Beltway Boxing 2014 -- Card Of The Year!

The 2014 Beltway Boxing Card Of The Year was not an easy choice.  The winning card, however, had a great mixture of ingredients; local boxers being tested, solid knockouts and competitive bouts.

The 2014 Beltway Boxing Card Of The Year Took Place On:

July 18 at Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD -- Larry Recio vs. Grayson Blake, Demond Nicholson vs. Jess Noriega, Terron Grant vs. Jose Del Valle

This was a Keystone Boxing card where many local boxers on the card received their toughest test and they did it in front of a standing-room only card.  The main event saw Larry Recio go the distance for the first time in his pro career winning a six-round unanimous decision over Grayson Blake.  Terron Grant lost for the first time as he dropped a six-round split decision to Jose Del Valle.

The 2014 Knockout Of The Year was on this card as Marq Johns stopped Luis Hernandez as well as knockout wins for Demond Nicholson, Myke Fox and Patrick Harris, a split decision victory for Joshua Davis and majority decision wins for Stephon McDonald and Emmanuel Johnson.

Honorable Mention (in chronological order):

January 17 at Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD -- Mike Reed vs. Jorge Marquez, Jarrett Hurd vs. Chris Chatman, Marcus Bates vs. Stephon McIntyre

This was the first boxing card in the area in 2014 and this Keystone card set a nice bar for the rest of the year.  Mike Reed stopped Jorge Marquez in the fifth round.  Jarrett Hurd won a very tough six-round split decision over Chris Chatman.  Marcus Bates and Stephon McIntyre battled to a tough four-round draw.  Also, Immanuwel Aleem won a six-round unanimous decision and Recio and Johns landed solid knockouts while PJ Cajigas spoiled the debut of Demetrius Nolan.

September 21 at ABC Sports Complex, Springfield, VA -- Tori Nelson vs. Arlene Blencowe, Tyrieshia Douglas vs. Whitney Gunter, Travis Reeves vs. Ariel Espinal

This Ponytail Promotions card is on the list for the history it made.  Not only were their two female title bouts but both bouts were officiated by an all-female crew -- Referee, all three judges and the acting commissioner for the bouts.  Also, the main event -- Tori Nelson's WIBA Welterweight title bout against Arlene Blencowe -- was one of the best bouts of 2014.    The other bouts had solid knockout performances from Tyrieshia Douglas (who won the USBU championship), Seth Billups, Travis Reeves and Alexandru Marin.  Henry Goss went to a four-round draw with Anthony Dave.

November 15 at George Mason University Patriot Center, Fairfax, VA -- Tony Jeter vs. Jimmy Lange, Tori Nelson vs. Victoria Cisneros

The rematch of the Tony Jeter vs. Jimmy Lange highlighted this card that had a number of young boxers put on good performances.  Seth Billups, Alexandru Marin and Devar Ferhadi all scored knockouts on this card.

Previous Beltway Boxing Cards of the Year:

2006 -- December 9, George Mason University Patriot Center, Fairfax, VA (Jimmy Lange draws with Fontaine Cabell, Dean White defeats Dorin Spivey, JP Flaim of the Junkies loses against Jay Watts.)

2007 -- December 7, Pikesville National Guard Armory, Pikesville, MD (Tim Coleman draws with Martinus Clay, Jessie Nicklow defeats Anthony Little and John Mackey defeats Tony Cygan) and August 3, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD (Pro-Am card -- Horace Grant over Mujaheed Moore, Thomas Snow knocks out Markel Muhammad, Seth Mitchell [his only amateur loss] falls to Abodurin Akinyanju and Dusty Harrison also on the amateur portion.

2008 -- October 18, ABC Sports Arena, Springfield, VA (John Mackey wins over Jesse Williams, Darrell Martin over Andre Nichols)

2009 -- September 25, Shipley Arena, Westminster, MD (Mark Tucker wins USBO title, Tyrell Samuel over Gustavo Dailey)

2010 -- March 20, Du Burns Arena, Baltimore, MD (Jessie Nicklow over Scott Sigmon, James Stevenson over George Rivera)

2011 – December 10, Washington Convention Center, Washington DC (Lamont Peterson over Amir Khan for IBF/WBA Junior Welterweight title, Seth Mitchell over Timor Ibragimov)

2012 -- October 27, George Mason University Patriot Center, Fairfax, VA (Tony Jeter over Jimmy Lange, Brandon Quarles draws with John Mackey)

2013 -- September 7 at Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD,  (Phil Jackson Benson vs. Scott Sigmon, Alantez Fox vs. Zain Shah, Mike Reed vs. Rameses Gil)


Tomorrow:  Our final award -- Beltway Boxer Of The Year!