup on January 11 against fellow undefeated boxer Daquan Arnett in Indio, CA.

Venroy “Hardwork” July (13-0-2, six KO’s), cruiserweight, Suitland, MD

July was the co-winner of this award in 2011 and made almost as strong a case to win it again this year as he fought against mostly veterans in his four bouts in 2012.  After stopping Zeferino Albino in the second round on February 25 at Club One Fitness in Millersville, MD, July won his first eight-round contest by unanimous decision over 13-2 Justin Howes on June 16 at DuBurns Arena in Baltimore.

July then scored back-to-back knockouts on two cards in Winchester, VA against Cullen Jones and former US Olympian Dante Craig. The coming year could be very interesting for July.  Some fans are clamoring for a bout with fellow undefeated Beltway cruiser Nick Kisner.  That would be something to see.

Terron "Kid" Grant (5-0, three KO's), lightweight, White Plains, MD

Grant has benefited by being in the same camp as Seth Mitchell because of the exposure he has received. However, Grant does have talent and resilience.  Grant's three bouts in 2012 showed some solid growth as well as the ability to come back from adversity.  After his first-round knockout of Devirous Sanders on August 4 in DC, Grant got up off the canvas in the first round against Stephan Alexander to win a four-round split decision on October 6 in Alexandria, VA.

Grant also fought on the Mitchell-Johnathon Banks card in Atlantic City and stopped 4-2 Abraham Esquivel in the first round on November 17.  The future looks very bright for this lightweight.

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

2011:  Maurice Byarm and Venroy July

Tomorrow:  The Knockout Of The Year!