October Looks Loaded With Solid Contests!

As we get ready to enter October, the month already looks packed with Beltway Boxers participating in contests on the road and at home.

On Friday, October 2, Baltimore, MD lightweight Tyrell "Da Show Shock A" Samuel makes his return to the ring at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, PA in a six-round bout against hometown boxer Victor Vasquez.  Samuel (15-6-1, six KO's) has not fought since losing an eight-round unanimous decision to David Rodela in July of 2014 in Oxnard, CA.  Vasquez (19-9-1, nine KO's has won three straight, including his last two by fourth-round TKO.

On Saturday, October 3, two locals will compete at the Stub Hub Center in Carson, CA.  Undefeated Temple Hills, MD super middleweight D'Mitrius "Big Meech" Ballard will compete in an eight-round bout against Eddie Hunter of Kent, WA.  Ballard (9-0, seven KO's) will be in a scheduled eight-rounder for the first time in his pro career.  Ballard went a full six-rounds for the first time in winning a unanimous decision over Josue Ovando on June 30 in Philadelphia, PA.

Hunter (10-13-2, three KO's) is an experienced foe who, despite his record, has quality wins over Ronald Hearns and Lanell Bellows.  Hunter lost by second-round TKO to Dominic Wade on December 20 in Shelton, WA followed by an eight-round unanimous decision loss in a rematch against Bellows in his last bout on April 30 in Las Vegas, NV.

Also on that card, Palmer Park, MD super featherweight Kevin "K-Smoove" Rivers, Jr. looks to remain undefeated as he faces Alejandro Ochoa of Bell Gardens, CA in a six-round encounter.  Rivers (12-0, nine KO's) has had back-to-back third-round TKO victories in his last two outings including a win over Luis Lizarraga, Jr. on June 30 in Philadelphia.  Ochoa (6-10-2, one KO) looks to build on a victory he earned with a six-round unanimous decision over Luis Sedano on August 8 in Montebello, CA.  Ochoa has never been knocked out in a bout.

We are hearing that both bouts will be shown on the RingTV Roku and Youtube channels beginning at 5:30 PM ET.  Both bouts are on the undercard of the vacant WBC World Super Lightweight title bout between Lucas Matthysse and Viktor Postol.

Then on Saturday, October 17, Upper Marlboro, MD lightweight Lamont Roach, Jr. will compete at Madison Square Garden in New York City in a six-round bout that will be on the undercard of the Gennady Golovkin-David Lemieux middleweight world title bout.  Roach (8-0, three KO's) is coming off a six-round unanimous decision victory over Christian Santibanez on the June 30 card in Philadelphia.

The month will end for traveling Beltway Boxers on Saturday, October 31 when Randallstown, MD super welterweight Cecil McCalla takes on Tony Harrison of Detroit, MI in a 10-round contest at the NRG Arena in Houston, TX.  The bout will be shown on the NBC Sports Network.   McCalla (20-2, seven KO's) will try to break a two-bout losing streak. dropping tough 10-round decisions to Ishe Smith and Chris Van Heerden.  McCalla lost a unanimous decision to Smith on April 30 in Las Vegas and dropped a split decision to Van Heerden on January 9 in New York City.

Harrison (21-1, 18 KO's) will try to bounce back from suffering his only pro loss in his last outing.  Harrison was stopped in the ninth round by Willie Nelson on July 11 in Tampa, FL.

In the Beltway region, all roads will lead to the Eagle Bank Arena (formerly the Patriot Center) at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA for the Saturday, October 17 card promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Headbangers Promotions.

As we've said earlier, former IBF Super Lightweight champion Lamont Peterson will battle undefeated 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Felix Diaz of the Dominican Republic in a 10-round welterweight bout that will be carried live on NBC.  The co-feature will pit Andre Dirrell of Flint, MI against Australian Blake Caparello in a super middleweight 10-rounder.

As we've also told you, a number of Beltway Boxers are slated to be on this card including Anthony Peterson, Demond Nicholson, Kareem Martin and Alantez Fox.  More locals may be added to the card.

This will be an afternoon card, slated to begin at 1 PM ET.  The two featured bouts will appear on NBC at 4 PM ET.  This may be the first major afternoon card held in the Beltway since Simon Brown defended his IBF Welterweight title against Tyrone Trice on April 1, 1990 at the DC Armory.  By the way, that was a bout carried by ABC-TV on a Sunday afternoon and it was the first world title bout I ever covered.