Saturday, June 30, 2018

Brown Dominates In Main Event!

Bladensburg, MD featherweight "The Dark Menace" Tiara Brown scored an impressive fifth-round TKO over Brittany "Pretty Girl" Cruz of Denver, CO in the main event of the Putney Promotions card at the Sphinx Club in Washington, DC.

After a feeling-out process in the first round, Brown went to work as she landed crushing body shots in the second round.  One of her body shots, combined with a straight left to the head, dropped Cruz to the canvas.

The bout belonged to Brown the rest of the way as she pressured Cruz the rest of the contest.  Brown ended the bout in the fifth round with a solid left to the body to drop Cruz for the last time.  Cruz's corner called a halt to the bout at 1:49.  Brown remains undefeated at 5-0, three KO's while Cruz is now 11-10-2, two KO's.



Martin Wins Majority Decision Over Womack In Co-Feature!

DC welterweight Kareem "Reemo" Martin won a four-round majority decision over Baltimore's Kevin "The Scarecrow" Womack, Jr. in the co-feature bout at the Sphinx Club.

Martin came out strong in the first two rounds as he landed shots to Womack's head and body.  However, the veteran Womack seemed to turn the tide in the second half of the bout as he started to pressure the shorter Martin.

There was a pivotal point in the third round of the contest.  Womack seemed to wobble Martin with a right hand.  However, as Martin was staggering from Womack's punches, referee Brent Bovell momentarily halted the action and did not rule a knockdown for Womack. 

When the scorecards were announced, judges Dave Braslow and Wayne Smith scored the bout for Martin, 38-37 and 39-37 respectively. Judge Manuel Vicens saw the draw at 38-38.

Martin bounces back into the win column at 10-2-1, three KO's.  Womack falls to 8-16-4, six KO's.

Williams Batters Mendoza Chico En Route To 4th Round Knockout!

DC bantamweight Daron "Sweet Tay" Williams put on a great performance scoring a fourth-round TKO over Marco Mendoza Chico of Mexico City, Mexico.

Williams was incredibly accurate as landed lefts to the head and rights to the body knocked Mendoza all around the ring.  Finally, in the fourth, Williams landed a crushing left uppercut that dropped Mendoza to one knee.  Referee Michelle Myers called the bout off at 2:19 of the fourth.  Williams remains undefeated at 7-0, four KO's.  Mendoza drops to 11-8-1, four KO's.

Hines Wins Unanimous Decision At Sphinx Club!

In the opening contest of the Putney Promotions card at the Sphinx Club in Washington, DC, local welterweight Cornell "Hitman" Hines won a relatively easy four-round unanimous decision over Samuel Forjoe of The Bronx, NY.

Hines was the aggressor throughout the bout, although Forjoe's awkward style made him hard for Hines to hit at times.  Forjoe fought in a mostly defensive manner, allowing Hines to win by shutout across the board,  40-36.  Hines goes the distance for the first time and remains undefeated at 3-0, two KO's.  Forjoe remains winless at 0-4.

Results From Martin's West!

The Shabazz Brotherz Promotions card held Friday night at Martin's West in Woodlawn, MD proved to be a great night for the family of former undisputed heavyweight champion and Baltimore, MD native Hasim Rahman, Sr.  

Heavyweight Hasim "Gold Blooded" Rahman, Jr. knocked out Stephen Tyner of Akron, OH at one second of the second round.  Rahman, Jr. was dominant through the first round, battering Tyner from the opening bell.  Right at the end of the first, Rahman, Jr. landed a crushing right hand that dropped Tyner to the canvas.  Tyner managed to beat referee Brent Bovell's count and make it to his corner.  However, as the bell rang to start the second round, Tyner could not get off of his stool and the bout would be stopped.  Rahman, Jr. remains undefeated at 5-0, four KO's while Tyner falls to 4-16-3, two KO's.

Rahman, Jr.'s brother, Sharif "C3" Rahman, won a four-round unanimous decision in a light heavyweight bout over Tahlik Taylor of Greensboro, NC.  In going the distance for the first time in his young career, Rahman handled the distance easily as he was able to outwork Taylor in the contest. Judge David Braslow scored a shutout for Rahman, 40-36 while judges Kenny Chevalier and John Gradowski saw the bout 39-37 for Rahman, who is now 3-0, two KO's while Taylor falls to 3-11-1, one KO.

Rahman, Sr.'s brother, Muhsin "The Spartan" Cason,  won a cruiserweight bout by four-round unanimous decision over the debuting Charles Johnson of Upper Marlboro, MD.  Cason showed a strong jab that kept Johnson off balance throughout the bout.  Johnson tried to fight back but Cason's offense was too strong as he won by shutout across the board, 40-36.  Cason's record is now 2-0.

In the featured bout of the evening, Baltimore, MD super flyweight Tyrieshia "Lady Tiga" Douglas battled "The Iron Lady" Helen Joseph of New Haven, CT by way of Nigeria to a 10-round majority draw in a bout for the Universal Boxing Federation Super Flyweight title.  Both boxers had elaborate ring walks -- Joseph wore a unique headdress and was accompanied by live drummers and dancing girls.  Douglas, originally from Washington, DC, would follow with African warriors as she came to the ring.

The bout was halted before it started as the Douglas camp complained of a substance that was on Joseph's body.  Maryland Commission officials made the Joseph corner wipe the substance off their boxer's body before the bout could begin.  Once the bout got underway, Joseph proved to be the aggressor in the contest as she forced Douglas backward and did not allow Douglas to use her vaunted hand speed.  Douglas used good defense to avoid some of Joseph's punches but Joseph did land her share.

Judge Don Risher saw the bout for Joseph, 98-92 but he was overruled by judges Braslow and Gradowski who scored the draw at 95-95.  Douglas is now 13-1-1, six KO's while Joseph is 11-3-2, 10 KO's.

In other bouts on the card, Bronx, NY light heavyweight Travis "Holy" Toledo made a successful debut knocking out "The Black Mamba" Marvin Johnson of Gwynn Oak, MD in the second round.  Johnson actually got off to a good start in the first round as he was very aggressive, landing quality shots and keeping Toledo off balance.  However, in the second round, Toledo turned the tables and landed a wicked right uppercut that dropped Johnson face first to the canvas.  Referee Brent Bovell didn't bother to finish his count and waived the bout off at 39 seconds of the second round.  Johnson falls to 1-1, one KO.

Hanover, MD middleweight Ashton "The Goon" Sykes won a four-round unanimous decision over Alberto Delgado of Roanoke, VA.  Sykes was in control throughout this contest as he was offensive-minded and landed a quality left jab.  Delgado provided very little offense in the contest.  Sykes would win by shutout (40-36) across the board.  Sykes is now 2-1 while Delgado falls to 0-3-3.

In the opening contest, "The Egyptian Magician" Omar Kabary Salem of the Bronx, NY won a four-round unanimous decision over Latiss "No Love" Norman of Cleveland, OH.  Salem landed a good right hand following his left jab for the duration of the contest.  Norman could not keep up with Salem's onslaught.  Salem would win the bout by shutout.  Salem remains undefeated at 3-0 while Norman drops to 1-2, one KO.

The card also featured an amateur contest in which Baltimore's outstanding amateur middleweight Lorenzo "Truck" Simpson defeated Maurice Winslow, Jr. of Atlanta, GA.  There was also an exhibition bout between Maryland lightweight boxers Mack "Papi" Allison IV and "The Red Comet" Dante Cox.

The matchmaker on the card was "The Boxing Diva" Renee Aiken.  The ring announcer was Henry "Discombobulating" Jones.




Thursday, June 28, 2018

Bouts Added To June 30th Card In DC!

Bouts have been added to the Putney Promotions card on Saturday, June 30th at the Sphinx Club in Washington, DC.

The main event for the card remains the same -- a six-round featherweight bout between undefeated "The Dark Menace" Tiara Brown of Bladensburg, MD and Brittany "Pretty Girl" Cruz of Thornton, CO.  Brown (4-0, two KO's) comes off a four-round unanimous decision victory over Natalie King on November 18th at the Merrick Recreation Center in DC.  Cruz (11-9-2, two KO's) last fought on November 3rd and lost a six-round unanimous decision to Patricia Juarez in Westminster, CO.

In an all-Beltway welterweight co-feature, DC's Kareem "Reemo" Martin will take on Baltimore, MD's Kevin "The Scarecrow" Womack, Jr. in a four-round encounter.  Martin (9-2-1, three KO's) looks to bounce back from an eight-round unanimous decision loss to Ryan Karl on November 17th in Flint, MI.  Womack (8-15-4, six KO's) also lost in his last encounter, as he was stopped in the fifth round by Wellington Romero on December 15th in Austell, GA.

The card will mark the return of DC super bantamweight Malik Jackson who will battle veteran Bryann Perez Navarez of Carolina, Puerto Rico in a four-round contest.  Jackson (2-0, two KO's) has not fought since January of 2017 when he scored a fourth-round TKO victory over Christian Foster in Atlantic City, NJ.  Navarez (2-10-1, one KO) will look to break an eight-bout losing streak.  Navarez is 0-2 against Beltway Boxers, losing bouts to Jordan Peters and Marq Johns.

DC welterweight Cornell "Hitman" Hines will be in a four-round bout against Samuel Forjoe of the Bronx, NY by way of Ghana.  Hines (2-0, two KO's) has scored first-round TKO's in both of his bouts, including one against Clifford McPherson on November 18th at the Merrick Recreation Center. Forjoe (0-3) has his second bout this month.  Forjoe lost a four-round unanimous decision to Daiyann Butt on June 2nd in Atlantic City.

Super lightweight Dionte "Mr. Untouchable" Burts of DC will be in a four-round bout against Derron Lawson of Philadelphia, PA.  Burts (4-0, two KO's) comes off a four-round unanimous decision win over David Veras Pena on May 12th in Hockessin, DE.  Lawson (0-1) lost his pro debut against Johnathan Arroyo on March 16th in Huntington, NY.

DC cruiserweight Derrick "The Icon" Brent Corley returns to action in a four-round bout against the debuting Steward Chester.  Corley (1-2, one KO) is the son of former WBO Super Lightweight champion DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley and returns to action for the first time since June of 2016 when he scored a fourth-round stoppage of Michael Tillery in Charlotte, NC.

In other bouts on the card, undefeated super lightweight Marcos Suarez of The Bronx will battle Elliott Brown of Erie, PA in a four-round contest.  Suarez (5-0-1, one KO) has not fought since defeating May of 2015 when he defeated Sidney Maccow by four-round unanimous decision in Queens, NY.  Brown (1-4, one KO) lost his fourth straight bout on March 10 when he was stopped in the second round by Matthew Gonzalez in Brooklyn, NY.

Another Bronx boxer makes his return on this card in welterweight Gledwin Ortiz who will take on Ray Barlow of Atlanta, GA in a four-round bout.  Ortiz (4-2, three KO's) has not fought since September of 2016 when he lost by third-round TKO to Sammy Valentin in Kissimmee, FL.  Barlow (2-0) last fought on July 29th when he won a four-round unanimous decision over Pedro Martinez, Jr. in Charlotte, NC.

The weigh-in for this card is open to the public and will be held at TKO Burger located at 2350 Washington Place NE in DC.  The weigh-in will be on Friday, June 29th and begin at 5 PM.


Tuesday, June 26, 2018

BATB Podcast Now Heard On Stitcher!




We are proud to announce that the Boxing Along The Beltway Podcast can now be heard on Stitcher!  This is a big moment as Stitcher.com is one of my favorite apps to hear podcasts on.  You can hear all the news and notes, interviews and blow-by-blow action on Stitcher by going to this link:  ​​https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid="201707"&refid=stpr.

So now you can hear the BATB Podcast on Spreaker.com, Iheartradio.com, YouTube and now on Stitcher!  Of course, you can also download the Boxing Along The Beltway Google App For Android as well!

Sunday, June 24, 2018

June 29th Amateur Boxing Card Is Annual Tribute to Promoter's Father!


Baltimore Boxing will have an amateur boxing card on Friday, June 29th at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD.  The card is the annual tribute to Murray B. "The Bushwacker" Smith, father of the promoter, Jake "The Snake" Smith.

Murray Smith was a fervent supporter of his son's exploits as Jake moved from boxer to trainer to gym owner and promoter.  Murray Smith passed away in July of 2013 at the age of 72 after a long battle with cancer.

The card is scheduled to feature a battle for the East Coast Light Heavyweight championship as Tyler Langer battles Stephan McCray.  Also, lightweight Magnus Benz takes on Russell Griffis.  There will also be a boxing appearance by fitness performer and former Marine Lisa Bodenburg.

Tickets for seats are $40 to $60.  For tables, it's $400 to $600. To purchase tickets, go to www.baltimoreboxing.com.

Davis Takes Silver At Chemistry Cup!

Alexandria, VA lightweight Keyshawn Davis has won a silver medal at the Chemistry Cup tournament in Halle, Germany.

On Saturday, Davis lost a tough 3-2 decision to world champion Lazaro Jorge Alvarez Estrada of Cuba.  This is the second international medal that Davis has won, after winning a gold medal at the Strandja Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria in February.

Saturday, June 23, 2018

Nelson Loses Unanimous Decision In Detroit Championship Bid!



(Photo by Bob Ryder)

Ashburn, VA middleweight Tori "Sho Nuff" Nelson lost by 10-round unanimous decision to undefeated Christina "Lady" Hammer of Dortmund, Germany Friday evening at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, MI.  The bout was televised by Showtime. With the victory, Hammer regains her WBC and WBO Middleweight championships.

Hammer used an outstanding left jab and followed up with a solid right hand to keep Nelson at bay.  As usual, Nelson showed her toughness throughout the contest and was in no danger of being knocked down but she could not get inside Hammer's long reach.  The battle moved along at the same pace throughout the 10 rounds.  Hammer won by scores of 100-90 and 99-91 twice.  Nelson's record is now 17-2-3, two KO's while Hammer is now 23-0, 10 KO's.

Friday, June 22, 2018

Davis Advances To Chemistry Cup Finals!

Alexandria, VA lightweight Keyshawn Davis has moved into the finals of the Chemistry Cup Tournament in Halle, Germany.

On Friday, Davis won his semifinal bout by unanimous decision over Murat Yildirim of Germany.  Davis will battle three-time world champion Lazaro Jorge Alvarez Estrada of Cuba in the Lightweight championship.  Should Davis win, it will be the second international victory of this year.  Davis is one of three American boxers who have advanced to the finals of the Chemistry Cup.

DC Boxing Hall Of Famer Salim Publishes New Novel; Has Book Signing June 30th!



Another prominent member of the Beltway Boxing community has branched out into another endeavor.  He has recently published his first novel and will have a book signing next week.

District of Columbia Boxing Hall of Famer A.H. Sharif Salim has written a novel entitled Tomboy: An Epic Journey Of A Child Refugee Becoming A MultiSport World Champion.  This is a fictional story based on true events and tells the tale of Jarmila Bartanovic and her mother Sanela, as they struggle to survive their war-torn Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Having escaped the carnage and devastation of their homeland, mother and child soon face a different set of life challenges living in their new home of America. The protagonist rises from a homeless refugee to become the highest paid female athlete in the world.

Salim, who is the brother of legendary trainer Adrian Davis, has been involved in the local boxing scene for more than 30 years.  Salim has promoted numerous boxing cards in the area including an outdoor card that featured future International Boxing Hall of Famer Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson as he returned to his high school alma mater, Eastern High in Washington, DC, in October of 1995.  Salim also managed two prominent heavyweight contenders, Corey "T-Rex" Sanders and Seth "Mayhem" Mitchell.  Salim was inducted into the DC Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014.

Salim will have a book signing on Saturday, June 30th at the Barnes and Noble located in the Bowie Town Center, 15606 Emerald Way in Bowie, MD from 11 AM to 4 PM.

Thursday, June 21, 2018

Davis Wins Opening Bout At Chemistry Cup In Germany!

Alexandria, VA amateur lightweight Keyshawn Davis has won his first bout at the 2018 Chemistry Cup in Halle, Germany.

Davis won a 5-0 decision over Artur Subkhankulov of Russia earlier today.  With the win, Davis is guaranteed to medal in the event going into Friday's semifinals where he will take on Murat Yildirim of Germany.  Davis won a gold medal at the Strandja Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria in February.

Nelson Weighs 157.6 For Middleweight Title Bout In Detroit!



(Photo by TJ_Boxing)

Tori Nelson weighed in at 157.6 pounds for her 10-round WBC/WBO Middleweight title bout against champion Christina Hammer Friday at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, MI.  Hammer came in at 159.4 pounds.

The bout will be the second contest televised on the Showtime Boxing: Special Edition broadcast that begins Friday at 10 PM ET.

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Nelson, Hammer Give Final Words On Championship Bout In Detroit!



(Photos by Bob Ryder)

The four female combatants for the Friday, June 22nd middleweight championship doubleheader at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, MI had their final press conference on Wednesday. 



This includes multi-time former world champion Tori "Sho Nuff" Nelson of Ashburn, VA who will take on Christina Hammer of Dortmund, Germany in the co-feature bout for Hammer's WBC and WBO Middleweight titles.   The main event has Claressa Shields of Flint, MI facing Hanna Gabriels of Alajuela, Costa Rica for the vacant WBA and IBF Middleweight championships. 

Here's what the Nelson and Hammer had to say.

Tori Nelson:  “I must say that I was very hurt to get my first loss but to have it against Claressa, I’m honored. She carries herself as a champion and in order to find out if you are the best, you have to fight the best. That’s what I did. I went up a weight class and I fought the best. She showed me she was.

“Styles make fights and it’s going to be interesting but we’re going to take this win home.”

Christina Hammer:  “I’m ready for this. I’m ready for you Tori. You want these two belts? You have to pass through me first. It’s time for me to shine and I’m ready.

“It was disappointing for me not to fight in January. I had some visa issues but now I have everything in order for me to make my debut. I’m so excited to finally step into the ring in the U.S.

“Right now, I’m only focused on my next fight and Tori is my target. Whatever Claressa does, I’m not focused on that. After the fight, I’m looking forward to fighting her but at the moment it’s only Hammer and Nelson.

“I saw Tori fight against Claressa. Tori is a tough fighter who likes to come forward and land some punches from the outside. I’m a longtime champion and I know how to fight against these types of fighters who come forward.

“I feel that I’m in the best shape of my life right now. I prepared very well and I have my weight already. I ate very disciplined and clean. I spent a week in Ft. Lauderdale and now I’m in Detroit so I feel ready to go and looking forward to the fight.

“I think Shields is looking forward to fighting me and is not so focused on Gabriels like she should be. I am focused only on Nelson and that’s who I prepared to beat. After this fight, we can talk about Hanna or Shields.”

Craig Fladager, Nelson's Trainer: “They say that lightning doesn’t strike twice in one spot but we were fortunate enough to get a second opportunity on SHOWTIME. There’s no shame in losing to probably the best female fighter there’s ever been. Mad respect for Claressa. We like our chances against Christina Hammer, who we have a lot of respect for. Styles make fights. In this one, it’s kind of like Ali vs. Frazier. You have the tall, long Christina with the great jab and you have Tori at her best fighting weight. It’s going to be a really good contrast of styles and a great fight to watch.”

The televised portion of the card begins at 10 PM ET.  The Nelson-Hammer bout will be the second bout on the Showtime telecast.  One other note:  BATB has learned that "The Heavy Hitting Diva" Franchon Crews Dezurn of Baltimore, MD is no longer on the card.  No official reason was given.

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

More Bouts Are Announced For June 29th Card in Woodlawn!




More bouts have been announced for the Shabazz Brothers card on Friday, June 29th at Martin's West in Woodlawn, MD.

The main event remains the same -- a 10-round contest between between flyweights Tyrieshia "Lady Tiga" Douglas of Baltimore, MD and Helen "Iron Lady" Joseph of New Haven, CT by way of Nigeria.  Douglas (13-1, six KO's) last fought on November 4th and scored an eighth-round TKO over Crystal Hoy in Ashburn, VA.  Joseph (15-3-1, 10 KO's) has scored three straight second-round knockouts in her last three contests.

The Rahman Family of Baltimore, MD will all be in action on this card.  Heavyweight Hasim "Gold Blooded" Rahman, Jr. will battle Steven Tyner of Albany NY by way of Cleveland, OH in a four-round contest.  Rahman, Jr. (4-0, three KO's) comes off a four-round majority decision win over Ronny Hale on February 10th in Philadelphia, PA.  Tyner (4-15-3, two KO's) won a four-round unanimous decision over Ryan Covert in May of 2017 in Butler, PA.

Younger brother Sharif "C3" Rahman will take on Tahlik Taylor of Freeport, NY in a four-round light heavyweight contest.  Rahman (2-0, two KO's) has scored first-round knockouts in his two bouts, including one over Curt Johnson on September 30th in Kansas City, KS.  Taylor (3-10-1, one KO) is unbeaten in his last two outings, getting a draw and a win.  Taylor battled Darren Goodall to a six-round draw in his last contest on May 4th in Whippany, NJ.

There will also be an appearance by former undisputed World Heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman, Sr.'s brother, Muhsin Cason who will battle the debuting Charles Johnson of Washington, DC in a four-round cruiserweight tilt.  Cason (1-0) made his pro debut on May 5th and won a four-round unanimous decision over Alexander Rosales Cruz in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.  Johnson was a talented amateur from 2008-2010, winning a USA Boxing regional championship and participating in the local and regional Golden Gloves.

Also on the card will be Columbia, MD middleweight Ashton "The Goon" Sykes who will take on Alberto Delgado of Roanoke, VA in a four-round bout.  Sykes (1-1) looks to bounce back from dropping a four-round majority decision to Angel Martinez on December 8th in Tampa, FL.  Delgado (0-2-3) has battled to two draws in his last two contests against the same boxer, Tomas Williams.  The first took place on August 27th in Lynchburg, VA and the second was on November 30th at the MGM National Harbor Casino in Oxon Hill, MD.  Delgado's losses both came to Beltway Boxers -- Joey Veazey and Justin Hurd. 

Baltimore, MD super featherweight Mack "Papi" Allison IV will be in a scheduled four-round contest against Rashad Bogar of Newark, NJ.  Allison (7-1-1, seven KO's) will look to bounce back from his six-round unanimous decision loss to Reggie Barnett on December 9th in Norfolk, VA.  Bogar (4-7-1, two KO's) has not fought since May of 2016 and looks to break a three-bout losing streak.

Light heavyweight Marvin Johnson of Baltimore will battle the debuting Travis "Holy" Toledo of the Bronx, NY in a four-rounder.  Johnson defeated the aforementioned Tahlik Taylor by first-round knockout in his pro debut on February 18th in Stone Mountain, GA.  Toledo is a well-known amateur in New York who participated numerous times in the New York Golden Gloves.

Middleweight Omar Kabary Salem of Brooklyn, NY will also be on the card in a four-round contest against Latiss Norman of Cleveland, OH.  Salem (2-0) won both of his bouts against the same boxer, Leon DeShields, by four-round unanimous decision.  Norman (1-1, one KO) bounced back from losing his pro debut in March to score a fourth-round TKO over Joshua Kuhn on May 25th in Pittsburgh, PA.

Other boxers looking for opponents on this card include Newport News, VA heavyweight Jerry "Slug" Forrest (19-2, 15 KO's) and Scranton, PA middleweight Ryan Wilczak (6-0, three KO's).




'Negotiations' Music Video Features Beltway Boxing Stars!

Interesting find here.  DC-based award-winning rapper Wale has just released a new EP called "Self Promotion."  One of the songs on the EP is a tune called "Negotiations" and the music video for the song features three prominent Beltway Boxing people and an equally-prominent location.

IBF/WBA/IBO Super Welterweight champion "Swift" Jarrett Hurd is seen in a boxing session with undefeated welterweight contender Dusty Hernandez Harrison. Also seen briefly in the video is Harrison's father, Buddy.  A good portion of the video was filmed at Buddy Harrison's gym, Old School Boxing in Fort Washington, MD.  The video was directed by Chris Hernandez.

Wale has been a long-time supporter of the Beltway Boxing scene and he had a cousin, Abodunrin "Big Bo" Akinyanju, who was a heavyweight from 2009-2012.  Akinyanju passed away in 2012 in a tragic truck accident.

I'm not a big authority on today's rap music but I think fans will enjoy this.  Please click on this World Star Hip Hop exclusive video.

Hernandez Harrison Earns Release From Promotional Contract!

Undefeated Washington, DC welterweight Dusty Hernandez Harrison is now a promotional free agent after obtaining his release from Roc Nation Sports. 

The 24-year-old Harrison, a former USBA, WBC Continental Americas and WBC Youth champion, is eager to get back in the ring.  Harrison (30-0-1, 16 KO's) has not fought since winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Thomas LaManna in September of 2016 in Philadelphia, PA.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to get back into the ring and fulfill my goal of becoming a world champion,” Hernandez-Harrison said in a press release. “I am in the gym and I am working hard to get back to where I was two years ago.”

“I just want to fight at this point; it’s been way too long,” Hernandez-Harrison added.  “I would really like to have a few fights at home. “I love fighting in D.C., and I can’t wait to fight in front of my hometown fans again.”



Sunday, June 17, 2018

Quigley-Serrano Championship Bout Ends In No-Contest!


(Photos by Mike Greenhill)

The scheduled 10-round main event bout between Gerome "GQ" Quigley of Montgomery Village, MD and Raymond "Tito" Serrano of Philadelphia, PA at the Gardens Ice House in Laurel, MD ended in a disappointing no-contest after almost two rounds.




In the first round, Serrano surprised the large partisan crowd by landing solid shots to put Quigley on his heels.  However, during the round, the two men clashed heads causing a cut on Quigley's forehead.  The cut continued to bleed during the second round and ringside physicians could not stop the bleeding and asked referee Kenny Chevalier to stop the contest at 1:59 of the second.

Quigley's record is 18-0, 16 KO's, one NC and Serrano is 24-5, 10 KO's, one NC.  The USBA Welterweight and WBC USNBC Welterweight titles the two men were fighting for remain vacant.




The co-feature contest saw a Beltway Boxing Knockout Of The Year candidate delivered by Greenbelt, MD cruiserweight "The Vanilla Gorilla" Sam Crossed.  Crossed needed just 23 seconds to knock out Joshua Jones of Brunswick, MA.  Crossed, who won the same award in 2016, landed a devastating right hand to Jones's chin that made Jones slump forward and fall to his knees.  Referee Brent Bovell immediately waived the bout off without a count.  Crossed remains undefeated at 7-0, five KO's while Jones loses for the first time at 2-1, one KO.


Clinton, MD super featherweight Cobia "The Soldier" Breedy won a six-round unanimous decision over Drew "Cruel Intentions" Correll of Danville, VA.  After a close couple of rounds, Breedy's speed and accuracy took over in the bout as he started to settle down and land the majority of telling blows.  Referee David Braslow took a point away from Correll for spitting out his mouthpiece in the fourth round.  Breedy would finish the bout with a strong sixth round.  Judges John Gradowski and Don Risher scored the bout 60-54 while judge Paul Wallace saw the contest 60-53.   Breedy is now 12-0, four KO's while Correll suffers his first pro loss and is now 9-1, eight KO's.



This Jeter Promotions/GQ Promotions card also had an area Bout Of The Year candidate as "The Cisco Kid" Francisco Bustos of Rockville, MD won a tough four-round unanimous decision over Jauvan John of Newport News, VA.  The two men battled hard for all four rounds. However, after surviving a tough onslaught by John in the first round, Bustos landed a strong right hand in the second round that dropped John to the canvas.  John would beat the count and come back to make the bout close but Bustos was able to withstand his oppnent's onslaught with quality shots of his own.  Judge Gradowski saw the bout 39-36 while judges Risher and Wallace scored the contest 38-37 for Bustos, who remains undefeated at 7-0, four KO's.  John is now 2-6-1.

Glenarden, MD super lightweight Drayvontay Speed Rawls scored a fourth-round TKO over Matthew Murphy of East St. Louis, MO.  Speed Rawls would use Murphy for target practice throughout the contest, landing quality blows that battered his opponent.  Murphy provided little offense during the bout.  Eventually, Murphy's corner had the referee stop the contest at 1:34 of the fourth.  Speed Rawls is now 10-1-1, seven KO's while Murphy falls to 3-25-3, two KO's.

Oxon Hill, MD welterweight Rashad "Code Blue" Kilpatrick won a four-round unanimous decision over Lamont White of Washington, DC.  Kilpatrick was in complete control of the bout as White was in a defensive/survival mode.  Kilpatrick would win by shutout across the board, 40-36.  Kilpatrick raises his record to 2-0, one KO while White is 1-13, one KO.

Laurel, MD lightweight "The Red Comet" Dante Cox knocked out Ty'Shae Ferguson of Danville, VA at 2:10 of the first round.  Cox landed a crushing left-right combination to drop Ferguson to the canvas.  Ferguson would beat the count but was unfit to continue.  Cox is now 2-0, one KO while Ferguson falls to 0-9.

In the curtain-raising contest, debuting welterweight Marlon "The Machine" Bolen of Clinton, MD scored a third-round TKO over the equally-debuting Christopher Thorne of Fort Lauderdale, FL.  Bolen would drop Thorne with a solid series of punches in the first round.  Bolen kept Thorne on his bicycle in the second round before ending the contest with a right hand in the third round that sent Thorne to the canvas again.  The bout would be stopped at 2:10 of the third.

The husband and wife duo of Tony and Christen Jeter head Jeter Promotions.  Quigley and Jeff Gatling are in charge of GQ Promotions.  The matchmaker was Brian Dillon and the ring announcer was Henry "Discombobulating" Jones.



Saturday, June 16, 2018

Keyshawn Davis Heads To Germany For Chemistry Cup!

Alexandria, VA's Keyshawn Davis is in Halle, Germany with other members of Team USA's Elite Performance Squad for the 2018 Chemistry Cup which starts there this coming week.

Davis comes off a strong performance in February, winning a gold medal at the Stradja Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, his first international tournament.  Davis also captured a National Golden Gloves title in 2017.

Davis's coach, Kay Koroma, who is also the National Assistant Coach for USA Boxing, will be one of the coaches on the Chemistry Cup trip.  Davis will be the second straight local to participate in this tournament.  Fellow Alexandria boxer Troy Isley advanced to the semifinals of the Chemistry Cup in 2017.

By the way, USA Boxing has a nice article on Davis.  Brian Taylor writes about the struggles Davis had to overcome to get to where he is now.  Here is the link:    https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Boxing/Features/2018/June/08/Keyshawn-Davis-is-Pushing-His-Way-to-the-Top

Friday, June 15, 2018

Weights From Laurel, MD!

Here is the scale watch for the Jeter Promotions/GQ Promotions card at the Gardens Ice House in Laurel, MD:

Gerome Quigley 147 vs. Raymond Serrano 147
(Vacant USBA and WBC USNBC Welterweight titles -- Quigley made the weight on his third attempt)

Cobia Breedy 125.8 vs. Drew Correll 124.4

Drayvontay Speed-Rawls 138.6 vs. Matt Murphy 141.2

Francisco Bustos 158.4 vs. Jauvan John 160.4

Sam Crossed 196 vs. Josh Jones 195.6

Rashad Kilpatrick 145.8 vs. Lamont White 144.8

Marlon Bolen 145 vs. Christopher Thorne 153

Dante Cox 130 vs. Tyshae Ferguson 123.6 (Ferguson must weigh again on Saturday)

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Crews Dezurn Has Opponent For June 22nd Bout In Detroit!

Baltimore, MD super middleweight "The Heavy-Hitting Diva" Franchon Crews Dezurn has an opponent for her six-round contest on Friday, June 22nd at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, MI.

Dezurn (3-1, one KO) will take on Crystal Byers of Ohio.  Byers (0-3) last fought on April 21st and lost a four-round unanimous decision to Samantha Pill in Fairmont, WVA.  This will be the first six-round contest for Byers, while Dezurn's last contest was a six-round unanimous decision victory over Tiffany Woodard on January 12th in Verona, NY.

The Dezurn-Byers bout will be on the undercard of the Women's Middleweight championship doubleheader featuring Ashburn, VA's Tori "Sho Nuff" Nelson challenging Christina Hammer of Dortmund, Germany for Hammer's WBC and WBO Middleweight titles and Claressa Shields taking on Hanna Gabriels for the vacant WBA and IBF Middleweight championships.  Both bouts will be televised live on Showtime.

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Laurel Card Is Now Finalized!

The Jeter Promotions/GQ Promotions card that will take place on Saturday, June 16th at the Gardens Ice House in Laurel, MD is now complete.

The main event remains the same -- a 10-round contest for the vacant USBA and WBC USNBC Welterweight championships between Gerome "GQ" Quigley of Montgomery Village, MD and Raymond "Tito" Serrano of Philadelphia, PA.

Quigley (18-0, 16 KO's) last fought on August 26 when he scored a second-round TKO over Oscar Padilla in Neu-lensberg, Germany.  The win gained Quigley the German version on the WBU Welterweight title, the fourth regional title that Quigley has won in his career.  Serrano (24-5, 10 KO's) looks to bounce back from a loss in his last bout to another Beltway Boxer, Malik Hawkins, on March 30th in Philadelphia, PA.  Serrano lost a 10-round unanimous decision in a contest for the WBA-USA Welterweight title.

In six-round bouts, Glenarden, MD super lightweight Dravontay Speed-Rawls will take on Matt Murphy of East St. Louis, IL.  Speed-Rawls (9-1-1, six KO's) bounced back from his first pro loss suffered in July to win a four-round unanimous decision over Robert Hill on November 18th at the Merrick Recreation Center in Washington, DC.  Murphy (3-24-3, two KO's) has lost his last eight contests although the last time Murphy competed in the Beltway, he battled Mack Allison IV to a four-round draw in June of 2017 at Du Burns Arena in Baltimore, MD.

Also, undefeated Clinton, MD super featherweight Cobia "The Soldier" Breedy will be in a six-rounder against equally undefeated Drew "Cruel Intentions" Correll of Danville, VA.  Breedy (11-0. four KO's) comes off his best performance as a pro, winning a six-round shutout unanimous decision over Christopher Martin on May 19th at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD.  Correll (9-0, eight KO's) has not fought since scoring a third-round TKO over Charles Jones in November 2016 in Danville.  Correll scored a first-round knockout over Kenny Herbin in May of 2016 in Springfield, VA.

There are a number of four-round contests on the card.  Greenbelt, MD cruiserweight "The Vanilla Gorilla" Sam Crossed looks to remain undefeated when he battles Josh Jones of Brunswick, ME.  Crossed (6-0, four KO's) last fought on July 15 and scored a fourth-round TKO over James Jones (no relation) at the Sphinx Club in DC.  Jones (1-0, one KO) made his pro debut on April 28th and knocked out Cristiano Pedro in Skowhegan, ME.

Rockville, MD middleweight "The Cisco Kid" Francisco Bustos will take on Jauvan John of Brooklyn, NY.  Bustos (6-0, four KO's) also fought on the July 15th card in DC and scored a first-round knockout over Latrail Purdue.  John (2-5-1) is winless in his last four (0-3-1) and looks to bounce back from a second-round stoppage against Dauren Yeleussinov on May 12th in Stone Mountain, GA.

Laurel, MD lightweight Dante Cox will be in a four-round bout against Tyshae Ferguson of Danville, VA.  Cox (1-0) won his pro debut on July 15th in DC and won a four-round majority decision over Archie Weah.  Ferguson (0-8) last fought on August 27th and lost a six-round unanimous decision to Cole Crumpler in Lynchburg, VA.

Oxon Hill, MD welterweight Rashad "Code Blue" Kilpatrick battles Lamont White of DC in a four-rounder.  Kilpatrick also made his pro debut on the DC card on July 15th and knocked out Martegus Martin in the second round.  White (1-12, one KO) has lost his last five contests since scoring his only victory in May of 2017.  White comes off a four-round unanimous decision loss to Roy McGill on December 9th in Harrisburg, PA.  White has never been knocked out in a contest.

In a battle of debuting welterweights, Marlon Bolen of Clinton, MD will face off with Christopher Thorne of Fort Lauderdale, FL.  The Gardens Ice House is located at 13800 Old Gunpowder Rd in Laurel, MD.  The card is scheduled to begin at 8 PM.


Sunday, June 10, 2018

Hurd Participates In Hall Of Fame Fist Casting!




This has been a huge year for IBF/WBA/IBO Super Welterweight champion "Swift" Jarrett Hurd. Earlier this week, Hurd received another honor as he was the only current boxer to be invited to have his fist casted during the International Boxing Hall Of Fame's induction weekend in Canastota, NY.

The Accokeek, MD native joined newly-inducted hall of fame boxers Vitali Klitschko, Winky Wright and Erik Morales, broadcasters Steve Albert and Jim Gray and future hall of famers Miguel Cotto, Kelly Pavlik and Robert Guerrero in the time-honored tradition.

Other Beltway Boxers who have had their fist casts recently include former world champions Hasim Rahman, Sr. and William Joppy.  Of course, hall of famer Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson got his fist casted in 2012 when he was inducted into the hall of fame.

Beltway Boxers Suffer Tough Weekend!

This weekend was a rough one for Beltway Boxers as all locals participating in contests fell to defeat in bouts around the world.

We start in Krasnodar, Russia on Saturday, June 9th where former WBO Super Lightweight champion DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley lost a 12-round unanimous decision to Aik Shakhnazaryan of Samara, Russia at the Olimp.  No details on the bout but judging by the scorecards, Shakhnazaryan seemed to be in control as he won by scores of 100-90, 99-92 and 98-92.  Corley is now 51-30-1, 28 KO's while Shakhnazaryan rises to 21-2, 11 KO's and captured the interim WBA Super Lightweight title.

Also on Saturday, Capitol Heights MD bantamweight Thomas "KO" Snow lost a 10-round split decision to Duke "The Baby Faced Terminator" Micha of Accra, Ghana at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, NY.  Here's a report on the bout from BoxingAfrica.com:

Micah came forward in the first looking to land the right hand against southpaw Snow. He continued to stalk in the second but struggled to land cleanly upstairs. Snow exhibited solid defense although he offered little in return.

The action was sparse in the third and fourth. Snow simply refused to engage. Ghana’s Micah had more success digging to the body than he did to the head but the crowd was largely silent during those stanzas.

“It was a tough fight,” Micah said afterward. “Snow didn’t really come to fight. He ran most of the time and when I did catch him, he held on for dear life.”

 Snow enjoyed several moments in the middle rounds by turning the tables on Micah. When Micah missed, Snow spun him toward the ropes and fired to the ribs. A counter right upstairs slipped through Micah’s guard but the punch lacked any serious pop.
ck
 Michael had difficulty getting his offense going against a Snow who refused to engage. The American fought off his back foot, to keep away from the incoming yet hindered his own ability to throw something meaningful. When Micah closed the gap, he wisely clinched.

 The actioned tightened up down the stretch as Snow’s corner implored him to let his hands go. Even so, Micah threw and landed more. He came out for the tenth and final stanza seeking to put a stamp on his performance. Two rights drove Snow toward the ropes. As Micah jumped in, Snow predictably attempted to hold on. Their feet got tangled and Snow tumbled to the floor while Micah threw. Only, he didn’t stop throwing, landing a right on top of Snow’s head as he lay on the canvas. The infraction cost Micah one point, a point made moot by two of the cards.

Snow did get the win on one judge's card, 95-94, but the other two judges scored the bout for Micah, 97-92 and 97-93.  Snow's record falls to 19-4, 12 KO's while Micah remains undefeated at 22-0, 18 KO's and successfully defended his WBC International Bantamweight title.

At the East Martello Towers in Key West, FL, welterweight "The Hamden Hammer" Allen Burris of Baltimore, MD lost his pro debut in the first round to Ashot Mnatsakanian of Key West by way of Armenia.  Burris seemed to be engaging his opponent well early in the round but he was hit with a sneaky left hand that made him slump face first over the bottom rope.  Although it looked like Burris could recover, the referee quickly moved in to stop the bout.  No word on the official time of the stoppage.  Mnatsakanian evens his record at 2-2, two KO's.

On Friday, June 8th at the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, NY, junior welterweight Juan De La Cruz Rodriguez of Haymarket, VA lost a six-round unanimous decision to John "The Hitman" Hernandez of Huntington.  No details on the bout but all three judges scored the bout for Hernandez, 58-56.  Rodriguez has lost two straight and three of his last four bouts and his record is under .500 at 8-9-1, six KO's.  Hernandez raises his record to 9-3, one KO.

Friday, June 08, 2018

Burris Weighs 145.8 For Debuting Four-Rounder In Florida!

Baltimore, MD junior welterweight Allan Burris weighed 145.8 pounds for his pro debut, a four-round bout against Ashot Mnatsakanian of Key West, FL on Saturday, June 9th at the East Martello Towers in Key West.  Mnatsakanian (1-2, one KO) weighed in at 148 pounds.

Corley Hits Scales In Russia!

DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley weighed in at 136.6 pounds for his 12-round contest against Aik Shakhnazaryan on Saturday, June 9th in Samara, Russia.  Shakhnazaryan tipped the scales at 137.4 pounds.  The bout will be for the WBA Asia Super Lightweight title.

Thursday, June 07, 2018

Rodriguez Weighs 137.8 For Six-Round Bout In New York!

Juan De La Cruz Rodriguez tipped the scales at 137.8 pounds for his six-round contest against Johnny Hernandez on Friday, June 8 at the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, NY.  Hernandez weighed in at 136.2 pounds.

Isley Loses Bout In Kazakhstan!

Alexandria, VA amateur boxer Troy Isley lost his first bout at the 2018 Presidents Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan on Tuesday.

Isley lost a 4-1 decision to Adam Chartoi of Sweden in a middleweight contest.  Isley was looking to build on his bronze medal that he won in the 2017 World Championships.  Isley is a member of the USA Boxing Elite team.

Tuesday, June 05, 2018

It's Official: Nelson Vs. Hammer To Be Shown On Showtime June 22nd!




We have learned that the championship contest between 11-time titleholder Tori "Sho Nuff" Nelson of Ashburn, VA and current WBC/WBO titleholder Christina Hammer of Dortmund, Germany will be a part of the Showtime telecast on Friday, June 22nd at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, MI.

Originally, the bout between Nelson (17-1-3, two KO's) and Hammer (22-0, 10 KO's) would be relegated to highlights and the entire contest would not be shown.  However, happily, the executives changed their minds.

This makes the night very historic. All four major versions of the middleweight title will be on display during the evening.  Claressa Shields and Hanna Gabriels will battle for the vacant WBA and IBF middleweight championships in the main event.  The winners of both bouts are scheduled to meet each other in the fall to unify the titles.

Monday, June 04, 2018

Beltway Amateurs Head To Junior Olympic Nationals June 24-30!

The Beltway will send 17 junior amateurs to the Junior Olympics, Prep Nationals and Youth Open which will be held on June 24-30 at the Charleston Civic Center in Charleston, WVA.  All of the boxers advanced to the nationals by virtue of victories earned at the regionals held June 1-3 in Portsmouth, VA.

Eleven of the locals represent the Potomac Valley Association Of USA Boxing (PVA).

Cardarius Johnson (Headbangers) -- Bantam 75 Pounds

Marcus Luther (Headbangers) -- Bantam 80 Pounds

Marcell Steele (Untouchables) -- Bantam 101 Pounds

Joshua Briggs (Oxon Hill) -- Bantam 106 Pounds

Travis Best (Oxon Hill) -- Bantam 110 Pounds

Richard Dodson (Untouchables) -- Intermediate 85 Pounds

Jeremiah Jamison (Oxon Hill) -- Intermediate 90 Pounds

Khalique Harrison (Warriors) -- Intermediate 114 Pounds

Jordan Roach (No Xcuse) -- Junior 95 Pounds

Keith Burroughs (Oxon Hill) -- Junior 101 Pounds

Jahmal Harvey (Oxon Hill) -- Junior 114 Pounds

Six more are representatives of the South Atlantic Association Of USA Boxing (SAA).

Donte Dailey, Jr. (Charm City) -- Bantam 114 Pounds

Damari Philson (Upton) -- Intermediate 101 Pounds

Eric Acosta (Main Street) -- Intermediate 132 Pounds

Cuttino Oliver (Upton) -- Junior 106 Pounds

Muhammad Robinson -- (G-Up Nation/Charm City) -- Junior 110 Pounds

Stacey Selby (Upton) -- Junior 138 Pounds

Best wishes to our Beltway Boxers in West Virginia!


Ring Magazine Names Hurd 'Fighter Of The Month!'




(Photo courtesy of the Ghana Crusader)

In its July 2018 issue, the editors of Ring Magazine have named IBF/WBA/IBO Super Welterweight champion "Swift" Jarrett Hurd of Accokeek, MD its Fighter Of The Month.

The Ring based its selection on Hurd's 12-round split decision victory over former WBA/IBO champ Erislandy Lara on April 7th at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV.  Hurd not only won the bout but also forced Lara to engage Hurd in an entertaining contest -- a bout that is a Fight Of The Year candidate.

Hurd's victory elevated him to the number-one position in Ring's Super Welterweight rankings.  Also, Showtime boxing host Brian Custer was interviewed in the same issue and listed Hurd as one of his favorite current boxers to watch and the 12th round of Hurd-Lara (where Hurd dropped Lara late in the round) as one of his favorite current rounds.

Late Result From AC: Lockett Loses Majority Decision!

On Friday, June 1, there was another Beltway Boxer who appeared in Atlantic City, NJ.  Takoma Park, MD cruiserweight Willis "The Prophet" Lockett lost a six-round majority decision to Joel De La Paz of Atlantic City by way of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico at the Showboat Hotel.

According to JR Jowett of Secondsout.com, the contest was a dull one with De La Paz scoring from long range in the first round then trying to move away from Lockett the rest of the way.  The two banged heads in the third round when Lockett tried to lumber in.  The rest of the way saw De La Paz circling Lockett while Lockett would throw one punch at a time.  Judge Lynn Carter saw the draw at 57-57 but was overruled by judges Al Bennett and Debra Barnes who saw the bout 58-56 and 60-54 respectively for De La Paz. 

Lockett, who scored a majority decision victory over Prince Badi Ajamu on March 10th in Atlantic City, falls to 16-23-6, five KO's.  De La Paz is now 8-1, four KO's.

Sunday, June 03, 2018

Outlaw Scores Second-Round TKO; Smith Falls By First-Round TKO In Atlantic City!

Two Beltway Boxers were in action Saturday at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.

(Photos by Daniel Cork)



 Bowie, MD super lightweight Greg "The Sharpshooter" Outlaw remained undefeated with a second-round TKO victory over Daniel "Danny Boy" Murray of Lanoka Harbor, NJ.  According to reports, a combination of speed and power that sent Murray to the canvas three times in the second round. After the third knockdown the referee stopped the bout at 1:47 of round two.   Outlaw, who recently signed with the promoter of this card, Evander Holyfield's Real Deal Sports and Entertainment, is now 5-0, two KO's while Murray falls to 3-2.



Bowie cruiserweight Luther "Lights Out" Smith was stopped in the first round by undefeated Alexey Egorov of Obninsk, Russia. In the opening round, Egorov landed a hard shot on Smith that had a delayed reaction to send Smith to the canvas.  Smith got back up but Egorov continued to press the action, backing him into the corner. Luther wasn’t throwing punches back in response to Egorov pressure so referee David Fields stepped in to stop the bout at 2:31 of the first-round.

After four bouts in Russia, Egorov wins his American debut and is now 5-0, four KO's. Smith, who has lost two straight and three of his last four, is now 10-4, nine KO's.

Friday, June 01, 2018

Outlaw, Smith Hit Scales In Atlantic City!


(Photos by Daniel Cork)

Greg Outlaw and Luther Smith weighed in for bouts Saturday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.

Outlaw tipped the scales at 136.8 pounds for his six-round contest against Dan Murphy, who weighed in at 138.4 pounds.



Smith came in at 198.6 pounds for his 10-round bout against Alexey Egerov, who weighed in at 199.8 pounds.

This bout was a late addition to the card.  Smith (10-3, nine KO's) looks to bounce back from a six-round split-decision loss to Kennedy Katende on April 21st in Brooklyn, NY.  Egerov (4-0, three KO's) is a native of Obninsk, Russia and competes in the United States for the first time as a pro.  Egerov comes off a fourth-round TKO win over Andrei Kniazev on November 27th in Moscow.