Beltway Boxing 2012 -- Boxer of the Year!

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 10^th 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.