And now, the big award -- The Beltway Boxing Boxer of the Year for 2012!
In a year where few pro Beltway Boxers had solid years, the selection for
the 2012 Beltway Boxer of the Year was an easy one. However, the year this man had would have
made him a clear choice in any year unless the boxer in front of him had won a
world championship in the same year.
The boxer chosen this year is one of the most popular – and controversial –
Beltway Boxers to compete in a long time and in 2012, he made one of the
biggest and quickest jumps from prospect to contender ever seen in the BATB
era. As in 2011 with Lamont Peterson,
there is no doubt whom the Beltway Boxer of the Year is for 2012.
The 2012 Beltway Boxer of the Year is:
Tony “Mo Better” Jeter, (15-3-1, 10 KO’s), Middleweight, Stevensville, MD
The year did not start well for Jeter as he was still licking his wounds
from his fifth-round TKO loss to Jose Felix in November of 2011. Jeter’s first priority was to avenge the
loss, which he did on his first self-promoted (Jeter Promotions) card of the
year on February 25 at Club One Fitness in Millersville, MD. Jeter won an eight-round unanimous decision
over Felix and captured the UBO (Universal Boxing Organization) All-Americas
title.
Yes, the title was a minor one, but it did prove to be a stepping stone to
better things. On September 22 in
another self promotion at Club One, Jeter didn’t make it easy on himself by
choosing a quality opponent in Tyrel Brown who was 7-2 at the time of the
bout. With the vacant WBC Fecarbox title
and a top 30 rating in the WBC on the line, Jeter turned a very competitive
bout into a fifth-round TKO victory with a series of right hands.
However, it was Jeter’s performance – and victory – over Jimmy Lange on October
27 that opened the most eyes around the boxing world. Jeter walked into “The House Jimmy Lange
Built” – The Patriot Center and took it right to Lange in his own
backyard. Despite coming perilously
close to being disqualified with four points deducted for low blows, Jeter won
a 10-round split decision over the more highly-regarded Lange.
Jeter finished 2012 with two regional titles, a number 29 rating by the WBC
and a top 15 ranking in both the USBA and NABA.
This is a quality year in anybody’s book.
Honorable Mention:
DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley (39-20-1, 23 KO’s), Junior Welterweight, Washington, DC
The former WBO Junior Welterweight champion had a solid 2012 with two solid
upset wins. Corley’s 10-round unanimous
decision on January 21 in New York
City over previously undefeated Gabriel Bracero for
the NABF title opened a lot of eyes.
However, when Corley traveled to Belfast,
Northern Ireland
and stopped hometown hero Paul McCloskey in the 10th round on May 5,
we were looking at one of the best ring comebacks in recent memory.
Corley’s only loss was in the Ukraine against a taller, undefeated Viktor
Postol on October 27, but new life has been sprung in his career, so much so
that Corley plans to compete as a lightweight and says he can win a title in
2013.
“Mr.” Gary Russell, Jr. (21-0, 13 KO’s), Featherweight, Capitol Heights, MD
Russell’s two bouts in 2012 ended in crushing third-round knockouts against
Christopher Ruiz and Roberto Castaneda, both men who had 20 wins each but had
fought mostly in Mexico and hardly been tested in the United States. Russell’s knockout of Castaneda was one of
the best of the year.
This could be the year that Russell does what everyone seems to be asking
him to do – step up in competition.
Russell has a 10-round contest slated for March 2 in New York City. We have to wait and see what happens in that
instance as the opponent has not been selected.
Previous BATB Beltway Boxers of the Year:
2006: Eric Aiken
2007: Darnell Wilson
2008: Lamont Peterson/Joshua Snyder
2009: Fernando Guerrero
2010: Tim Coleman
2011: Lamont Peterson
That concludes the awards. We will have a special recognition commentary
this weekend.
Friday, January 04, 2013
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2 comments:
Now go ahead a say one of those BUM MF off a keystone card is BOXER of the year LMAO
You earned it Jeter! I look forward to your future success.
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