With no pro boxing cards on the Beltway horizon for the foreseeable future, amateur boxing will take center stage. There are two events that will take place on Saturday, February 3rd.
The final registration for the 2018 Washington Golden Gloves will begin at 9 AM at the Hillcrest Bingo Hall located at 4104 23rd Parkway in Hillcrest Heights, MD. The registration will include a physical exam. Registration will be from 9 until noon. Please arrive promptly. The Washington Golden Gloves tournament begins on Saturday, February 17th at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, MD.
Then, the Potomac Valley Association of USA Boxing will have a boxing card that will bring awareness to the horrors of domestic violence. The card will take place at Tony's Boxing Gym located at 1216 Mt. Olivet Road in Northeast Washington, DC. All tickets are $15. The weigh-in starts at 3 PM and the event gets underway at 6:30.
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Monday, January 29, 2018
Reed Faces Undefeated Barboza, Jr. In 10-Round Contest March 10th In Carson, CA!
Waldorf, MD super lightweight Mike "Yes, Indeed" Reed looks to rebound from his first pro loss when he takes on undefeated Arnold Barboza, Jr. of Los Angeles, CA in a 10-round contest on Saturday, March 10th at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA. The bout is scheduled to be televised by ESPN.
Reed (23-1, 12 KO's) was stopped in the second round by undefeated Jose Carlos Ramirez on November 11th in Fresno, CA. Reed lost an opportunity to win the WBC Continental Americas Super Lightweight title. Barboza, Jr. (17-0, six KO's) comes off an eight-round unanimous decision victory over Jonathan Chicas on August 5th in Los Angeles. This is Barboza's first scheduled 10-round bout.
Reed (23-1, 12 KO's) was stopped in the second round by undefeated Jose Carlos Ramirez on November 11th in Fresno, CA. Reed lost an opportunity to win the WBC Continental Americas Super Lightweight title. Barboza, Jr. (17-0, six KO's) comes off an eight-round unanimous decision victory over Jonathan Chicas on August 5th in Los Angeles. This is Barboza's first scheduled 10-round bout.
Friday, January 26, 2018
Davis Stopped In Second Round In Philadelphia!
DC lightweight Joshua "Dynamite" Davis was stopped in the second round Friday night by undefeated Philadelphia, PA boxer Steven Ortiz at the Sugar House Casino in Philadelphia, PA.
According to Fightnews.com's John DiSanto, Davis was knocked down three times in the second round, first by a left hook followed by two Ortiz right hands. After the third knockdown, referee Gary Rosato stopped the contest at 2:21 of the second. Davis has now lost two straight and is 11-3, five KO's. Ortiz remains undefeated at 8-0, three KO's.
According to Fightnews.com's John DiSanto, Davis was knocked down three times in the second round, first by a left hook followed by two Ortiz right hands. After the third knockdown, referee Gary Rosato stopped the contest at 2:21 of the second. Davis has now lost two straight and is 11-3, five KO's. Ortiz remains undefeated at 8-0, three KO's.
Davis Weighs 133.1 For Eight-Round Main Event In Philadelphia!
Joshua Davis weighed in 133.1 pounds for his eight-round main event contest against Steven Ortiz Friday night at the Sugar House Casino in Philadelphia, PA. Ortiz tipped the scales at 133.9 pounds. The card is promoted by Evander Holyfield's Real Deal Boxing.
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Beltway Boxers Continue On Road Trips!
As of now, there are no local pro cards in the Beltway region. That means a number of locals are on the road looking for victories. Here is a look at the upcoming Beltway schedule.
On Friday, January 26th, Suitland, MD super welterweight Lenwood "Mr. Composure" Dozier will be in an eight-round bout against undefeated Carlos Gongora of Brooklyn, NY by way of Esmeraldas, Ecuador at Memorial Hall in Melrose, MA. Dozier (10-18-2, five KO's) has lost six in a row including a six-round unanimous decision loss to Darryl Cunningham on June 23rd in Detroit, MI. Gongora (10-0, eight KO's) is coming off an eight-round unanimous decision over Henry Beckford on September 30th in Boston, MA.
Also on the 26th, Washington, DC super featherweight Joshua "Dynamite" Davis will look to bounce back from a loss when he takes on undefeated Steven Ortiz of Philadelphia, PA in an eight-round contest at the Sugar House Casino in Philadelphia. Davis (11-2, five KO's) lost a six-round unanimous decision to Ray Lampkin on October 19th in Atlanta, GA. Ortiz (7-0, two KO's) won a six-round unanimous decision to Tyrome Jones on June 24th at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.
Two Beltway Boxers will be on a card at the Orlando Live Event Center in Orlando, FL on Saturday, January 27th. Seat Pleasant, MD featherweight James "Too Slick" Early will battle Alex "Flash" Roman of Kissimmee, FL in a four-round contest. After winning his first two bouts, Early (2-2) is now riding a two-bout losing streak that includes a four-round unanimous decision loss to Juan Sanchez on November 21st in Bethlehem, PA. Roman (4-2) will look to bounce back from a fourth-round TKO defeat to Oldier Landin on February 26th in Palm Bay, FL.
Also, Columbia, MD super middleweight Ashton "The Goon" Sykes will be in a four-round contest against debuting Arman Rysbek of Kissimmee by way of Kazakhstan. Sykes (1-1) lost a four-round majority decision to Angel Martinez on December 8 in Tampa, FL.
As we move into February, we have talked about the 10-round cruiserweight contest between Roy Jones, Jr. and Scott "Cujo" Sigmon on Thursday, February 8th at the Pensacola Civic Center in Pensacola, FL. The bout will be for the German version of the World Boxing Union Cruiserweight championship.
Also, we have talked about former WBO Super Lightweight champion DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley taking on former world title contender "Hammerin'" Hank Lundy on Saturday, February 10th at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, PA. Also on this card, Baltimore, MD heavyweight Hasim "Gold Blooded" Rahman, Jr. will be in a four-round bout against an opponent to be determined. Rahman (3-0, three KO's) has three first-round knockouts. Another boxer on the card is cruiserweight Joe Jones III (9-0, seven KO's), who is originally from DC but now boxes out of Jersey City, NJ. Jones has stopped four of his last five opponents and is also looking for an opponent.
In another bout on February 10th, DC heavyweight Maurice "Freight Train" Byarm returns to action for the first time in more than five years when he battles Richard "Silverback" Carmack of Kansas City, MO in a six-round contest at Hartman Arena in Park City, KS. Byarm (13-2-1, nine KO's) has not fought since being stopped in the second round by Magomed Abdulsalamov in July of 2012 in Las Vegas, NV. Carmack (15-12-1, six KO's) is winless in his last six contests including a second-round knockout against Scott Alexander on September 23 at the Hartman Arena.
Then on Tuesday, February 13th, three Beltway Boxers will appear on a card at the Sands Bethlehem Events Center in Bethlehem, PA. Undefeated Forestville, MD super lightweight Mykal "The Professor" Fox takes on Ricardo Garcia of the Dominican Republic in an eight-round bout. Fox (15-0, four KO's) won the biggest bout to date in his young pro career, capturing a 10-round unanimous decision over Manuel Alejandro Reyes on November 21st at the Sands Bethlehem Events Center. Fox captured the vacant UBF All-Americas Welterweight title with the win. Garcia (14-1, nine KO's) also fought on the November 21st card and suffered his first pro defeat, losing an eight-round majority decision to Victor Vazquez.
Owings Mills, MD heavyweight Colby Madison will be on the card in a six-round contest against Dante Selby of Philadelphia, PA. Madison (5-0-1, four KO's) comes off a second-round TKO over Randy Easton on December 1st in Philadelphia. Selby (2-3-1) has lost three straight over a four-year period including a first-round knockout loss to Easton in December of 2013.
Also on the card will be Suitland, MD featherweight Malik "Li'l Leak" Loften who will be in a four-round bout against Martino Jules of Allentown, PA. Loften (1-0, one KO) made an impressive pro debut stopping Jemour Edwards in the fourth round on June 3 in Fort Washington, MD. Jules (2-0) comes off a four-round majority decision win in Bethlehem, PA over Weusi Johnson on November 21.
On Saturday, February 17th, Laurel, MD light heavyweight Thomas "Top Dog" Williams, Jr. makes his return in a bout against Humberto Velazco "Tito" Torres of Aguascalientes, Mexico at the Don Haskins Convention Center in El Paso, TX. Williams (20-3, 14 KO's) returns almost one year to the day since his last contest where he lost by sixth-round TKO to Marcus Browne on February 18 in Cincinnati, OH. This will also be the first bout since the passing of Williams's stepfather, Jerry Peterson. Torres (18-1-1, 12 KO's) has a 10-bout unbeaten streak and comes off a seventh-round TKO over Josue Obando on August 31st in Aguascalientes. This will be the first bout for Torres in the United States.
One week later on Saturday, February 24th, Baltimore, MD lightweight Jahmal Dyer has his first bout of 2018 when he faces Vanderley Miranda of Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhone, France by way of Portugal in a four-round tilt at the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ. Dyer, the 2017 Beltway Boxing Co-Rookie Of The Year (4-0, two KO's) capped off a great first year with a four-round unanimous decision win over Roger Blankenship on October 7th in Erie, PA. Miranda (0-3) hopes to have his fortunes change as he makes his first voyage to the United States after losing all three of his pro bouts in France.
As always, bouts are subject to change without notice. Also, the National Silver Gloves Tournament will be from February 1st through the 3rd in Independence, MO and the Washington Golden Gloves also will begin in February.
Monday, January 22, 2018
Amateur Boxing Returns To Howard Theatre January 27th!
There will be an amateur boxing card coming to the historic Howard Theatre on Saturday, January 27th. The card is sponsored by the Potomac Valley Association (PVA) Junior Olympic Committee.
Doors for the Winter Gloves will open at 6 PM ET. VIP tickets are $50. Ringside seats are $40 and General Admission tickets are $25.
Doors for the Winter Gloves will open at 6 PM ET. VIP tickets are $50. Ringside seats are $40 and General Admission tickets are $25.
Sunday, January 21, 2018
L.Peterson Stopped By Spence In Eighth Round!
(Photo by Emily Harney)
Lamont Peterson's bid for a fourth world title was halted Saturday by the younger, stronger and dominant IBF Welterweight champion Errol "The Truth" Spence, Jr. of Dallas, TX in the eighth round at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The bout was the main-event on a DiBella Entertainment card that was televised live on Showtime.
Spence started quickly, using accurate body and head shots. Peterson, as usual, got off to a slow start but managed to stay right in front of Spence despite the ferocity of the champion's onslaught. Peterson came back with a solid fourth round but in the fifth, Spence landed a solid left hand that dropped Peterson. However, the DC native showed tremendous heart and battled back to stay in the contest, but Spence was just too powerful as he seemed to walk right through Peterson's best shots.
By the seventh round, Peterson's trainer and father figure, Barry Hunter, became increasingly concerned about the condition of his fighter. Peterson's eyes were swollen to where it looked like he could barely see. At the beginning of the eighth round, Hunter decided enough is enough and had the contest stopped on behalf of Peterson. The official time was one second of the eighth round.
“I thought we took too much damage early in the fight and we got too far behind. If he never fight another day in his life it’s OK by me," Hunter told the press after the bout.
Peterson is now 35-4-1, 17 KO's. Spence makes the first successful defense of the IBF Welterweight title and he is now 23-0, 20 KO's and has stopped his last 10 opponents.
Saturday, January 20, 2018
A. Peterson Wins Unanimous Decision; Williams Draws in Brooklyn!
(photos by Daniel Cork)
Two Beltway Boxers fought in undercard bouts this evening at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
DC lightweight Anthony Peterson was dominant in winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Luis Eduardo Florez of Puerto Librador, Colombia. There were no knockdowns in the contest but Peterson won by scores of 100-89 and 100-90 (twice). Peterson is now 38-1, 24 KO's while Florez falls to 23-9, 19 KO's.
DC welterweight Keyshawn Williams opened the card and battled to a split decision draw against Denis Okoth of Siaya, Kenya. Each boxer received a 39-37 score from two of the judges while the third saw a 38-38 draw. Each boxer is also 1-0-1, one KO.
Two Beltway Boxers fought in undercard bouts this evening at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
DC lightweight Anthony Peterson was dominant in winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Luis Eduardo Florez of Puerto Librador, Colombia. There were no knockdowns in the contest but Peterson won by scores of 100-89 and 100-90 (twice). Peterson is now 38-1, 24 KO's while Florez falls to 23-9, 19 KO's.
DC welterweight Keyshawn Williams opened the card and battled to a split decision draw against Denis Okoth of Siaya, Kenya. Each boxer received a 39-37 score from two of the judges while the third saw a 38-38 draw. Each boxer is also 1-0-1, one KO.
A. Peterson, Williams Weigh In Brooklyn!
Anthony Peterson and Keyshawn Williams also hit the scales for their undercard bouts Saturday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
Peterson weighed in at 140.8 pounds for his 10-round contest against Luis Eduardo Florez, who tipped the scales at 141 pounds.
Williams weighed 145.8 pounds for his four-round bout against Denis Okath, who came in at 145 pounds.
Williams will be in the first bout on the card, which is scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM ET. Peterson's contest is slated to be the third bout on the card, at approximately 6:10 PM.
Peterson weighed in at 140.8 pounds for his 10-round contest against Luis Eduardo Florez, who tipped the scales at 141 pounds.
Williams weighed 145.8 pounds for his four-round bout against Denis Okath, who came in at 145 pounds.
Williams will be in the first bout on the card, which is scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM ET. Peterson's contest is slated to be the third bout on the card, at approximately 6:10 PM.
Friday, January 19, 2018
Peterson Weighs 146 3/4 For Title Bout In Brooklyn!
Lamont Peterson weighed in at 146 3/4 for his 12-round championship bout against IBF Welterweight titleholder Errol Spence, Jr. on Saturday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Spence hit the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.
Spence and Peterson headline the Showtime Championship Boxing telecast that begins at 9 PM ET.
Spence and Peterson headline the Showtime Championship Boxing telecast that begins at 9 PM ET.
Thursday, January 18, 2018
Respectful Quotes Coming From Final Spence-Peterson Workout!
As the big bout between IBF Welterweight champion Errol "The Truth" Spence, Jr. and former world super lightweight champion Lamont Peterson approaches on Saturday, January 20th, the two men had their final workout session in Brooklyn, NY on Wednesday. The two men also made comments that were very respectful towards each other. First, the challenger:
(Photos by Amanda Westcott/Showtime)
"The hard work is over and now we're just fine-tuning and making sure everything is perfect for Saturday. It's been a great training camp that was tough at times, but that's exactly how we want it.
"Errol Spence is clearly a great fighter. I can see why people revere him in that way. But on Saturday, we're going to give him a fight and he's going to have to prove it.
"I don't have to worry about what anyone says about us leading up to this fight. I know Errol well and it happened that it was time for us to fight. This is what we do so we'll definitely give it our all on Saturday. My mentality is to win.
"I've been staying in the gym the whole time since my last fight. Even if I haven't been fighting, I've been sparring and keeping my craft sharp. You never know how long a layoff will be, so I made sure to keep my mind on boxing.
"I can't do anything but go in there and take care of my business. I can't control the judges or anything that happens outside of us fighting. I'm trying to win a fight and that's all I'm concerned about.
"I think the fans are really going to like this one. We may start out feeling each other, but I know from the way we both fight that it's going to turn into a war pretty quickly.
"There's nothing that I'm really looking to expose, but doing things at the right time during the fight will be key. Errol is a solid fighter across the board and we'll see what he brings on fight night.
"I'm looking for a victory. That's what I've trained for. It doesn't matter how I get the win. I'm determined to take home that belt."
Now, the champion:
"I'm training for the Lamont Peterson that I know. He's a hard worker, he's hungry and he has a big heart. People shouldn't look past this fight because I'm not at all. Peterson is a great fighter who's seasoned.
"Everyone knows my style. The outcome usually is a stoppage. I won't be looking for it, but if it presents itself, I'll be ready to take advantage.
"I'm going to stick to my game plan. I can't be worried about anything my opponent does during training camp. I have to focus on what I do best and listen to my coach. My style isn't going to be effected by Lamont's training.
"I'm keeping the same mentality that I've always had heading into fights. Winning the belt helped get my name out there, but my mentality is still to grind and stay hungry and listen to my coach. Nothing is different, I still change diapers and everything else you'd imagine.
"There are so many guys in the welterweight division, I want to clean them all out. If I keep beating the top guys, I'll be the last one standing. I'm going to dominate like I've been doing.
"I'm not going to wait around for unification fights, I want to fight three times this year and I'll take on the best opponent who steps into the ring.
"I'll have to wait until I get into the ring to see how our power compares to each other. I'm the bigger guy but I don't think we'll really know until the first round. I'm going to stick to my game plan and adjust on the fly.
"I expect a 12 round fight and that's what I train for. You have to have a smart coach to make adjustments during the fight and capitalize off your opponent's mistakes.
"I know he's going to be difficult. He's a guy with fast feet who can come forward. He can basically do it all. I'm going to have to solve the puzzle."
The Spence-Peterson battle will take place on Saturday, January 20th from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The bout will headline a Showtime telecast that will begin at 9 PM ET. Beltway Boxers Anthony Peterson and Keeshawn Williams will be on the undercard.
(Photos by Amanda Westcott/Showtime)
"The hard work is over and now we're just fine-tuning and making sure everything is perfect for Saturday. It's been a great training camp that was tough at times, but that's exactly how we want it.
"Errol Spence is clearly a great fighter. I can see why people revere him in that way. But on Saturday, we're going to give him a fight and he's going to have to prove it.
"I don't have to worry about what anyone says about us leading up to this fight. I know Errol well and it happened that it was time for us to fight. This is what we do so we'll definitely give it our all on Saturday. My mentality is to win.
"I've been staying in the gym the whole time since my last fight. Even if I haven't been fighting, I've been sparring and keeping my craft sharp. You never know how long a layoff will be, so I made sure to keep my mind on boxing.
"I can't do anything but go in there and take care of my business. I can't control the judges or anything that happens outside of us fighting. I'm trying to win a fight and that's all I'm concerned about.
"I think the fans are really going to like this one. We may start out feeling each other, but I know from the way we both fight that it's going to turn into a war pretty quickly.
"There's nothing that I'm really looking to expose, but doing things at the right time during the fight will be key. Errol is a solid fighter across the board and we'll see what he brings on fight night.
"I'm looking for a victory. That's what I've trained for. It doesn't matter how I get the win. I'm determined to take home that belt."
Now, the champion:
"I'm training for the Lamont Peterson that I know. He's a hard worker, he's hungry and he has a big heart. People shouldn't look past this fight because I'm not at all. Peterson is a great fighter who's seasoned.
"Everyone knows my style. The outcome usually is a stoppage. I won't be looking for it, but if it presents itself, I'll be ready to take advantage.
"I'm going to stick to my game plan. I can't be worried about anything my opponent does during training camp. I have to focus on what I do best and listen to my coach. My style isn't going to be effected by Lamont's training.
"I'm keeping the same mentality that I've always had heading into fights. Winning the belt helped get my name out there, but my mentality is still to grind and stay hungry and listen to my coach. Nothing is different, I still change diapers and everything else you'd imagine.
"There are so many guys in the welterweight division, I want to clean them all out. If I keep beating the top guys, I'll be the last one standing. I'm going to dominate like I've been doing.
"I'm not going to wait around for unification fights, I want to fight three times this year and I'll take on the best opponent who steps into the ring.
"I'll have to wait until I get into the ring to see how our power compares to each other. I'm the bigger guy but I don't think we'll really know until the first round. I'm going to stick to my game plan and adjust on the fly.
"I expect a 12 round fight and that's what I train for. You have to have a smart coach to make adjustments during the fight and capitalize off your opponent's mistakes.
"I know he's going to be difficult. He's a guy with fast feet who can come forward. He can basically do it all. I'm going to have to solve the puzzle."
The Spence-Peterson battle will take place on Saturday, January 20th from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The bout will headline a Showtime telecast that will begin at 9 PM ET. Beltway Boxers Anthony Peterson and Keeshawn Williams will be on the undercard.
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
'Dynamite' Davis Battles Undefeated Ortiz January 26th In Philadelphia!
Washington, DC super featherweight Joshua "Dynamite" Davis returns to action in an eight-round main event contest against undefeated Steven Ortiz of Philadelphia, PA on Friday, January 26th at the Sugar House Casino in Philadelphia.
Davis (11-2, five KO's) looks to bounce back from a six-round unanimous decision loss to Ray Lampkin on October 19th in Atlanta, GA. The bout was televised by FS1. Ortiz (7-0, two KO's) comes off a six-round unanimous decision victory over Tyrome Jones on June 24th at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. Ortiz has fought his last four bouts at the 2300 Arena but has never fought at the Sugar House Casino.
The bout is being promoted by Real Deal Boxing, led by International Boxing Hall of Famer Evander Holyfield. This is the second straight time that Davis has appeared on a Real Deal Boxing-promoted card.
Davis (11-2, five KO's) looks to bounce back from a six-round unanimous decision loss to Ray Lampkin on October 19th in Atlanta, GA. The bout was televised by FS1. Ortiz (7-0, two KO's) comes off a six-round unanimous decision victory over Tyrome Jones on June 24th at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. Ortiz has fought his last four bouts at the 2300 Arena but has never fought at the Sugar House Casino.
The bout is being promoted by Real Deal Boxing, led by International Boxing Hall of Famer Evander Holyfield. This is the second straight time that Davis has appeared on a Real Deal Boxing-promoted card.
Monday, January 15, 2018
A. Peterson, Williams To Appear on Spence-Peterson Undercard!
Two more Beltway Boxers will appear on the DiBella Entertainment card that will take place on Saturday, January 20th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The card, of course, will be headlined by the IBF Welterweight title bout between champion Errol "The Truth" Spence, Jr. and challenger and former three-time world champion Lamont Peterson.
Peterson's brother, Anthony returns to action for the first time since April of 2016 when he takes on Luis Eduardo Florez of Puerto Libertador, Colombia in a 10-round super lightweight contest. Anthony Peterson (37-1, 24 KO's) last fought on April 1st and won a 10-round unanimous decision over Samuel Neequaye at the DC Armory. Florez (23-8, 19 KO's) looks to bounce back from a 10-round unanimous decision loss to Brayam Rico on December 15th in Monteria, Colombia.
Also on the card, DC welterweight Keyshawn Williams will battle Denis Okoth of Siaya, Kenya in a four-round bout. Williams (1-0, one KO) made a successful pro debut knocking out Christian Sales on November 17th in Flint, MI. Okoth (1-0, one KO) comes to the United States after making his pro debut in Nairobi, Kenya and knocking out Shadrick Ignas in the sixth round on February 4th.
The Spence-L.Peterson bout will be the main event on the Showtime telecast that will begin at 9 PM ET. Reportedly, the undercard contests will be shown on Showtime's YouTube page.
Peterson's brother, Anthony returns to action for the first time since April of 2016 when he takes on Luis Eduardo Florez of Puerto Libertador, Colombia in a 10-round super lightweight contest. Anthony Peterson (37-1, 24 KO's) last fought on April 1st and won a 10-round unanimous decision over Samuel Neequaye at the DC Armory. Florez (23-8, 19 KO's) looks to bounce back from a 10-round unanimous decision loss to Brayam Rico on December 15th in Monteria, Colombia.
Also on the card, DC welterweight Keyshawn Williams will battle Denis Okoth of Siaya, Kenya in a four-round bout. Williams (1-0, one KO) made a successful pro debut knocking out Christian Sales on November 17th in Flint, MI. Okoth (1-0, one KO) comes to the United States after making his pro debut in Nairobi, Kenya and knocking out Shadrick Ignas in the sixth round on February 4th.
The Spence-L.Peterson bout will be the main event on the Showtime telecast that will begin at 9 PM ET. Reportedly, the undercard contests will be shown on Showtime's YouTube page.
Saturday, January 13, 2018
Nelson Drops Unanimous Decision To Shields In Verona!
Ashburn, VA's Tori "Sho Nuff" Nelson has lost a 10-round unanimous decision to Claressa "T-Rex" Shields of Flint, MI Friday night at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY. Shields retained her IBF and WBC Super Middleweight championships in front of a national television (Showtime) audience.
Nelson was aggressive throughout the contest. However, she was outworked by the bigger and taller Shields. Nelson tried to work inside but was unable to land telling blows. Shields, who went 10 rounds for the first time in her pro career, won a shutout victory across the board, 100-90.
Nelson loses for the first time as a pro and she is now 17-1-3, two KO's. Shields is now 5-0, two KO's.
Nelson was aggressive throughout the contest. However, she was outworked by the bigger and taller Shields. Nelson tried to work inside but was unable to land telling blows. Shields, who went 10 rounds for the first time in her pro career, won a shutout victory across the board, 100-90.
Nelson loses for the first time as a pro and she is now 17-1-3, two KO's. Shields is now 5-0, two KO's.
Friday, January 12, 2018
Crews Dezurn Wins By Unanimous Decision In Verona, NY!
Baltimore, MD super middleweight Franchon Crews Dezurn has won a six-round unanimous decision over a very game Tiffany Woodard of Wilson, NC tonight at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY.
According to Fightnews.com's Boxing Bob Newman, Crews Dezurn came out socking, and Woodard was rocking with every landed shot, once being shoved to the canvas, which referee Benji Esteves correctly ruled no knockdown. Round three saw a Woodard tackle of Crews Dezurn and a sag to the canvas by Woodard- a sloppy affair to be sure. Crews did however find her rhythm in the fourth, displaying her full arsenal of hooks, crosses, jabs, uppercuts and decent defense.
The fifth devolved once again into WWE tactics as both gals crashed to the canvas once, in full embrace of each other. The sixth saw Crews Dezurn penalized a point for throwing Woodard to the canvas. Both fighters made it to the final bell where the scores read: Wynn Kintz and Don Ackerman both had it 59-54, while John McKaie tabbed it 59-53. Crews Dezurn is now 3-1, one KO while Woodard falls to 4-10-3, three KO's.
The main event between Claressa Shields and Tori Nelson will be coming later on this evening.
According to Fightnews.com's Boxing Bob Newman, Crews Dezurn came out socking, and Woodard was rocking with every landed shot, once being shoved to the canvas, which referee Benji Esteves correctly ruled no knockdown. Round three saw a Woodard tackle of Crews Dezurn and a sag to the canvas by Woodard- a sloppy affair to be sure. Crews did however find her rhythm in the fourth, displaying her full arsenal of hooks, crosses, jabs, uppercuts and decent defense.
The fifth devolved once again into WWE tactics as both gals crashed to the canvas once, in full embrace of each other. The sixth saw Crews Dezurn penalized a point for throwing Woodard to the canvas. Both fighters made it to the final bell where the scores read: Wynn Kintz and Don Ackerman both had it 59-54, while John McKaie tabbed it 59-53. Crews Dezurn is now 3-1, one KO while Woodard falls to 4-10-3, three KO's.
The main event between Claressa Shields and Tori Nelson will be coming later on this evening.
Nelson, Crews Dezurn Hit Scales In Verona!
Tori Nelson and Franchon Crews Dezurn weighed in for their bouts on Friday at the Turning Stone Casino and Resort in Verona, NY.
(Photo by Boxing Bob Newman)
Nelson (right) tipped the scales at 164 3/4 for her 10-round championship contest against Claressa Shields for Shields's IBF and WBC Super Middleweight titles. Shields came in at 167 pounds. The bout will headline the Shobox telecast on Showtime that will begin at 10 PM ET.
Crews Dezurn weighed in at 169 1/4 pounds for her six-round bout against Tiffany Woodard, who weighed 166 pounds.
(Photo by Boxing Bob Newman)
Nelson (right) tipped the scales at 164 3/4 for her 10-round championship contest against Claressa Shields for Shields's IBF and WBC Super Middleweight titles. Shields came in at 167 pounds. The bout will headline the Shobox telecast on Showtime that will begin at 10 PM ET.
Crews Dezurn weighed in at 169 1/4 pounds for her six-round bout against Tiffany Woodard, who weighed 166 pounds.
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Nelson Has Feature Article On ESPNW.com!
There is a nice feature story on 10-time world champion Tori "Sho Nuff" Nelson on ESPNW.com as she continues to prepare for Friday night's 10-round world championship bout against Claressa Shields at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY. The bout will be televised live on Showtime beginning at 10 PM ET and will be for Shields's WBC and IBF Super Middleweight titles.
The article is written by Cecelia Townes. By the way, Nelson is not a grandmother. The 41-year-old Nelson is jokingly called that by Shields. Here is the article:
http://www.espn.com/espnw/sports/article/22008854/tori-nelson-41-year-old-grandma-claressa-shields-toughest-test
Tuesday, January 09, 2018
'Super Brawl' Amateur Card Takes Place January 26th At Michael's!
The first Beltway Boxing card of 2018 will be an amateur card that will take place on Friday, January 26th at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD. Baltimore Boxing will be the promoter.
The card, dubbed the "Super Brawl of Boxing" will be headlined by a unification middleweight bout between Maryland State titleholder Deshawn Chase of Baltimore Boxing taking on East Coast champion Marquis Moore of Salisbury's Main Street Gym.
The card will also feature the boxing debut of former pro football player Leon Joe. Originally from Dayton, OH, Joe, a linebacker, played his high school football at Friendly High School in Fort Washington, MD and his college ball at the University of Maryland. Joe was drafted in the fourth round by the Chicago Bears and participated in Super Bowl XLI. Joe also played for the Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions before playing two years in the Canadian Football League.
There will also be a fundraiser for Tina Frost. On October 1, Frost was shot in the head during the mass shooting in Las Vegas. Her right eye was removed and spent time in a rehab facility. Originally from Baltimore, the 28-year-old Frost was working as a CPA for Ernst & Young in San Diego but is back in Maryland with her family. While Frost has made great progress, she has a long way to go and has a mound of medical bills that will only continue to grow. To assist the Frost family, Baltimore Boxing will have a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction. Those unable to make it to the card are encouraged to donate at https://www.gofundme.com/mary-watson-moreland.
“What happened to Tina is incredibly sad,” said promoter Jake Smith. “She was professionally successful and had everything going for her in life. It is a true tragedy what happened to her and all of the other shooting victims in Las Vegas. Baltimore Boxing’s fans have done a great job of getting behind the causes we support and we hope everybody is able to come out on the 26th to help raise money for the Frost family.”
Tickets from $40 are available by going to Baltimoreboxing.com/events or calling 410-375-9175. Doors open at 6:30 and the first fight is scheduled for 8:30.
The card, dubbed the "Super Brawl of Boxing" will be headlined by a unification middleweight bout between Maryland State titleholder Deshawn Chase of Baltimore Boxing taking on East Coast champion Marquis Moore of Salisbury's Main Street Gym.
The card will also feature the boxing debut of former pro football player Leon Joe. Originally from Dayton, OH, Joe, a linebacker, played his high school football at Friendly High School in Fort Washington, MD and his college ball at the University of Maryland. Joe was drafted in the fourth round by the Chicago Bears and participated in Super Bowl XLI. Joe also played for the Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions before playing two years in the Canadian Football League.
There will also be a fundraiser for Tina Frost. On October 1, Frost was shot in the head during the mass shooting in Las Vegas. Her right eye was removed and spent time in a rehab facility. Originally from Baltimore, the 28-year-old Frost was working as a CPA for Ernst & Young in San Diego but is back in Maryland with her family. While Frost has made great progress, she has a long way to go and has a mound of medical bills that will only continue to grow. To assist the Frost family, Baltimore Boxing will have a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction. Those unable to make it to the card are encouraged to donate at https://www.gofundme.com/mary-watson-moreland.
“What happened to Tina is incredibly sad,” said promoter Jake Smith. “She was professionally successful and had everything going for her in life. It is a true tragedy what happened to her and all of the other shooting victims in Las Vegas. Baltimore Boxing’s fans have done a great job of getting behind the causes we support and we hope everybody is able to come out on the 26th to help raise money for the Frost family.”
Tickets from $40 are available by going to Baltimoreboxing.com/events or calling 410-375-9175. Doors open at 6:30 and the first fight is scheduled for 8:30.
Sunday, January 07, 2018
Corley Scheduled To Battle Lundy February 10th In Philadelphia!
Another strong matchup involving a Beltway Boxer is slated to take place on Saturday, February 10th and this contest pits two strong veterans against one another.
Former WBO Super Lightweight champion DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley of Washington, DC is scheduled to take on former world title contender "Hammerin'" Hank Lundy of Philadelphia, PA at Philly's 2300 Arena.
The 43-year-old Corley (50-28-1, 28 KO's) continues to be an ageless wonder as he won two of his three bouts in 2017. After losing a close 10-round unanimous decision to Jovanie Santiago on April 7th in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, Corley won a 10-round unanimous decision over former world champion Vivian Harris on May 20th in Raleigh, NC for the UBF All-Americas Welterweight championship. Corley then traveled to Kingston, Jamaica and won an eight-round unanimous decision over Ramel Lewis on July 12th.
The 34-year-old Lundy (28-6-1, 14 KO's) has won two straight contests since suffering his last loss in a world title opportunity against Terence Crawford in February of 2016 in New York. Lundy was knocked out in the fifth round challenging for Crawford's WBO Super Lightweight title. Lundy bounced back and won a 12-round unanimous decision over John Delperdang in December of 2016 in Cincinnati, OH for the vacant UBF World Lightweight title. In his only bout of 2017, Lundy notched a fifth-round TKO over Daniel Evangelista, Jr. on June 2 at the 2300 Arena.
BATB will keep you posted on the progress of this contest.
Former WBO Super Lightweight champion DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley of Washington, DC is scheduled to take on former world title contender "Hammerin'" Hank Lundy of Philadelphia, PA at Philly's 2300 Arena.
The 43-year-old Corley (50-28-1, 28 KO's) continues to be an ageless wonder as he won two of his three bouts in 2017. After losing a close 10-round unanimous decision to Jovanie Santiago on April 7th in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, Corley won a 10-round unanimous decision over former world champion Vivian Harris on May 20th in Raleigh, NC for the UBF All-Americas Welterweight championship. Corley then traveled to Kingston, Jamaica and won an eight-round unanimous decision over Ramel Lewis on July 12th.
The 34-year-old Lundy (28-6-1, 14 KO's) has won two straight contests since suffering his last loss in a world title opportunity against Terence Crawford in February of 2016 in New York. Lundy was knocked out in the fifth round challenging for Crawford's WBO Super Lightweight title. Lundy bounced back and won a 12-round unanimous decision over John Delperdang in December of 2016 in Cincinnati, OH for the vacant UBF World Lightweight title. In his only bout of 2017, Lundy notched a fifth-round TKO over Daniel Evangelista, Jr. on June 2 at the 2300 Arena.
BATB will keep you posted on the progress of this contest.
Saturday, January 06, 2018
Franchon Crews Dezurn Signs With Salita Promotions!
Congratulations to Baltimore, MD's Franchon Crews Dezurn, who recently signed a promotional contract with Salita Promotions and she will be a part of the Friday, January 12th card featuring Claressa Shields vs. Tori Nelson at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY.
Crews Dezurn (2-1, one KO) made her pro debut against Shields in November of 2016 and lost a four-round unanimous decision. Since then, she has knocked out Latashia Burton in the first round in March of 2017 at the UDC Physical Activities Center in Washington, DC and won a four-round unanimous decision over Sydney LeBlanc in August of 2017 at the Howard Theatre in DC. Crews Dezurn will face Tiffany Woodard of Wilson, NC (4-9-3, three KO's) in a bout scheduled for six-rounds on the January 12th undercard.
Of course, prior to her pro career, Crews Dezurn was a former highly decorated, elite amateur boxer. Among her many championships, she was an eight-time US Open National Champion, a four-time National Female Golden Gloves Champion, a four-time Pan Am Continental Champion, a two-time National PAL Champion, and a two-time US Olympic Team Alternate.
She also represented Team USA in numerous international competitions, and in 2011, Crews-Dezurn made history by becoming the first of three women in the United States to qualify and compete in the debut of women's boxing at the Pan American Games.
Salita Promotions, headed by former world title contender Dmitriy Salita, has a number of female boxers under contract including Shields and Christina Hammer, who was originally scheduled to be on the January 12th card but now will not be there.
"Women's boxing is suddenly flooded with great talent and Franchon, as a pioneering woman of the modern boxing age, deserves to be part of that group," said Salita. "I'm happy to have reached an agreement with her. With her tremendous skill and marketable personality, Franchon has the potential to become another women's superstar in a golden age for the sport."
Friday, January 05, 2018
Three Big Bouts To Kick Off Beltway Boxing 2018!
Action within the Beltway region has not begun yet. However, three locals will be involved in some huge bouts during the first two months of the year.
We begin on Friday, January 12th at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY where undefeated multi-time world champion Tori "Sho Nuff" Nelson of Ashburn, VA faces the biggest challenge of her career when she takes on two-belt world champion and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa "T-Rex" Shields of Flint, MI in a 10-round contest for Shields's IBF and WBC Super Middleweight championships. The bout will headline a ShoBox card on Showtime.
Nelson (17-0-3, two KO's) comes off a second-round stoppage of Latashia Burton on November 4th in Ashburn at the Silver Eagle Group Arena. Burton injured her leg and could not continue. Nelson, a two-time Beltway Boxer Of The Year, has won 10 world titles in four weight divisions.
Shields (4-0, two KO's) won her world titles in her last outing, a fifth-round TKO over previously undefeated Nikki Adler on August 4th in Detroit, MI. Shields made her pro debut against another Beltway Boxer -- Franchon Crews Dezurn -- in November of 2016 in Las Vegas, NV. Shields won a four-round unanimous decision.
Then on Saturday, January 20th, former three-time world champion Lamont Peterson of Washington, DC returns to action in a 12-round contest as he battles undefeated Errol "The Truth" Spence, Jr. of DeSoto, TX for Spence's IBF Welterweight title. The bout will originate from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY and will also be televised on Showtime.
Peterson (35-3-1, 17 KO's) last fought on February 18th and won a 12-round unanimous decision over David Avaneysan in Cincinnati, OH. Peterson won the regular WBA Welterweight title but gave up the belt late in 2017. Peterson is 6-1 in world title bouts.
Spence (22-0, 19 KO's) will be making the first defense of the title he won on May 27th in Sheffield, England. Spence turned in a dominant performance knocking out hometown hero Kell Brook in the 11th round. Spence, who represented the US in the 2012 Olympics, is 2-0 against current or former world champions, knocking out both Brook and Chris Algeri.
By the way, there will be a bus trip sponsored by the Potomac Valley Association of USA Boxing to this card. All bus tickets are $60 with proceeds going to benefit the PVA Junior Olympic Program. For more information on fight tickets, contact Ricky Womack at 202-528-7694.
Then on Saturday, February 8th, Lynchburg, VA's Scott "Cujo" Sigmon will be the final home opponent for future hall of famer and nine-time world champion Roy Jones, Jr. at the Pensacola Civic Center in Pensacola, FL.
Sigmon (30-11-1, 16 KO's) comes off a 10th round unanimous decision victory over Javier Frazier on August 27th in Lynchburg. All of Sigmon's defeats have come against quality opponents. Sigmon has faced former world champion Kelly Pavlik and newly-crowned titleholder Caleb Truax along with the likes of J'Leon Love, Matt Korobov and Luis Arias.
Jones (65-9, 47 KO's) will be 49 years old by the time this bout takes place. He is coming off an eighth-round TKO victory over Bobby Gunn in Wilmington, DE. Jones is currently riding a three-bout winning streak since his last loss, a crushing knockout to former world champ Enzo Maccarinelli in December of 2015 in Moscow, Russia. Jones has faced two other Beltway Boxers in his career, defeated Percy Harris by fourth-round TKO in December of 1992 in Atlantic City, NJ and stopping Willie Williams in March of 2015 in Concord, NC. No official word on what weight class this bout will be fought and no word on any television coverage.
By the way, Jones won his first world title in Washington, DC defeating fellow future hall of famer Bernard Hopkins by 12-round unanimous decision at RFK Stadium on May 22, 1993. Hopkins would win his first title on April 29, 1995 at the USAir Arena in Largo, MD knocking out Segundo Mercado in the seventh round.
We begin on Friday, January 12th at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY where undefeated multi-time world champion Tori "Sho Nuff" Nelson of Ashburn, VA faces the biggest challenge of her career when she takes on two-belt world champion and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa "T-Rex" Shields of Flint, MI in a 10-round contest for Shields's IBF and WBC Super Middleweight championships. The bout will headline a ShoBox card on Showtime.
Nelson (17-0-3, two KO's) comes off a second-round stoppage of Latashia Burton on November 4th in Ashburn at the Silver Eagle Group Arena. Burton injured her leg and could not continue. Nelson, a two-time Beltway Boxer Of The Year, has won 10 world titles in four weight divisions.
Shields (4-0, two KO's) won her world titles in her last outing, a fifth-round TKO over previously undefeated Nikki Adler on August 4th in Detroit, MI. Shields made her pro debut against another Beltway Boxer -- Franchon Crews Dezurn -- in November of 2016 in Las Vegas, NV. Shields won a four-round unanimous decision.
Then on Saturday, January 20th, former three-time world champion Lamont Peterson of Washington, DC returns to action in a 12-round contest as he battles undefeated Errol "The Truth" Spence, Jr. of DeSoto, TX for Spence's IBF Welterweight title. The bout will originate from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY and will also be televised on Showtime.
Peterson (35-3-1, 17 KO's) last fought on February 18th and won a 12-round unanimous decision over David Avaneysan in Cincinnati, OH. Peterson won the regular WBA Welterweight title but gave up the belt late in 2017. Peterson is 6-1 in world title bouts.
Spence (22-0, 19 KO's) will be making the first defense of the title he won on May 27th in Sheffield, England. Spence turned in a dominant performance knocking out hometown hero Kell Brook in the 11th round. Spence, who represented the US in the 2012 Olympics, is 2-0 against current or former world champions, knocking out both Brook and Chris Algeri.
By the way, there will be a bus trip sponsored by the Potomac Valley Association of USA Boxing to this card. All bus tickets are $60 with proceeds going to benefit the PVA Junior Olympic Program. For more information on fight tickets, contact Ricky Womack at 202-528-7694.
Then on Saturday, February 8th, Lynchburg, VA's Scott "Cujo" Sigmon will be the final home opponent for future hall of famer and nine-time world champion Roy Jones, Jr. at the Pensacola Civic Center in Pensacola, FL.
Sigmon (30-11-1, 16 KO's) comes off a 10th round unanimous decision victory over Javier Frazier on August 27th in Lynchburg. All of Sigmon's defeats have come against quality opponents. Sigmon has faced former world champion Kelly Pavlik and newly-crowned titleholder Caleb Truax along with the likes of J'Leon Love, Matt Korobov and Luis Arias.
Jones (65-9, 47 KO's) will be 49 years old by the time this bout takes place. He is coming off an eighth-round TKO victory over Bobby Gunn in Wilmington, DE. Jones is currently riding a three-bout winning streak since his last loss, a crushing knockout to former world champ Enzo Maccarinelli in December of 2015 in Moscow, Russia. Jones has faced two other Beltway Boxers in his career, defeated Percy Harris by fourth-round TKO in December of 1992 in Atlantic City, NJ and stopping Willie Williams in March of 2015 in Concord, NC. No official word on what weight class this bout will be fought and no word on any television coverage.
By the way, Jones won his first world title in Washington, DC defeating fellow future hall of famer Bernard Hopkins by 12-round unanimous decision at RFK Stadium on May 22, 1993. Hopkins would win his first title on April 29, 1995 at the USAir Arena in Largo, MD knocking out Segundo Mercado in the seventh round.
Thursday, January 04, 2018
Beltway Boxing 2017 -- Boxer Of The Year!
Now we come to our final award -- Boxer Of The Year!
In this year of the Up and the Down, there was one Beltway Boxer who went up and he stayed there. In winning his world title and making his first title defense, he showed that he stands among the best in his division. Throughout his career, he has made the right moves and looks to make even bigger moves in 2018. He wins this award for the second consecutive year, becoming the third local to win this title twice and the second to win the award in back-to-back years. This year, he has this award all to himself.
The 2017 Beltway Boxer Of The Year is:
“Swift” Jarrett Hurd, (21-0, 15 KO’s), junior middleweight, Accokeek, MD
Hurd joined the elite of the junior middleweight division on February 25th in Birmingham, AL when he knocked out Tony Harrison in the ninth round to win the IBF championship. Hurd survived an early Harrison onslaught and worked his way inside to break Harrison down. This has been Hurd’s game plan throughout the big bouts in his career.
Hurd would use a similar game plan in his first title defense against former world champion Austin Trout on October 14th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Trout, who was fighting for the first time in 17 months, was able to establish his jab in the first two rounds. Hurd started to take some control of the contest in the third as he and his challenger started to trade clean shots. Hurd showed a great chin as he was able to seemingly walk through Trout's punches.
In the sixth round, Hurd took complete control of the contest as he hurt Trout with a right hand that staggered him into the corner. Trout, to his credit, came back in the waning moments of that round. In the seventh, Hurd suffered a cut over the left eye because of an accidental head butt but that didn't seem to faze the champion as he caught the former WBA titleholder with a solid right hand.
Hurd was able to damage Trout's right eye in the eighth round but Trout showed a lot of guts and was battling Hurd toe to toe. However, by the ninth, Trout's eye was nearly swollen shut. Hurd punished Trout in the 10th round and after the round, referee Eddie Claudio stopped the contest on the advice of the ringside doctor in Trout's corner. This was the first time Trout had been stopped in his career. Hurd is among the best at 154 pounds. The next goal should be to become among the elite in the sport.
One other note: Hurd is among the most decorated boxers in the BATB era. Not only has he won the Boxer Of The Year award twice, he scored the Knockout Of The Year in 2013 and he was the Prospect Of The Year in 2015.
Honorable Mention:
(Photo courtesy of HoganPhotos)
D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard (18-0, 12 KO’s), super middleweight, Temple Hills, MD
Ballard has quietly increased his level of competition and captured his first regional title along the way. On March 11, Ballard scored a fourth-round TKO over Zoltan Sera in Verona, NY. Then, Ballard won his first title -- the WBC USNBC Super Featherweight championship -- with a 10-round unanimous decision over Adrian Luna on May 18th in Tucson, AZ in front of a nationally-televised (ESPN) audience. Ballard completed his year by returning to Verona to win another 10-round unanimous decision over Jaime Solario on October 21st. This coming year, Ballard should look to break out towards the higher rankings of the 168-pound division.
Gervonta “Tank” Davis (19-0, 18 KO’s), lightweight, Baltimore, MD
Despite the weight issues Davis had during his last bout, the 2016 co-Beltway Boxer Of The Year still had a solid 2017. After winning the IBF Super Featherweight championship with his seventh-round decimation of Jose Pedraza on January 14 in Brooklyn, NY, Davis wasted no time in defending his title, traveling to London, England on May 20th to take on hometown hero Liam Walsh. Davis would brutalize Walsh en route to a third-round knockout in front of Walsh’s own fans. Davis would not compete nearly as well in his third bout in Las Vegas, NV on August 26th, losing the IBF belt on the scales and struggling to an eight-round TKO over Francisco Fonseca. Davis, now scheduled to compete as a lightweight, is still among the most talked about boxers in the sport.
Tyrieshia “Lady Tiga” Douglas (13-1, six KO’s), super flyweight, Baltimore, MD
Douglas’s championship loss to Leonela Yudica in July of 2015 seems to be a distant memory. Her four wins since that defeat have been very quality contests. The two wins in 2017 both ended in knockouts and showed that Douglas remains in championship form. Douglas scored a crushing fourth-round TKO over previously undefeated Ebony Rivera on June 17th in Baltimore, MD for the UBF Super Flyweight title, then looked equally solid in an eight-round stoppage against Crystal Hoy on November 4th in Ashburn, VA. Douglas is someone who deserves another title shot against another quality opponent very soon.
Mykal “The Professor” Fox (15-0, four KO’s) super lightweight/welterweight, Forestville, MD
The year started off with Fox facing his toughest challenge of his career but he survived an eight-round majority decision victory over Tre’Sean Wiggins on February 11th in Fort Washington, MD. Fox returned to Rosecroft Raceway on June 13 and put on a solid performance, defeating Daniel Sostre by eight-round unanimous decision. On November 21st, Fox took a step up in opposition, opportunity and weight and made the steps count as he put on a nice performance in a 10-round unanimous decision over Manuel Alejandro Reyes in Bethlehem, PA. The win earned Fox the UBF All-Americas Welterweight title and placed Fox in a prime position to move into the next level of his career.
Previous Beltway Boxers of the Year:
2006: Eric Aiken
2007: Darnell Wilson
2008: Lamont Peterson/Joshua Snyder
2009: Fernando Guerrero
2010: Tim Coleman
2011: Lamont Peterson
2012: Tony Jeter
2013: Phil Jackson Benson/Tori Nelson
2014: Tori Nelson
2015: Antoine Douglas/Gary Russell, Jr.
2016: Gervonta Davis/Jarrett Hurd
That completes our look at Beltway Boxing 2017! Thank you to everyone who has supported BATB throughout the years. We look forward to continued coverage of "The Best Boxing In The World!"
In this year of the Up and the Down, there was one Beltway Boxer who went up and he stayed there. In winning his world title and making his first title defense, he showed that he stands among the best in his division. Throughout his career, he has made the right moves and looks to make even bigger moves in 2018. He wins this award for the second consecutive year, becoming the third local to win this title twice and the second to win the award in back-to-back years. This year, he has this award all to himself.
The 2017 Beltway Boxer Of The Year is:
“Swift” Jarrett Hurd, (21-0, 15 KO’s), junior middleweight, Accokeek, MD
Hurd joined the elite of the junior middleweight division on February 25th in Birmingham, AL when he knocked out Tony Harrison in the ninth round to win the IBF championship. Hurd survived an early Harrison onslaught and worked his way inside to break Harrison down. This has been Hurd’s game plan throughout the big bouts in his career.
Hurd would use a similar game plan in his first title defense against former world champion Austin Trout on October 14th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Trout, who was fighting for the first time in 17 months, was able to establish his jab in the first two rounds. Hurd started to take some control of the contest in the third as he and his challenger started to trade clean shots. Hurd showed a great chin as he was able to seemingly walk through Trout's punches.
In the sixth round, Hurd took complete control of the contest as he hurt Trout with a right hand that staggered him into the corner. Trout, to his credit, came back in the waning moments of that round. In the seventh, Hurd suffered a cut over the left eye because of an accidental head butt but that didn't seem to faze the champion as he caught the former WBA titleholder with a solid right hand.
Hurd was able to damage Trout's right eye in the eighth round but Trout showed a lot of guts and was battling Hurd toe to toe. However, by the ninth, Trout's eye was nearly swollen shut. Hurd punished Trout in the 10th round and after the round, referee Eddie Claudio stopped the contest on the advice of the ringside doctor in Trout's corner. This was the first time Trout had been stopped in his career. Hurd is among the best at 154 pounds. The next goal should be to become among the elite in the sport.
One other note: Hurd is among the most decorated boxers in the BATB era. Not only has he won the Boxer Of The Year award twice, he scored the Knockout Of The Year in 2013 and he was the Prospect Of The Year in 2015.
Honorable Mention:
(Photo courtesy of HoganPhotos)
D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard (18-0, 12 KO’s), super middleweight, Temple Hills, MD
Ballard has quietly increased his level of competition and captured his first regional title along the way. On March 11, Ballard scored a fourth-round TKO over Zoltan Sera in Verona, NY. Then, Ballard won his first title -- the WBC USNBC Super Featherweight championship -- with a 10-round unanimous decision over Adrian Luna on May 18th in Tucson, AZ in front of a nationally-televised (ESPN) audience. Ballard completed his year by returning to Verona to win another 10-round unanimous decision over Jaime Solario on October 21st. This coming year, Ballard should look to break out towards the higher rankings of the 168-pound division.
Gervonta “Tank” Davis (19-0, 18 KO’s), lightweight, Baltimore, MD
Despite the weight issues Davis had during his last bout, the 2016 co-Beltway Boxer Of The Year still had a solid 2017. After winning the IBF Super Featherweight championship with his seventh-round decimation of Jose Pedraza on January 14 in Brooklyn, NY, Davis wasted no time in defending his title, traveling to London, England on May 20th to take on hometown hero Liam Walsh. Davis would brutalize Walsh en route to a third-round knockout in front of Walsh’s own fans. Davis would not compete nearly as well in his third bout in Las Vegas, NV on August 26th, losing the IBF belt on the scales and struggling to an eight-round TKO over Francisco Fonseca. Davis, now scheduled to compete as a lightweight, is still among the most talked about boxers in the sport.
Tyrieshia “Lady Tiga” Douglas (13-1, six KO’s), super flyweight, Baltimore, MD
Douglas’s championship loss to Leonela Yudica in July of 2015 seems to be a distant memory. Her four wins since that defeat have been very quality contests. The two wins in 2017 both ended in knockouts and showed that Douglas remains in championship form. Douglas scored a crushing fourth-round TKO over previously undefeated Ebony Rivera on June 17th in Baltimore, MD for the UBF Super Flyweight title, then looked equally solid in an eight-round stoppage against Crystal Hoy on November 4th in Ashburn, VA. Douglas is someone who deserves another title shot against another quality opponent very soon.
Mykal “The Professor” Fox (15-0, four KO’s) super lightweight/welterweight, Forestville, MD
The year started off with Fox facing his toughest challenge of his career but he survived an eight-round majority decision victory over Tre’Sean Wiggins on February 11th in Fort Washington, MD. Fox returned to Rosecroft Raceway on June 13 and put on a solid performance, defeating Daniel Sostre by eight-round unanimous decision. On November 21st, Fox took a step up in opposition, opportunity and weight and made the steps count as he put on a nice performance in a 10-round unanimous decision over Manuel Alejandro Reyes in Bethlehem, PA. The win earned Fox the UBF All-Americas Welterweight title and placed Fox in a prime position to move into the next level of his career.
Previous Beltway Boxers of the Year:
2006: Eric Aiken
2007: Darnell Wilson
2008: Lamont Peterson/Joshua Snyder
2009: Fernando Guerrero
2010: Tim Coleman
2011: Lamont Peterson
2012: Tony Jeter
2013: Phil Jackson Benson/Tori Nelson
2014: Tori Nelson
2015: Antoine Douglas/Gary Russell, Jr.
2016: Gervonta Davis/Jarrett Hurd
That completes our look at Beltway Boxing 2017! Thank you to everyone who has supported BATB throughout the years. We look forward to continued coverage of "The Best Boxing In The World!"
Wednesday, January 03, 2018
Beltway Boxing 2017 -- Card Of The Year!
We are now at the Card Of The Year. Although we had some high-profile, nationally-televised cards in the Beltway in 2017, none of those outings compared to many of the outstanding club show cards we had in the area this year. The first card of the year set the pace for the rest of the cards to follow. As good as some of the other cards were, none of those were able to upstage this February card that included the main event boxer getting his toughest victory as a pro, two Knockout Of The Year candidates and one Bout of The Year candidate.
The 2017 Beltway Boxing Card Of The Year took place on:
February 11, 2017 at Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD -- Mykal Fox vs. Tre’Sean Wiggins, Luther Smith vs. Darnell Pierce, Gregory Clark vs. Patrick Rivera, Marcus Bates vs. Alec McGee
This King’s Promotions card had a lot of variety for the Beltway Boxing fan. The main event saw Mykal Fox face his toughest opponent and survive, winning an eight-round majority decision over a very game Tre’sean Wiggins. The co-feature had Luther Smith score a devastating first-round knockout over previously undefeated Darnell Pierce. Also, Marcus Bates stunned Alec McGee with a knockout punch just four seconds into the sixth and final round. The opening bout was a Bout of the Year honorable mention candidate as Gregory Clark won a four-round split decision over Patrick Rivera.
Honorable Mention (In Chronological Order)
March 30th -- Michael’s Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, MD (Kisner vs. Singletary, Artis vs. Wheeler, Dyer vs. Metchenov, Hall vs. White)
The Baltimore Boxing card had a nice selection of bouts. Nick Kisner won an eight-round split decision over Lamont Singletary. Although the bout was a little awkward at times, it was extremely competitive. Sherman Artis made his return to the win and won a close unanimous decision over Steve Wheeler. The Jahmal Dyer/Evgeny Metchenov contest that was among the best bouts of the year was on this card as was Ernest Hall’s win over the always tough Lamont White.
June 17th -- Coppermine DuBurns Arena, Baltimore, MD (T. Douglas vs. Rivera, Reeves vs. Obando, Morris vs. Pearson)
This Shabazz Brothers card makes the list because of the competitiveness of the card. Tyrieshia Douglas won the UBF Super Flyweight title with a fourth-round TKO over Ebony Rivera. Travis Reeves defeated Josue "Chiquilin" Obando of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico by fourth-round disqualification. The other bouts on the card were tough ones for Beltway Boxers as Stephon Morris and Devin Butcher both lost their contests while Mack Allison IV battled to a draw. Also, Jerry Forrest won a unanimous decision.
August 12th -- The Howard Theatre, Washington, DC (Harris vs. Lule, Martin vs. Dixon, Crews-Dezurn vs. LeBlanc)
The Nation’s Fight Night Promotion put on a nice inaugural show led by a six-round unanimous decision win for Patrick Harris against veteran Jesus Lule. Kareem Martin won by six-round shutout over Evincii Dixon. Franchon Crews-Dezurn captured a four-round unanimous decision over Sydney LeBlanc and Tiara Brown stopped Tammy Franks in the second round. Also, Shynggyskhan Tazhibay won a four-round unanimous decision and Tyrek Irby scored a first-round knockout. The card also had outstanding performances from out-of-town boxers Jaron Ennis and Brandon Lee who scored impressive stoppages.
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)
2014 -- July 18 at Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD -- (Larry Recio vs. Grayson Blake, Demond Nicholson vs. Jess Noriega, Terron Grant vs. Jose Del Valle)
2015 -- July 18, Sphinx Club, Washington, DC -- Marq Johns vs. Karl Garcia-Rios, Patrick Harris vs. Rafael Vasquez, Alantez Fox vs. Guillermo Valdes, Mykal Fox vs. Juan Carlos Castillo
2016 -- November 12, Coppermine Du Burns Arena, Baltimore, MD -- Travis Reeves vs. Aaron Quattrocchi, Stephon Morris vs. Gregory Clark, Jeffrey McCalla vs. Jose Valderrama, Devin Butcher vs. Eric Govan
Coming up, our final award: Boxer Of The Year!
The 2017 Beltway Boxing Card Of The Year took place on:
February 11, 2017 at Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD -- Mykal Fox vs. Tre’Sean Wiggins, Luther Smith vs. Darnell Pierce, Gregory Clark vs. Patrick Rivera, Marcus Bates vs. Alec McGee
This King’s Promotions card had a lot of variety for the Beltway Boxing fan. The main event saw Mykal Fox face his toughest opponent and survive, winning an eight-round majority decision over a very game Tre’sean Wiggins. The co-feature had Luther Smith score a devastating first-round knockout over previously undefeated Darnell Pierce. Also, Marcus Bates stunned Alec McGee with a knockout punch just four seconds into the sixth and final round. The opening bout was a Bout of the Year honorable mention candidate as Gregory Clark won a four-round split decision over Patrick Rivera.
Honorable Mention (In Chronological Order)
March 30th -- Michael’s Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, MD (Kisner vs. Singletary, Artis vs. Wheeler, Dyer vs. Metchenov, Hall vs. White)
The Baltimore Boxing card had a nice selection of bouts. Nick Kisner won an eight-round split decision over Lamont Singletary. Although the bout was a little awkward at times, it was extremely competitive. Sherman Artis made his return to the win and won a close unanimous decision over Steve Wheeler. The Jahmal Dyer/Evgeny Metchenov contest that was among the best bouts of the year was on this card as was Ernest Hall’s win over the always tough Lamont White.
June 17th -- Coppermine DuBurns Arena, Baltimore, MD (T. Douglas vs. Rivera, Reeves vs. Obando, Morris vs. Pearson)
This Shabazz Brothers card makes the list because of the competitiveness of the card. Tyrieshia Douglas won the UBF Super Flyweight title with a fourth-round TKO over Ebony Rivera. Travis Reeves defeated Josue "Chiquilin" Obando of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico by fourth-round disqualification. The other bouts on the card were tough ones for Beltway Boxers as Stephon Morris and Devin Butcher both lost their contests while Mack Allison IV battled to a draw. Also, Jerry Forrest won a unanimous decision.
August 12th -- The Howard Theatre, Washington, DC (Harris vs. Lule, Martin vs. Dixon, Crews-Dezurn vs. LeBlanc)
The Nation’s Fight Night Promotion put on a nice inaugural show led by a six-round unanimous decision win for Patrick Harris against veteran Jesus Lule. Kareem Martin won by six-round shutout over Evincii Dixon. Franchon Crews-Dezurn captured a four-round unanimous decision over Sydney LeBlanc and Tiara Brown stopped Tammy Franks in the second round. Also, Shynggyskhan Tazhibay won a four-round unanimous decision and Tyrek Irby scored a first-round knockout. The card also had outstanding performances from out-of-town boxers Jaron Ennis and Brandon Lee who scored impressive stoppages.
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)
2014 -- July 18 at Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD -- (Larry Recio vs. Grayson Blake, Demond Nicholson vs. Jess Noriega, Terron Grant vs. Jose Del Valle)
2015 -- July 18, Sphinx Club, Washington, DC -- Marq Johns vs. Karl Garcia-Rios, Patrick Harris vs. Rafael Vasquez, Alantez Fox vs. Guillermo Valdes, Mykal Fox vs. Juan Carlos Castillo
2016 -- November 12, Coppermine Du Burns Arena, Baltimore, MD -- Travis Reeves vs. Aaron Quattrocchi, Stephon Morris vs. Gregory Clark, Jeffrey McCalla vs. Jose Valderrama, Devin Butcher vs. Eric Govan
Coming up, our final award: Boxer Of The Year!
Beltway Boxing 2017 -- The Bout Of The Year!
Great bouts were few and far between within the Beltway limits in 2017 but a few did stand out and the bout chosen as the best of the year took place on one of the area’s highest profile cards.
The 2017 Beltway Boxing Bout Of The Year Is:
Glenn Dezurn, eight-round unanimous decision over Leroy Davila, April 14th, MGM National Harbor Casino, Oxon Hill, MD
The bout was one of the feature bouts on the card and it took place in front of a nationally televised (Showtime) audience. Dezurn was taking a step up in class as he faced a fellow undefeated boxer who was a former US amateur champion.
The two participated in some brutal exchanges in close throughout the bout. Dezurn seemed to land the harder blows in many of those exchanges. Midway through the bout, Davila altered his game plan to include side-to-side movement. However, Dezurn was successful in cutting the ring off. The two talented boxers ended the contest with a fierce eighth round that saw both men land crushing shots. All three judges scored the bout 78-74 for Dezurn, who became a fan-friendly TV boxer based on the victory. Dezurn would have two more televised bouts in 2017.
Honorable Mention:
Donald Wallace six round unanimous decision over Tahir Thomas, January 13th, Michael’s Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, MD
This was the early leader for this award in 2017. Wallace and Thomas exchanged solid shots during the contest. Thomas took an early advantage by knocking down Wallace with a counter right hand in the third round. However, Wallace recovered and took control of the contest as Thomas seemed to wear down. Wallace continued the assault en route to winning the contest. Judges Ken Chevalier and Don Risher scored the bout 57-56 and judge John Gradowski saw the bout 59-55.
Gregory Clark four-round split decision over Patrick Rivera, February 11th, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD
The bout, the opening contest on this card, set the tone for the rest of this night. Rivera took the early advantage in the contest as he landed some punishing shots. By the end of the second round, however, Clark was able to turn the tide of the bout by hitting Rivera with some solid shots with his right hand. Clark was able to get the nod on the cards of judges David Braslow and Gradowski (39-37) while Chevalier scored the bout for Rivera (39-37).
Jahmal Dyer four-round split decision over Evgueny Metchenov, March 30th, Michael’s Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, MD
Both men showed great fundamentals for boxers making their pro debuts. In the second round, Metchenov seemed to gain an advantage as he rocked Dyer with a flurry of punches. However, during the flurry, Dyer landed a punch that knocked out Metchenov's mouthpiece. The stoppage to return the mouthpiece seemed to give Dyer new life and he was able to remain competitive in the contest. Dyer would win on the scorecards of judges Don Risher and Brent Bovell (39-37). Paul Wallace saw the bout for Metchenov (39-37).
Previous Beltway Boxing 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 (now Eagle Bank Arena), Fairfax, VA
2013: Mike Reed KO 6 over Rameses Gil, September 7, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD
2014: Tony Jeter 10 round majority decision over Jimmy Lange , November 15, George Mason University Patriot Center (now Eagle Bank Arena), Fairfax, VA
2015: Jennifer Salinas 10-round unanimous decision over Melissa St. Vil, November 12, Martin’s Valley Mansion, Cockeysville, MD
2016: Jordan White, six-round unanimous decision over Jose Elizondo, November 5, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD.
Next: The Card Of The Year!
The 2017 Beltway Boxing Bout Of The Year Is:
Glenn Dezurn, eight-round unanimous decision over Leroy Davila, April 14th, MGM National Harbor Casino, Oxon Hill, MD
The bout was one of the feature bouts on the card and it took place in front of a nationally televised (Showtime) audience. Dezurn was taking a step up in class as he faced a fellow undefeated boxer who was a former US amateur champion.
The two participated in some brutal exchanges in close throughout the bout. Dezurn seemed to land the harder blows in many of those exchanges. Midway through the bout, Davila altered his game plan to include side-to-side movement. However, Dezurn was successful in cutting the ring off. The two talented boxers ended the contest with a fierce eighth round that saw both men land crushing shots. All three judges scored the bout 78-74 for Dezurn, who became a fan-friendly TV boxer based on the victory. Dezurn would have two more televised bouts in 2017.
Honorable Mention:
Donald Wallace six round unanimous decision over Tahir Thomas, January 13th, Michael’s Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, MD
This was the early leader for this award in 2017. Wallace and Thomas exchanged solid shots during the contest. Thomas took an early advantage by knocking down Wallace with a counter right hand in the third round. However, Wallace recovered and took control of the contest as Thomas seemed to wear down. Wallace continued the assault en route to winning the contest. Judges Ken Chevalier and Don Risher scored the bout 57-56 and judge John Gradowski saw the bout 59-55.
Gregory Clark four-round split decision over Patrick Rivera, February 11th, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD
The bout, the opening contest on this card, set the tone for the rest of this night. Rivera took the early advantage in the contest as he landed some punishing shots. By the end of the second round, however, Clark was able to turn the tide of the bout by hitting Rivera with some solid shots with his right hand. Clark was able to get the nod on the cards of judges David Braslow and Gradowski (39-37) while Chevalier scored the bout for Rivera (39-37).
Jahmal Dyer four-round split decision over Evgueny Metchenov, March 30th, Michael’s Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, MD
Both men showed great fundamentals for boxers making their pro debuts. In the second round, Metchenov seemed to gain an advantage as he rocked Dyer with a flurry of punches. However, during the flurry, Dyer landed a punch that knocked out Metchenov's mouthpiece. The stoppage to return the mouthpiece seemed to give Dyer new life and he was able to remain competitive in the contest. Dyer would win on the scorecards of judges Don Risher and Brent Bovell (39-37). Paul Wallace saw the bout for Metchenov (39-37).
Previous Beltway Boxing 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 (now Eagle Bank Arena), Fairfax, VA
2013: Mike Reed KO 6 over Rameses Gil, September 7, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD
2014: Tony Jeter 10 round majority decision over Jimmy Lange , November 15, George Mason University Patriot Center (now Eagle Bank Arena), Fairfax, VA
2015: Jennifer Salinas 10-round unanimous decision over Melissa St. Vil, November 12, Martin’s Valley Mansion, Cockeysville, MD
2016: Jordan White, six-round unanimous decision over Jose Elizondo, November 5, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD.
Next: The Card Of The Year!
Tuesday, January 02, 2018
Beltway Boxing 2017 -- Knockout Of The Year!
We now come to the Knockout Of The Year. There weren’t a lot of quality knockouts during Beltway Boxing 2017. However, a few did stand out and one, because of the quality of opposition, got the nod in a very close vote.
The 2017 Beltway Boxing Knockout Of The Year is:
Luther Smith KO 1 over Darnell Pierce -- February 11th, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD.
Smith was making a transition from heavyweight down to cruiserweight. In his second cruiserweight contest, Smith faced undefeated Pierce of Killeen, TX who spent some time in the area in the military. The two southpaw cruiserweights were feeling each other out in the early part of the round when suddenly, Smith sent a straight right hand that landed hard on Pierce and dropped him to the canvas. Pierce barely beat referee David Braslow's count but was not fit to continue. It was a truly stunning knockout, especially given Pierce’s won-loss record at the time. Pierce has not fought since.
Honorable mention:
Marcus Bates KO 6 over Alec McGee, February 11th, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD
This knockout on the very same card came very close to winning the top honor. The two men had a very competitive bout as they were able to exchange solid shots. As the bout entered the sixth round, it looked like Bates was going to go the distance for the first time in his pro career. However, just as the bell rang to start the round, Bates threw a powerful straight right hand that sent McGee to the canvas. Referee Brent Bovell did not bother to count and the bout ended at four seconds of the sixth round. This was the fifth time Bates has knocked out his opponent in the final round of a contest.
Jahmal Dyer KO1 over Dwayne Martin, July 15th, Sphinx Club, Washington, DC.
On the other end of the spectrum, Dyer’s crushing knockout over Martin needed just 22 seconds of the first round. Dyer sent an overhand right crashing against Martin's head that froze Martin and sent him face first to the canvas.
Previous Beltway Boxing 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
2014: Marq Johns TKO 2 over Luis Hernandez --July 18, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD
2015: Travis Reeves TKO 6 over Samar Barakat --July 9, Tall Cedars Hall, Parkville, MD
2016: Sam Crossed KO1 over Mike Estus -- August 19, Crystal City Hilton, Crystal City, VA
Next: The Beltway Boxing Bout Of The Year!
The 2017 Beltway Boxing Knockout Of The Year is:
Luther Smith KO 1 over Darnell Pierce -- February 11th, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD.
Smith was making a transition from heavyweight down to cruiserweight. In his second cruiserweight contest, Smith faced undefeated Pierce of Killeen, TX who spent some time in the area in the military. The two southpaw cruiserweights were feeling each other out in the early part of the round when suddenly, Smith sent a straight right hand that landed hard on Pierce and dropped him to the canvas. Pierce barely beat referee David Braslow's count but was not fit to continue. It was a truly stunning knockout, especially given Pierce’s won-loss record at the time. Pierce has not fought since.
Honorable mention:
Marcus Bates KO 6 over Alec McGee, February 11th, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD
This knockout on the very same card came very close to winning the top honor. The two men had a very competitive bout as they were able to exchange solid shots. As the bout entered the sixth round, it looked like Bates was going to go the distance for the first time in his pro career. However, just as the bell rang to start the round, Bates threw a powerful straight right hand that sent McGee to the canvas. Referee Brent Bovell did not bother to count and the bout ended at four seconds of the sixth round. This was the fifth time Bates has knocked out his opponent in the final round of a contest.
Jahmal Dyer KO1 over Dwayne Martin, July 15th, Sphinx Club, Washington, DC.
On the other end of the spectrum, Dyer’s crushing knockout over Martin needed just 22 seconds of the first round. Dyer sent an overhand right crashing against Martin's head that froze Martin and sent him face first to the canvas.
Previous Beltway Boxing 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
2014: Marq Johns TKO 2 over Luis Hernandez --July 18, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD
2015: Travis Reeves TKO 6 over Samar Barakat --July 9, Tall Cedars Hall, Parkville, MD
2016: Sam Crossed KO1 over Mike Estus -- August 19, Crystal City Hilton, Crystal City, VA
Next: The Beltway Boxing Bout Of The Year!
Beltway Boxing 2017 -- Prospect Of The Year!
Now it is time to name the Beltway Boxing Prospect Of The Year. In previous years, this has been a very tough category to select. However, this year, it was relatively easy.
The Prospect of the Year fought twice in 2017 and he managed to elevate his game based on an improvement in his quality of opposition.
The 2017 Beltway Boxing Prospect Of The Year is:
Malik “Iceman” Hawkins (12-0, nine KO’s), welterweight, Baltimore, MD
Hawkins began his career in late 2014 and made steady increases in his quality of opposition. In 2016, he fought a number of veteran opponents. In 2017, Hawkins took a step up not only in his opponents but also moved to the eight-round plateau. He did not have to go the full eight rounds in either of his bouts, however. Hawkins scored a second-round TKO over previously undefeated Carlos Soto in front of a nationally-televised audience (Showtime) on April 14th at the MGM National Harbor Casino in Oxon Hill, MD. Then, Hawkins stopped Juan Jesus Rivera at the end of the seventh round at the Silver Eagle Group Arena in Ashburn, VA on November 4.
Throughout his career, Hawkins has proven he can travel and be successful and he has proven he can be a ticket draw in front of his home crowd. Hawkins should be a boxer in demand in 2018.
The Prospect of the Year fought twice in 2017 and he managed to elevate his game based on an improvement in his quality of opposition.
The 2017 Beltway Boxing Prospect Of The Year is:
Malik “Iceman” Hawkins (12-0, nine KO’s), welterweight, Baltimore, MD
Hawkins began his career in late 2014 and made steady increases in his quality of opposition. In 2016, he fought a number of veteran opponents. In 2017, Hawkins took a step up not only in his opponents but also moved to the eight-round plateau. He did not have to go the full eight rounds in either of his bouts, however. Hawkins scored a second-round TKO over previously undefeated Carlos Soto in front of a nationally-televised audience (Showtime) on April 14th at the MGM National Harbor Casino in Oxon Hill, MD. Then, Hawkins stopped Juan Jesus Rivera at the end of the seventh round at the Silver Eagle Group Arena in Ashburn, VA on November 4.
Throughout his career, Hawkins has proven he can travel and be successful and he has proven he can be a ticket draw in front of his home crowd. Hawkins should be a boxer in demand in 2018.
Honorable Mention:
Alexandru "Spartan" Marin (15-0, 10 KO's), super flyweight, Bethesda, MD
The Romanian-born Marin continues to impress Beltway Boxing fans. After winning the IBO Bantamweight title in an impressive performance in June of 2016, Marin defeated three veterans in 2017. On May 20th, Marin won a six-round unanimous decision over 100-fight veteran German Meraz at the MGM National Harbor Casino. Then, he knocked out Juan Palacios in the second round on August 12th in Norfolk, VA. Marin also won an eight-round unanimous decision over 10-1 boxer Juan Gabriel Medina on November 4 at the Silver Eagle Group Arena. This year should be the time that Marin gets some national exposure. He is scheduled to compete in his first 10-round contest in April so that might send him on his way.
Gerome "GQ" Quigley (18-0, 16 KO's), welterweight, Gaithersburg, MD
After spending the bulk of his career battling veterans with under -.500 records, Quigley increased the quality of opposition in 2017 while continuing his knack for winning regional titles. After knocking out Dennis Sharpe in the fourth round on March 25 at the UDC Physical Activities Center in Washington, DC, Quigley put on a dominating performance in winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Luis Hernandez on July 15th at the Sphinx Club in Washington, DC, capturing the USBO Welterweight title. One of the great aspects of Quigley's career is his ability to travel and win overseas. Quigley made his fourth career overseas voyage as he went to Neu-Isenburg, Germany and scored a second-round TKO over Orlen Padilla on August 26 to win a German version of the WBU Welterweight title, his fourth career regional title. Quigley's willingness to make voyages and his increasing growth in opposition should serve him well in 2018.
Previous Beltway Boxing Prospects of the Year:
2006: Tyrell Samuel
2007: Tim Coleman
2007: Tim Coleman
2008: Bayan Jargal
2009: Mark Tucker
2010: Gary Russell, Jr. and Seth Mitchell
2011: Maurice Byarm and Venroy July
2012: Thomas Williams, Jr.
2013: Dusty Hernandez Harrison
2014: Mike Reed
2015: Jarrett Hurd
2016: Mykal Fox, Travis Reeves and Lamont Roach, Jr.
Next: The Knockout Of The Year!
Monday, January 01, 2018
Beltway Boxing 2017 -- Rookie Of The Year!
Now, it's time for our first award -- Rookie Of The Year -- given to the Beltway Boxer who achieved the most between November 2016 and November 2017. And for the first time, the award will be given twice. One recipient had a much anticipated first year and he did not disappoint. The other boxer came into the pro ranks under the radar but had a solid rookie season in his own right.
(Photo illustrations by Juan Marshall)
The 2017 Beltway Boxing Rookies Of The Year are:
Antuanne Russell (3-0, three KO’s), super lightweight, Capitol Heights, MD
and
Jahmal Dyer (4-0, two KO’s), lightweight, Baltimore, MD.
Russell, a 2016 United States Olympian, tailored his first-year campaign in the same way his brother, Antonio (who won this same award in 2015) did. Russell faced opponents who didn’t have the best record, however, they had a lot of professional experience. Russell made his pro debut alongside his brothers on May 20th in front of his home crowd at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD, scoring a first-round TKO over Josh Ross. Then on September 19th, Russell knocked out veteran Jesus Lule in the first round on September 19th in Bethlehem, PA. Russell scored his third first-round knockout of the year in his first scheduled six-round bout as he stopped Larry Yanez on November 21st in St. Petersburg, FL. We will see if Russell will make a quick trip to even better competition in 2018.
Dyer competed without a lot of fanfare as an amateur. However, his first year as a pro gave us a number of quality bouts and performances. Dyer made his pro debut on March 30th at Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD and participated in one of the better bouts of 2017, winning a four-round split decision over Evgueny Metchenov. Dyer then traveled to Greensboro, NC and scored a first-round TKO over Molique Artis on April 8th. Dyer returned to the Beltway and needed just 22 seconds to knock out Dwayne Martin at the Sphinx Club in DC on July 15th. Dyer concluded the year with a four-round unanimous decision over Roger Blankenship in Erie, PA on October 7. Now that Dyer is beginning to be on people’s radar, it will be interesting to see how he performs in the coming year.
Honorable Mention:
Malik "Lil Leak" Loften (1-0, one KO), featherweight, Suitland, MD.
Loften only fought once in 2017 but it was arguably the single best performance by a rookie this year. On June 3, Loften defeated equally debuting Jemour Edwards by fourth-round TKO at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, MD. Edwards came out very aggressive during the bout and tried to pressure Loften in the first round. Loften, however, handled the pressure very well and started to land quality head and body shots of his own that, by the fourth round, overwhelmed Edwards and forced referee Brent Bovell to stop the contest at 2:41. The bout said a lot for his confidence early. Loften is scheduled to make an early road trip in February.
Hasim "Goldblooded" Rahman, Jr. (3-0, three KO's), heavyweight, Baltimore, MD.
Rahman, the son of the former undisputed heavyweight champion, is doing a great job making a name for himself in his career. Rahman made his pro debut in the Beltway on April 14th scoring a first-round TKO over fellow Beltway Boxer Ralph Alexander at the MGM National Harbor Casino in Oxon Hill, MD. One week later, Rahman was back in the ring scoring another first-round TKO in Warren, MI against Demetrius Shaw. Then on November 4th, Rahman scored another first-round TKO over veteran James Jones at the Silver Eagle Group Arena in Ashburn, VA. Rahman's record and reputation also seemed to scare off one boxer in Alabama who decided at the last moment not to step in the ring with him. Rahman seems to have the tools early on to make a bigger splash in 2018.
Previous Beltway Boxing Rookies of the Year:
2006: Jessie Nicklow
2007: Bayan Jargal
2008: Fernando Guerrero
2009: Dominic Wade
2010: Nick Kisner
2011: Dusty Hernandez Harrison
2012: Duane Mobley
2013: Mike Reed
2014: Lamont Roach, Jr.
2015: Antonio Russell
2016: Mack Allison IV
Next: The Beltway Boxing Prospect Of The Year!
(Photo illustrations by Juan Marshall)
The 2017 Beltway Boxing Rookies Of The Year are:
Antuanne Russell (3-0, three KO’s), super lightweight, Capitol Heights, MD
and
Jahmal Dyer (4-0, two KO’s), lightweight, Baltimore, MD.
Russell, a 2016 United States Olympian, tailored his first-year campaign in the same way his brother, Antonio (who won this same award in 2015) did. Russell faced opponents who didn’t have the best record, however, they had a lot of professional experience. Russell made his pro debut alongside his brothers on May 20th in front of his home crowd at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD, scoring a first-round TKO over Josh Ross. Then on September 19th, Russell knocked out veteran Jesus Lule in the first round on September 19th in Bethlehem, PA. Russell scored his third first-round knockout of the year in his first scheduled six-round bout as he stopped Larry Yanez on November 21st in St. Petersburg, FL. We will see if Russell will make a quick trip to even better competition in 2018.
Dyer competed without a lot of fanfare as an amateur. However, his first year as a pro gave us a number of quality bouts and performances. Dyer made his pro debut on March 30th at Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD and participated in one of the better bouts of 2017, winning a four-round split decision over Evgueny Metchenov. Dyer then traveled to Greensboro, NC and scored a first-round TKO over Molique Artis on April 8th. Dyer returned to the Beltway and needed just 22 seconds to knock out Dwayne Martin at the Sphinx Club in DC on July 15th. Dyer concluded the year with a four-round unanimous decision over Roger Blankenship in Erie, PA on October 7. Now that Dyer is beginning to be on people’s radar, it will be interesting to see how he performs in the coming year.
Honorable Mention:
Malik "Lil Leak" Loften (1-0, one KO), featherweight, Suitland, MD.
Loften only fought once in 2017 but it was arguably the single best performance by a rookie this year. On June 3, Loften defeated equally debuting Jemour Edwards by fourth-round TKO at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, MD. Edwards came out very aggressive during the bout and tried to pressure Loften in the first round. Loften, however, handled the pressure very well and started to land quality head and body shots of his own that, by the fourth round, overwhelmed Edwards and forced referee Brent Bovell to stop the contest at 2:41. The bout said a lot for his confidence early. Loften is scheduled to make an early road trip in February.
Hasim "Goldblooded" Rahman, Jr. (3-0, three KO's), heavyweight, Baltimore, MD.
Rahman, the son of the former undisputed heavyweight champion, is doing a great job making a name for himself in his career. Rahman made his pro debut in the Beltway on April 14th scoring a first-round TKO over fellow Beltway Boxer Ralph Alexander at the MGM National Harbor Casino in Oxon Hill, MD. One week later, Rahman was back in the ring scoring another first-round TKO in Warren, MI against Demetrius Shaw. Then on November 4th, Rahman scored another first-round TKO over veteran James Jones at the Silver Eagle Group Arena in Ashburn, VA. Rahman's record and reputation also seemed to scare off one boxer in Alabama who decided at the last moment not to step in the ring with him. Rahman seems to have the tools early on to make a bigger splash in 2018.
Previous Beltway Boxing Rookies of the Year:
2006: Jessie Nicklow
2007: Bayan Jargal
2008: Fernando Guerrero
2009: Dominic Wade
2010: Nick Kisner
2011: Dusty Hernandez Harrison
2012: Duane Mobley
2013: Mike Reed
2014: Lamont Roach, Jr.
2015: Antonio Russell
2016: Mack Allison IV
Next: The Beltway Boxing Prospect Of The Year!
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