Boxing Returns To Michael's Eighth Avenue July 13th!

A battle of experience versus youth will headline the next Baltimore Pro Boxing card on Thursday, July 13th at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD.

Longtime Beltway fan favorite Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow will be in the main event taking on Sherman "The Tank" Artis of Severn, MD in an eight-round super middleweight contest.  Nicklow (26-8-3, eight KO's) was the first BATB Rookie Of The Year in 2006.  Nicklow is undefeated (24-0-3) in the state of Maryland, winning his last contest on January 13th at Michaels, an eight-round unanimous decision over Chauncey Fields.  Nicklow has faced a who's who of solid competition in his career, including former world champion Jermain Taylor and contenders Fernando Guerrero, Ryota Murata and Ronald Gavril.

Although Artis (3-1) started his career in 2010, he has only fought four times as a pro.  Artis returned to action after an almost three-year absence and won a four-round unanimous decision over Steve Wheeler on March 30th at Michael's.

In a four-round bout on the card, Baltimore middleweight "Dangerous" Donald Wallace will face off with Shane Pearson of Statesville, NC.  Wallace (2-0-1, one KO) will look to improve off of a six-round majority draw against Gregory Clark on the last Michael's card on May 12th.  Pearson (2-1, two KO's) makes a quick return to the Beltway, having scored a shocking first-round TKO over Stephon Morris on June 17th at Du Burns Arena in Baltimore.

Also on the card, undefeated Glenarden, MD super lightweight Drayvontay Speed-Rawls returns to action in a six-round contest against the incredibly busy Matt Murphy of St. Louis, MO.  Speed-Rawls comes off a third-round stoppage of Rynell Griffin on March 25th in Washington, DC.  Murphy (2-13-3, two KO's) will be competing for the 10th time in 2017.  Murphy comes off back-to-back draws over a five-day period.  On June 17th in Baltimore, Murphy held undefeated Mack Allison IV to a four-round majority draw.  Five days later, on June 22nd, Murphy traveled cross country to Los Angeles, CA and battled Zachary Wohlman to a four-round split decision draw.

Also scheduled to be on the card are IBO International Bantamweight champion Alexandru "Spartan" Marin of Bethesda, MD and junior lightweight Ernest "Lightning Bug" Hall of Baltimore.  Marin (13-0, nine KO's) comes off a six-round unanimous decision over German Meraz on May 20th at the MGM National Harbor Casino in Oxon Hill, MD and will be in an eight-round contest on this card.  Hall (2-0, one KO) won a four-round unanimous decision over Lamont White on March 30th at Michael's.  Hall is scheduled to participate in a six-round contest for the first time as a pro.

The card, which will also have three amateur bouts, will be held in tribute to promoter Jake Smith's father, Murray "The Bushwacker" Smith.  Murray Smith was a fixture in Baltimore and promoted various events before passing away in 2013.