Chaney Continues Knockout Streak With Fourth-Round TKO In Florida!

Baltimore, MD-born heavyweight Cassius Chaney remained undefeated with a fourth-round TKO over veteran Chauncey Welliver on Friday, August 28th at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, FL.

Chaney battered his much-heavier opponent (378 to 263.2 pounds) from the opening bell as Welliver became a punching bag with feet. Midway through the fourth round, referee Frank Gentile mercifully stopped the contest at 2:01 of the round.  Welliver was never knocked down but he was no match for Chaney.

Chaney, who now lives in New London, CT, raises his record to 19-0, 13 KO's, and has knocked out his last eight opponents. Welliver drops to 57-13-5 with 23 KO's.

 

Undefeated Chaney Battles Veteran Welliver Friday In Florida!

Undefeated Baltimore, MD-born heavyweight Cassius Chaney will take on veteran "The Hillyard Hammer" Chauncey Welliver of Spokane, WA in an eight-round contest on Friday, August 28th at the Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, FL. The card is scheduled to be televised on Telemundo.

Chaney (18-0, 12 KO's) competes for the first time in 2020 after scoring a third-round knockout over Nick Jones on November 27th in Windham, NH. Chaney lives in New London, CT.  Welliver (57-12-5, 23 KO's) has won his last two bouts but has not fought since October of 2018 when he won a 10-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Eric Hempstead.

Chaney will have to overcome a huge weight disadvantage. Chaney tipped the scales at 263.2 pounds while Welliver came in at a whopping 378 pounds.

Ray Pays It Forward: Picks Up Tab For Roach Hall Of Fame Dues!

 Here is a great feel-good story.  DC Boxing Hall Of Fame master cutman Chris Ray, best known for being in the corner for International Boxing Hall Of Famer Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson, has picked up the tab for another DC Boxing Hall of Famer who is no longer with us.

Every year, members of the DC Boxing Hall of Fame pay dues to help keep the tradition alive.  Ray has decided to pick up the amount for a lifetime membership for the late master trainer Bernard "Boogaloo" Roach, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 52.  Roach went into the hall of fame posthumously in 2018.  Roach trained the likes of DeMarcus Corley, Andrew Council, D'Mitrius Ballard, and his second cousin, Lamont Roach, Jr. during his 20-year career.

Ray hopes that other hall of famers will help pay it forward for those who can't.  Especially in the challenging times, we live in today.

Fox Bout Ends in No-Contest!

The bout for Upper Marlboro, MD super middleweight Alantez "SlyAza" Fox against Accra, Ghana's "Wild Hurricane" Habib Ahmed ended in a third-round no-contest Saturday at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT.

The two clashed heads during the third round and the bout was stopped.  No word on who was directly affected by the clash.

Both fighter's records remain the same.  Fox is 26-2-1, 12 KO's while Ahmed is 27-1-1, 18 KO's.

Simpson Drops Out Of August 29th Mississippi Card!

Undefeated Baltimore, MD super middleweight Lorenzo "Truck" Simpson is out of a potentially toxic situation.  Simpson (8-0, five KO's) is off of a card that was scheduled for Saturday, August 29th at the Mississippi Coast Convention Center in Biloxi, MS.

According to boxing media personality Clare Burke, the card itself has been canceled in Mississippi and moved to Iowa because the promoter of the card, Bigger Than Life Entertainment, still owes fees related to their last card on July 11 at the Mississippi Coast Convention Center, a nationally-televised (CBS Sports Network) card Simpson fought on and scored a first-round TKO over Alex Sandro Duarte.  Burke is reporting that many of the boxers did not get paid on the card and the promoters did not pay venue or matchmaker booking fees.

The story gets a little crazier because the card is scheduled to be held in Davenport, IA, the hometown of former two-division world champion Michael Nunn, who fights for the first time since January of 2002.  Nunn was released from prison in 2019 after serving a long sentence for drug trafficking. Nunn, who is now 57 years old, is actually scheduled to be on this card against Samuel Clarkson in a six-round bout.

Early Has Six-Round Contest For ABF Title In Florida August 22nd!

 Seat Pleasant, MD super featherweight James "Too Slick" Early will participate in a six-round contest for the vacant American Boxing Federation Atlantic Super Featherweight Title on Saturday, August 22nd at the Bonita Springs Elks Lodge in Bonita Springs, FL.  

Early (4-6) gets a shot at this minor title despite currently riding a three-bout losing streak which includes a six-round unanimous decision loss to James Wilkins on January 11th in San Antonio, TX.  

The opponent will be undefeated Curtis "Hard Knocks" Johnson of New Orleans, LA by way of Hattiesburg, MS.  Johnson (11-0, eight KO's) comes off an eight-round split decision win over Jose Antonio Martinez on September 6th in New Orleans.  Johnson has only beaten one boxer with an over-.500 record in his career.

Fox Drops Unanimous Decision In Los Angeles!

Upper Marlboro, MD welterweight Mykal "The Professor" Fox has lost a 10-round unanimous decision to Lucas Santamaria of Garden Grove, CA on Saturday, August 8th at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, CA.  The bout was televised by FS1.

Fox, who normally has little difficulty with shorter fighters, had a tough time with the 5'8" Santamaria as he could not keep him from getting inside.  In the first round, Santamaria was able to pressure Fox and knocked him down to the bottom rope with a series of punches.  Referee Edward Hernandez, Jr. ruled a knockdown for Santamaria, marking the first time the 6'4" Fox had been dropped to the canvas in his pro career.

Fox was able to get some distance throughout the contest but couldn't use his jab well enough to keep Santamaria off of him.  Santamaria was able to win the bout by scores of 96-93, 97-92, and 99-90.  Fox, who was ranked 14th in the world by the WBA, drops to 22-2, five KO's while Santamaria's record rises to 11-1-1, seven KO's.

Fox, Santamaria Weigh 145.8 For 10-Rounder In Los Angeles!

Both Mykal Fox and Lucas Santamaria tipped the scales at 145.8 pounds for their 10-round contest on Saturday, August 8th at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, CA.

The bout will be shown on the PBC Fight Night telecast on FS1 that gets underway at 10 PM ET.

Roach, Jr. Returns For 10-Rounder In California August 28th!

Upper Marlboro, MD super featherweight Lamont Roach, Jr. returns to action in a 10-round contest on Friday, August 28th at the Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino in Indio, CA.  Roach (19-1-1, seven KO's) looks to bounce back from his 12-round unanimous decision loss to Jamel Herring for the WBO Super Featherweight championship on November 9th in Fresno, CA.  Roach is still ranked by the WBO at number 13.

The opponent will be Neil John "The Beast" Tabanao of Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines (17-7, 11 KO's) who will look to break a three-bout losing streak.  Tabanao is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision loss to Irving Turrubiartes on August 24th in Hermosillo, Mexico.  Two of Tabanao's recent losses came to Angelo Leo and Tramaine Williams.  Leo defeated Williams on August 1st to win the vacant WBO Junior Featherweight title in Uncasville, CT.

The Roach-Tabanao bout is scheduled to be streamed on DAZN.

Fox Brothers Making News!

There are a couple of interesting news items concerning the "Twin Towers" of Beltway Boxing -- The Fox Brothers of Upper Marlboro, MD -- as they both have bouts coming up.

The younger of the brothers, welterweight Mykal "The Professor" Fox, has a bout scheduled for Saturday, August 8th against Lucas Santamaria of Garden Grove, CA at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, CA.  The bout is scheduled to be televised on FS1.  However, there could be more to this story.

All of the boxers are slated to be tested for the COVID-19 disease later this week.  Unfortunately, recent main event bouts have had competitors test positive.  The main event on this card will be a contest for the WBA Interim Welterweight championship between Thomas Dulorme and Jamal James.  According to Boxingscene.com, should either man test positive for COVID-19, Fox would be inserted into the main event.  Fox (22-1, five KO's) is ranked 13th by the WBA at welterweight and would be eligible to compete in the bout should the opportunity present itself.

Older brother Alantez "SlyAza" Fox will see action on Saturday, August 15th at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT.  Fox (26-2-1, 12 KO's) will be in an eight-round middleweight contest against "The Wild Hurricane" Habib Ahmed of Accra, Ghana (27-1-1, 18 KO's)  Fox looks to bounce back from a fifth-round TKO loss to Liam Williams on December 21st in London, England.  Ahmed is a former WBO Super Middleweight title contender who lost a chance for the title by getting knocked out by Gilberto Ramirez in February of 2018 in Corpus Cristi, TX.  Since that loss, Ahmed has won two straight, including an eight-round unanimous decision win over Juan De Angel in May of 2019 in Biloxi, MS.

Beltway Boxers Begin To See Action!

The COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped Beltway Boxers from finding opportunities to compete. A number of locals are scheduled to see action in the next few weeks.

On Thursday, August 20th, Columbia, MD super middleweight Ashton "The Goon" Sykes will be in a six-round contest against undefeated Cruse "Hitman" Stewart of Cedar Rapids, IA.  The bout will be held in Detroit, MI.

Sykes (5-3, one KO) is riding a three-bout winning streak including a four-round unanimous decision victory over previously undefeated Isiah Hart on March 7th in Cheswick, PA.  Stewart (7-0, six KO's) is coming off a six-round unanimous decision over Martez McGregor on March 13th in Hinckley, MN.

So far, the busiest boxer during this challenging time has been undefeated Baltimore, MD super middleweight Lorenzo "Truck" Simpson who will compete for the second time in less than a month when he faces equally undefeated "Prime Time" Sonny Duversonne of Avon Park, FL in an eight-round contest on August 29th at the Mississippi Coast Convention Center in Biloxi, MS.  This will be Simpson's first eight-round encounter and his second straight time at the Mississippi Coast Center.  Simpson (8-0, five KO's) knocked out Alex Sandro Duarte in the first round on July 11th.

Duversonne (11-0-2, eight KO's) last fought on February 29th and scored a fifth-round TKO over Larry Smith in St. Petersburg, FL.  Duversonne has knocked out his last four opponents.  This bout is part of a card that will be televised on the CBS Sports Network but no official word as to if this bout will be shown.

Also on Saturday, August 29th, cruiserweight Larry "Hitman" Pryor is scheduled to be in a four-round bout against an opponent to be determined at the Sports Zone in Derry, NH.  Pryor (11-22, five KO's) hasn't fought since October 4th when he lost by fourth-round TKO to Efetobor Apochi in Houston, TX.

Bates Loses WBA Eliminator Due To Injury!

Washington, DC super featherweight Marcus "Dreamcrusher" Bates lost by 10th round TKO to Ra'eese "The Beast" Aleem of Las Vegas, NV in a WBA title eliminator held August 1 at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT.

Aleem was in complete control throughout the contest and Bates could not keep up with Aleem's pace.  Bates was also hampered by an injury to his right wrist suffered midway through the contest. In the 10th round, the injury was too much for Bates and the bout was stopped at 2:18.

Aleem, who was ranked 8th by the WBA, remains undefeated at 17-0, 11 KO's.  Bates, who was ninth in the world by the WBA, is now 11-2, eight KO's.  Both of his losses have come to Aleem.