Beltway Boxing 2014 -- Knockout Of The Year!

The category of Knockout Of The Year for 2014 was one of the closest of the year.  There were a number of quality knockouts seen throughout the Beltway.

The choice for this year received the award because his opponent challenged him and he made him pay.

The Beltway Boxing Knockout Of The Year For 2014 is:

Marq Johns TKO 2 over Luis Hernandez, July 18, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD

Johns was in control of this contest after the first round as he landed some nice body shots.  In the second round, Hernandez came back and landed some punches to Johns's head and then took a half step back, tapping his chest and feeling good about himself.  Hernandez challenged Johns to come forward.

That was his mistake.  Johns responded with a vicious right hand that leveled Hernandez and brought the sellout crowd to its feet.  Hernandez was unfit to continue and the bout was stopped at 21 seconds of the second round.

Honorable Mention (in chronological order):

Larry Recio KO 1 over Jose Felix, April 12, Patapsco Arena, Baltimore, MD

"The Cuban Assassin" had a number of quality knockouts in 2014 but none more so than the first-round knockout over the veteran Felix.  In the first minute of the round, Recio shot a straight right hand that dropped Felix to the canvas.  In the last minute of the round, Recio sent the same punch crashing towards Felix, who crumpled back to the canvas. The bout was stopped at 2:49.

Demond Nicholson KO 1 over Lester Gonzalez, June 28, Du Burns Arena, Baltimore, MD

Nicholson landed some solid shots throughout the contest but Gonzalez looked like someone who would keep coming forward.  However, he came forward right into Nicholson's left hand and was dropped for the count. The bout was stopped at 2:14 of the first.

Alexander Johnson KO 1 over Henry Buchanan, September 20, Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC

On paper, the matchup was supposed to be close.  The bout was one everyone wanted to see -- an all-Beltway clash of light heavyweights.  However, the bout didn't last long.  Johnson sent a solid left hand to Buchanan's right jaw and sent him crashing to the canvas.  The bout was over at 2:10 of the first round.

Mario Flores KO 1 over Christian Pittman, October 11, ABC Sports Complex, Springfield, VA

Early in the first round, Flores dropped Pittman with a solid right hand.  Moments later, Flores used the same punch with the same result.

As soon as Pittman got up from the second knockdown, Flores came roaring out of the neutral corner, right hand cocked.  Flores rushed over and fired the right hand landing flush on Pittman's jaw and knocking him out.  The bout was immediately stopped at 1:51.


Mike Balogun KO 1 over Cody Troutman, December 6, ABC Sports Complex, Springfield, VA

The former University of Oklahoma linebacker needed just 11 seconds to knock out Troutman.  Balogun threw two light punches to the midsection and then hurled an explosive overhand right that toppled Troutman onto his back.  The bout was immediately stopped.

Previous BATB Knockouts of the Year:

2006: Jed Phipps KO1 over David Cleage -- January 20, Pikesville Armory, Pikesville, MD.

2007: Elias Bouloubassis KO1 over Vincent Robbins -- March 10, Pikesville Armory, Pikesville, MD.

2008: Seth Mitchell TKO2 over Alexis Cruz Medina -- May 29, Michael's Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, MD.

2009: Tony Jeter KO1 over Keith Gross -- September 26, George Mason University Patriot Center, Fairfax, VA.

2010: Jimmy Lange KO 10 over Joe Wyatt -- November 6, George Mason University Patriot Center, Fairfax, VA.

2011: Kevin Womack KO4 over Benjamin Olinga, November 19, Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, MD

2012: Kevin Rivers KO1 over Bobby Wooten, November 3, Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC

2013: Jarrett Hurd KO2 over George Armenta, December 6, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD

Tomorrow:  The Beltway Boxing Bout of the Year!