Ellis, Selby Score Knockout Wins In South Carolina!

Two Baltimore, MD-based boxers won bouts by knockout on Saturday, January 30th at the Crown Reef Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Super featherweight Mia "Killerbee" Ellis needed just 46 seconds to knock out Myasia Oglesby of North Carolina.  Ellis hit Oglesby with a right hand to the head followed by a wicked right-left combination to the body to drop her to the canvas. Oglesby could not recover.  Ellis is now 2-0 with two first-round knockouts.  Oglesby remains winless at 0-8 and she has been knocked out in every contest.

Also on the card, Laurel, MD's Stacey Selby, who trains in Baltimore, made a successful pro debut by stopping Jean Saint Phard of Wilson, NC by way of Haiti in the second round.  Selby used a mixture of head and body shots to send Phard to the canvas three times before the bout was stopped.  No official word on the time of the stoppage. Phard is now 0-3.

Keyshawn Davis Removed From US Olympic Team; Will Turn Pro!

Since the 2020 Summer Olympics were postponed, there has been speculation on whether Alexandria, VA boxer Keyshawn Davis, who made the United States Olympic Team, would try to qualify for the Tokyo games or turn pro.

Apparently, USA Boxing has made Davis's decision for him.  USA Boxing has removed Davis from its Olympic Qualification Team due to the violation of the USA Boxing Athlete Selection Procedures.

USA Boxing did not elaborate on how Davis violated its procedures.  A statement only wished Davis "the best of luck in his future endeavors inside and outside the ring."

Davis looks to turn pro under the continued guidance of Kay Koroma, the assistant coach of the US Olympic Team.  Koroma also trains Davis's long-time amateur teammate Troy Isley, who is scheduled to have his pro debut on February 13th in Las Vegas, NV.

Beltway Boxers On February Schedule!

A number of local boxers are scheduled to be in action during the month of February. Here is the schedule at this time.

Saturday, February 6th, 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, PA -- Two Beltway Boxers are slated to be on this card.  Baltimore, MD super middleweight Sharif "C3" Rahman will be in a four-round contest against Gladimir Jacinto of Fresno, CA by way of Port-Au-Prince, Haiti.  Rahman, the youngest of former world heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman's sons (3-0, two KO's, has not fought since June of 2018 when he won a four-round unanimous decision over Tahlik Taylor in Woodlawn, MD.  Jacinto (0-2) lost by second-round TKO to Kam'Ron Hills in January of last year in Shreveport, LA.

Also on the card will be Seat Pleasant, MD super featherweight James "Too Slick" Early will be in a six-round bout against undefeated Rashiem Jefferson of Philadelphia.  Early (5-6) looks to build on a six-round split decision victory over previously undefeated Curtis Johnson on August 22nd in Bonita Springs, FL.  Early could have won a minor title with the victory but he came into the bout overweight.  Jefferson (3-0) comes off a four-round unanimous decision win over Steve Garagarza on October 9th in Las Vegas, NV. This will be the first scheduled six-rounder for Jefferson.

Saturday, February 6th, Washington County Fairgrounds, Washington, PA -- Lusby, MD super featherweight Nathaniel Lee "ASAP" Davis will be in a four-round contest against Johnny Spell of Pittsburgh, PA.  Davis (2-1, one KO) comes off a four-round majority decision victory over Varon Webb on February 9th in Vienna, VA.  Spell (2-0, two KO's) has not fought since December of 2019 when he scored a first-round TKO over Philip Ryan Carroll in Salem, WVA.

Clinton, MD featherweight Jay Stancil III will be in a four-round contest against an opponent to be determined.  Stancil (2-0, one KO) comes off a first-round TKO of Antonio Lucaine on February 28th in Hanover, MD. 

Glen Burnie, MD super welterweight Duane Thompson II will be in a four-round bout against Leonidas Fowlkes of Winchester, VA by way of Baltimore, MD.  Thompson (1-0, one KO) won his pro debut on October 31st with a first-round TKO of Xzaviar Ford in Columbia, SC.  Fowlkes (1-0) was also successful in his pro debut, capturing a four-round majority decision over Adrian Diaz in Parkesburg, WVA on November 7th.

Friday, February 12th, Orlando, FL -- Undefeated female super featherweight "The Dark Menace" Tiara Brown will be in an eight-round rematch bout against Vanessa Bradford of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  Brown (10-0, six KO's) recently moved from Washington, DC back to her hometown of Fort Myers, FL.  Brown has not fought since December of 2019 when she won an eight-round unanimous decision over Simone Aparecida Da Silva in Sterling, VA.  Bradford (5-2-2) has not competed since losing an eight-round majority decision to Brown in October of 2019 in Brooklyn, NY.

Saturday, February 13th, MGM Grand Hotel Conference Center, Las Vegas, NV -- Alexandria, VA middleweight Troy Isley will make his pro debut on this card against an opponent to be determined.

Saturday, February 20th, Doubletree Miamimart Hotel, Miami, FL -- Baltimore, MD heavyweight Cortez Dunston will be in a four-round bout against Matthew Glover of Kerrville, TX.  Dunston won his pro debut by first-round TKO over Gary Kelly on November 21st in Tampa, FL.  Glover (1-3, one KO) has lost his last three bouts by TKO.

Saturday, February 20th, Escape Ballroom, Greenville, SC -- Baltimore super featherweight Malik "King" Warren will be in a four-rounder against the debuting Deron Meriweather. Warren (3-0, three KO's) has won all of his bouts by second-round TKO but has not fought since December of 2019 in Atlanta, GA.   Also on the card will be Laurel, MD super middleweight Mansaborie "The Punisher" Conde, who will be in a four-rounder against an opponent to be determined.  Conde (1-0, one KO) won his pro debut with a third-round TKO over Ricardo Vasquez Becerril on December 19th in Greenville.

Saturday, February 27th, Shrine Exposition Center, Los Angeles, CA -- Upper Marlboro, MD super middleweight Alantez "SlyAza" Fox will be in an eight-round bout against undefeated Jose Armando "Toro" Resendiz of Compostela, Nayarit, Mexico.  Fox (27-2-1, 12 KO's) comes off a 10-round unanimous decision over Marcos Hernandez on December 26th at the Shrine Exposition Center.  Resendiz (11-0, eight KO's) makes his American debut after competing in all of his bouts in Mexico.  Resendiz stopped Joaquin Murrieta in the eighth round in January of 2020 in Tepic, Mexico.

Saturday, February 27th, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL --  Columbia, MD super middleweight Ashton "The Goon" Sykes will be in a six-round contest against undefeated Alexis Espino of Las Vegas, NV.   Sykes (5-3, one KO) will try to extend a three-bout winning streak including a four-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Isiah Hart on March 7th in Cheswick, PA.  Espino (6-0, four KO's) comes off a six-round unanimous decision over Delvecchio Savage on February 29th in Frisco, TX.

Veazey Returns With Third-Round TKO in West Virginia!

Baltimore, MD super welterweight "Bazooka" Joe Veazey made a successful return to boxing with a third-round TKO over Davon Foxx of Washington, DC on Saturday, January 23rd at the Blennerhassett Hotel in Parkersburg, WVA.

Veazey attacked his foe and landed a nice left hand to the body to stop Foxx at 1:01 of the third round.  This was Veazey's first bout since making his pro debut in October of 2016.  Veazey is now 2-0, one KO.  Foxx is still winless at 0-5.

Isley, Standout Amateur, Signs With Top Rank!

Alexandria, VA standout amateur boxer Troy Isley will step into the professional ranks as a member of the Top Rank promoters group.  The 22-year-old Isley will make his pro debut on Saturday, February 13th at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, NV.  Top Rank will co-promote Isley with Antonio Leonard Promotions.

Isley won numerous medals at the international amateur level, including a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships, a silver at the Strandja Tournament in 2018, and a gold medal at the 2019 Pan American Games.

Isley will continue to be trained by Kay Koroma, the assistant coach for the United States Boxing Team. Koroma, an Alexandria-based trainer, has worked with Isley since the age of nine years old.

Veazey Returns For Four-Round Contest In West Virginia January 23rd!

Baltimore, MD super welterweight "Bazooka" Joe Veazey makes his return to boxing on Saturday, January 23rd when he competes in a four-round bout against Davon Foxx of Washington, DC at the Blennerhassett Hotel in Parkersburg, WVA.

Veazey, who was born in Charleston, WVA, has not fought since making his pro debut way back in October of 2016 when he won a four-round decision against Alberto Delgado in Winchester, VA.  Foxx, a native of Wilson, NC (0-4), has been knocked out in every bout he has competed in.

Davis-Santa Cruz Contest Wins WBA Awards For Bout, Knockout Of The Year!

The October 31st dual championship bout between Gervonta Davis and Leo Santa Cruz at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX earned two awards from the World Boxing Association.  The bout was named the WBA's Bout Of The Year and Davis's devastating sixth-round knockout of Santa Cruz was named the Knockout Of The Year.

The bout was full of frantic action as Santa Cruz's straight-ahead style clashed with Davis's technical style. However, in the sixth, Davis landed a powerful left uppercut that crashed into Santa Cruz's jaw and sent him crumpling to the canvas. 

With the win, the undefeated Davis (24-0, 23 KO's) defended his WBA Super Featherweight championship and won the WBA Lightweight title and took one step closer to becoming one of the elite boxers in the sport.

Ellis, Selby Compete In South Carolina January 30th; Davis, Stancil Bouts Move To February!

In an addition to the January Beltway Boxing Schedule, two locals will be competing on a card in South Carolina while two more Beltway Boxers will have their bouts moved to February.

There will be a card at the Crown Reef Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC on Saturday, January 30th. On the card will be Baltimore, MD female lightweight Mia "Killerbee" Ellis who will be in a four-round contest against Myasia Oglesby of North Carolina. Ellis made her pro debut in December of 2019 and scored a first-round TKO over Uneaka Best in Atlanta, GA.  Oglesby has lost her first seven contests and has been TKO'd in every one of them.

The card will also mark the pro debut of Upper Marlboro, MD's Stacey Selby who will take on Jean Saint Phard of Wilson, NC.  Selby has been a very successful amateur for many years, including wins on the local and national levels.  Phard (0-2) comes off a four-round unanimous decision loss to Mikahail Hernandez Hernandez on November 21st in Fort Mill, SC.  This card is being promoted by boxing hall of famer Christy Martin. 

Meanwhile, the card originally scheduled for January 16th has now been moved to Saturday, February 6th at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Washington, PA.  This card will feature locals Nathaniel Lee "ASAP" Davis and Jay Stancil III.  Davis, a super featherweight from Lusby, MD (2-1, one KO) will face undefeated Johnny Spell of Pittsburgh, PA (2-0, 2 KO's) in a four-round bout.  Stancil, a featherweight from Clinton, MD (2-0, one KO) is still looking for an opponent.

Dunton-El Returns For Four-Rounder In Texas!

Baltimore, MD super featherweight Antonio Dunton-El returns to boxing in a four-round contest against Floyd Schofield of Austin, TX on Friday, January 8th at Club Nuestra Raza in Houston, TX.

Dunton-El has not fought since making his pro debut in October of 2019.  He fought to a four-round draw against Blaze Fidler Hernandez in Hanover, MD.  Schofield was successful in his pro debut, scoring a first-round knockout over Richard Esquibel on October 9 in Kissimmee, FL.

Crews-Dezurn Dominates In Dallas Non-Title Affair!

WBC/WBO Female Super Middleweight champion "The Heavy-Hitting Diva" Franchon Crews-Dezurn of Baltimore, MD was dominant en route to a relatively easy eight-round unanimous decision over Ashleigh Curry of St. Joseph, MO Saturday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX.

Crews-Dezurn landed at will during the non-title affair with head and body shots.  Curry, who came in overweight for the bout, was punished throughout.  Crews-Dezurn would win by shutout on the scorecards, 80-72.

Crews-Dezurn raised her record to 7-1, two KO's while Curry dropped to 8-14-4, one KO.

Crews-Dezurn Weighs 171.4 For Eight-Rounder In Dallas!

Franchon Crews-Dezurn weighed in at 171.4 pounds for her eight-round non-title bout against Ashleigh Curry on Saturday, January 2nd at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX.  Curry came in at 176.2 pounds.   The bout will be part of a card that will be streamed on DAZN.