Beltway Boxing 2013 -- Bout Of The Year!

Now we come to the Beltway Boxing Bout Of The Year for 2013!

The 2013 Bout of the Year was one of the toughest decisions of the BATB era.  This choice came down to two bouts in what was again, a great year.  However, the eventual choice was the bout that featured a boxer in his first true test as a pro, facing adversity, and then overcoming that adversity in explosive fashion.

The Beltway Boxing Bout Of The Year for 2013 is:

Mike Reed KO6 over Rameses Gil, September 7 Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD

The undefeated Reed met the six-round level for the first time and in doing so, faced a true veteran in Gil of the Dominican Republic.  Reed was able to score a knockdown with his right hand in the second round and one with his left in the fifth.  However, Gil showed his toughness between the two knockdowns and caught Reed at times.

The sixth round was Reed faced some adversity.  Gil caught Reed with a right hand.  Not a hard shot but enough to drop Reed’s gloves to the canvas.  Instead of trying to avoid Gil the rest of the round, Reed came right back and, moments later, caught Gil with a crushing right hand and knocked Gil out.  This was an exceptional knockout to end what was an exceptional bout.

Honorable Mention (listed in chronological order):

Lamont Peterson KO 8 over Kendall Holt, February 22, DC Armory, Washington, DC

The most important title bout the Beltway hosted in 2013 turned out to be a solid main event.  In defending his IBF Junior Welterweight title in front of his home fans, Peterson had difficulties early as he got off to a slow start in the first three rounds.  However, Peterson righted the ship in the fourth as Holt came inside -- right into a right-left-right combination from Peterson that dropped the former WBO champion.  Peterson would go on to knock down Holt in the sixth and finally in the eighth to finish him off at 1:42.

Phil Jackson Benson TKO 7 over Maxell Taylor, May 11, Club One Fitness, Millersville, MD

This was the bout that came very close to receiving top honors in this category -- a great bout between a rising prospect and an older but still dangerous veteran for a vacant WBC Fecarbox Super Middleweight title. Benson gained an advantage early with solid body shots which would lead to big head shots that forced Taylor against the ropes.  However, Taylor wouldn’t quit as the bout wore on, even having a solid sixth round.  However, that would prove to be Taylor’s last hurrah because Benson took the bout to a greater level and put on enough pressure to have the fight stopped.

Dusty Hernandez Harrison TKO 5 over Eddie Soto, May 18, UDC Sports Complex, Washington, DC

After competing against a host of under-.500 boxers, this bout was supposed to be a measuring stick for the 19-year-old Harrison against a boxer with a good reputation, although Soto was trying to break a long losing streak.  Harrison did not disappoint as he used a blistering jab to keep Soto at bay throughout the contest.  Harrison dropped Soto with a right hand in the second round, then finished the job with another big right in the fifth.  Soto was tough but the bout was a breakout performance for Harrison.

Marq Johns D 4 Stephon McIntyre, December 6, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD

Two guys looking to make a name for themselves did exactly that in this contest.  Bantamweight Johns, a recent transplant to the Beltway from Philadelphia took on Jonesboro, GA’s McIntyre, who had fought twice overseas but had never fought in the United States as a pro.  Both guys fought extremely well and slugged it out from the outside and, especially in the third round, inside in phone-booth fashion.  The scoring of this bout was extremely interesting -- one judge scoring a shutout for Johns at 40-36 while another saw the bout for McIntyre at 39-37.  The third judge saw the draw at 38-38.  After this bout, both guys will not be strangers to this area any longer.

(Photos:  Reed-Gil by Wallace Barron.  All others by Juan Marshall)

Previous BATB Bouts of the Year:

2006: Maxell Taylor six-round draw with Derek Ennis, March 9, Michael's Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, MD.

2007: John Mackey six-round unanimous decision over Tony Cygan, December 7, Pikesville, MD

2008: Juan Rodriguez TKO 3 over Benjamin Borteye, November 7, Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, MD

2009: Cory Cummings TKO 9 over Demetrius Davis, May 29, Du Burns Arena, Baltimore, MD

2010: Jessie Nicklow 10-round unanimous decision over Scott Sigmon, March 20, Du Burns Arena, Baltimore, MD/Nicklow 10-round draw with Julius Kennedy, September 17, Du Burns Arena/Sigmon 10-round unanimous decision over Kennedy, December 11, Pikesville National Guard Armory, Pikesville, MD.

2011:  Lamont Peterson 12-round split decision over Amir Khan, December 10, Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC

2012: Brandon Quarles D6 John Mackey, October 27, George Mason University Patriot Center, Fairfax, VA

Tomorrow, the Card of the Year!