Today is a very special day! On this date in 2005, I started Boxing Along The Beltway. It has been a wonderful two-year ride. I have had a lot of fun and enjoyment bringing you news and commentary about an area already rich in history and poised to add to that history.
I thank everyone involved with the Beltway Boxing scene for their support, constructive criticism and enthusiasm behind what I've tried to do. If nothing else, we have proven that there is a serious fan base in the area that seems to grow every week.
One of the things that I'm trying to improve is my familiarity with the technology that goes with having a blog or website. With that in mind, I have a gift for you. As many of you know, I have worked with some promoters in doing blow-by-blow commentaries for videos of some area boxing cards. I finally learned how to get some of these bouts onto this site.
I will try to get more of these on the site in the future but for now here are bouts from 2006 and 2007 that originated from the Patriot Center at George Mason University as well as the Augusta Expoland in Fisherville, VA. For those who have never experienced Beltway Boxing in person, this will give you a taste.
1. This is the opening for the October 7, 2006 Major League Boxing-promoted card at the George Mason University Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA. Also on this video is the bout between Juan Carlos Robles and Derek Amos that was voted the 2006 Boxing Along The Beltway Bout of the Year.
2. From Oct. 7 -- The nice matchup between Dorin Spivey and Roberto Valenzuela.
3. This was also from the October 7 card -- a tough bout between DC's Purcell "Hard Rock" Miller and Larry "The Laser" Marks of Delaware.
4. The main event on the October 7 card -- Jimmy Lange vs. Thomas Wilt.
5. From the December 9, 2006 Patriot Center card -- Dean "Pit Bull" White vs. Dorin Spivey. More than 6,000 people have seen this video.
6. From the December 9 card -- Jaime "The Punisher" Palma vs. Reggie Sanders.
7. The highly celebrated pro debut of JP Flaim of "The Junkies" against Jay Watts from December 9, 2006.
8. This is the ENTIRE April 28, 2007 "Return to Burn" card from the Augusta Expoland in Fisherville, VA. This features a lot of the Virginia prospects.
Thanks to Spero's Video for the video productions, Major League Boxing for the promotions and "The Fight Doctor" Jerome Spears for his expert analysis on these videos.
Maryland and DC: Don't worry, I will try to get your cards on here as well. Again, my gift to you! Thanks again for your support!
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Beltway Youngsters Perform Well at Junior Golden Gloves!
Congratulations to a number of junior Beltway Boxers who brought back medals from this past weekend's Junior Golden Gloves Championships in Mesquite, NV.
Dusty Harrison won the Boys 13-14 90-pound championship by points over Carlos Suarez of Ohio.
Nate Davis captured gold in the Boys 15-16 132- pound class with a points victory over Fidel Maldonado of New Mexico.
Emanuel Taylor won the Boys 15-16 138-pound class with a points victory over Corey Walker of Missouri.
Nick Kisner followed up his recent Junior Olympic championship with a gold medal in the Boys 15-16 201-pound championships at the Junior Golden Gloves. Kisner defeated Justin Novaria of Ohio by points.
Also winning a gold medal in the Boys 15-16 201+ division was Hasim Rahman, Jr., now fighting out of Nevada. Rahman defeated Blayton Watson of Tennessee to win the title.
Two other locals won gold unopposed; Brady Sensibaugh (Boys 13-14 70 pounds) and Lawrence Singh (Boys 13-14, 75 pounds)
Congratulations also to Joshua Davis who won a silver medal in the Boys 13-14 138-pound class.
Dusty Harrison won the Boys 13-14 90-pound championship by points over Carlos Suarez of Ohio.
Nate Davis captured gold in the Boys 15-16 132- pound class with a points victory over Fidel Maldonado of New Mexico.
Emanuel Taylor won the Boys 15-16 138-pound class with a points victory over Corey Walker of Missouri.
Nick Kisner followed up his recent Junior Olympic championship with a gold medal in the Boys 15-16 201-pound championships at the Junior Golden Gloves. Kisner defeated Justin Novaria of Ohio by points.
Also winning a gold medal in the Boys 15-16 201+ division was Hasim Rahman, Jr., now fighting out of Nevada. Rahman defeated Blayton Watson of Tennessee to win the title.
Two other locals won gold unopposed; Brady Sensibaugh (Boys 13-14 70 pounds) and Lawrence Singh (Boys 13-14, 75 pounds)
Congratulations also to Joshua Davis who won a silver medal in the Boys 13-14 138-pound class.
Monday, July 30, 2007
New Poll: Who is Closest to a World Championship?
Before I explain the new poll, thanks for the great response to the last poll: "Who is the Beltway Boxer of the Half-Year?" There was more response to this poll (321 votes) and more comments (four pages worth) than any other poll here on the blog.
Here are the results:
Tim Coleman (3) 1%
Nick "Flash" Collins (67) 21%
"The American Dream" Mike Dietrich (93) 29%
Jimmy Lange (16) 5%
Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow (23) 7%
Anthony Peterson (16) 5%
Lamont Peterson (11) 3%
Reginald Taylor (2) 1%
Darnell "The Ding-A-Ling Man" Wilson (74) 23%
Other (16) 5%
The new poll will need some explanation. The Beltway Boxers chosen for this poll have one thing in common: They are currently ranked in the top 15 by at least one of the four major governing bodies (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO) and/or Ring Magazine.
Here's a quick ratings breakdown:
Eric Aiken: #9 IBF -- Featherweight
DeMarcus Corley: #10 WBA -- Lightweight
Keith Holmes: #10 WBA -- Light Heavyweight
William Joppy: #14 WBC -- Super Middleweight
Emmanuel Nwodo: #13 IBF -- Cruiserweight
Anthony Peterson: #1 WBO, #5 WBC, #10 Ring Magazine -- Lightweight
Lamont Peterson: #5 WBA -- Junior Lightweight
Hasim Rahman: #4 WBC, #8 IBF, #11 WBA -- Heavyweight
Tony Thompson: #4 WBO, #10 Ring Magazine -- Heavyweight
Darnell Wilson: #6 WBO, #9 Ring Magazine, #10 IBF, #14 WBA, #14 WBC -- Cruiserweight
Hopefully, this will help you in your choice.
Tomorrow, we will have a special post that will celebrate the second birthday of Boxing Along The Beltway!
Here are the results:
Tim Coleman (3) 1%
Nick "Flash" Collins (67) 21%
"The American Dream" Mike Dietrich (93) 29%
Jimmy Lange (16) 5%
Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow (23) 7%
Anthony Peterson (16) 5%
Lamont Peterson (11) 3%
Reginald Taylor (2) 1%
Darnell "The Ding-A-Ling Man" Wilson (74) 23%
Other (16) 5%
The new poll will need some explanation. The Beltway Boxers chosen for this poll have one thing in common: They are currently ranked in the top 15 by at least one of the four major governing bodies (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO) and/or Ring Magazine.
Here's a quick ratings breakdown:
Eric Aiken: #9 IBF -- Featherweight
DeMarcus Corley: #10 WBA -- Lightweight
Keith Holmes: #10 WBA -- Light Heavyweight
William Joppy: #14 WBC -- Super Middleweight
Emmanuel Nwodo: #13 IBF -- Cruiserweight
Anthony Peterson: #1 WBO, #5 WBC, #10 Ring Magazine -- Lightweight
Lamont Peterson: #5 WBA -- Junior Lightweight
Hasim Rahman: #4 WBC, #8 IBF, #11 WBA -- Heavyweight
Tony Thompson: #4 WBO, #10 Ring Magazine -- Heavyweight
Darnell Wilson: #6 WBO, #9 Ring Magazine, #10 IBF, #14 WBA, #14 WBC -- Cruiserweight
Hopefully, this will help you in your choice.
Tomorrow, we will have a special post that will celebrate the second birthday of Boxing Along The Beltway!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Gunn Donates August 25 Purse Percentage to Former World Champion!
Fightbeat.com is reporting that cruiserweight contender Bobby Gunn of Culpepper, VA will donate a portion of his purse from the Saturday, August 25 card at Robert E. Lee High School in Springfield, VA to former world champion Iran Barkley.
Gunn was Barkley's chief sparring partner in preparation for Barkley's bout against Darrin Van Horn on January 10, 1992. Barkley won the IBF Super Middleweight title from Van Horn with a second-round knockout.
“Iran Barkley gave the fans a lot of great fights and I learned a lot from sparring with him” said Gunn. “He was also a very nice guy and the time spent in camp with him was truly a pleasure and something I will always remember. I feel that the boxing community should give back to him and other fighters in need. My cousin Mike Normile saw Iran at a fight recently and knew he needed help. I felt it was my place to do something about it.”
Gunn also pointed out that not enough current fighters elect to help out legends of the past. “Many of today’s fighters are financially blessed, but you rarely see them giving back to the legends of boxing who could use their financial support. Hopefully what I am doing will open up eyes of other current boxers.”
Gunn was Barkley's chief sparring partner in preparation for Barkley's bout against Darrin Van Horn on January 10, 1992. Barkley won the IBF Super Middleweight title from Van Horn with a second-round knockout.
“Iran Barkley gave the fans a lot of great fights and I learned a lot from sparring with him” said Gunn. “He was also a very nice guy and the time spent in camp with him was truly a pleasure and something I will always remember. I feel that the boxing community should give back to him and other fighters in need. My cousin Mike Normile saw Iran at a fight recently and knew he needed help. I felt it was my place to do something about it.”
Gunn also pointed out that not enough current fighters elect to help out legends of the past. “Many of today’s fighters are financially blessed, but you rarely see them giving back to the legends of boxing who could use their financial support. Hopefully what I am doing will open up eyes of other current boxers.”
Update on August 25 Ocean City Card!
More bouts have been announced for the August 25 Baltimore Pro Boxing card at the Ocean City Convention Center in Ocean City, MD.
Undefeated Severn, MD middleweight Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow (12-0-1, five KO's) will participate in his first scheduled eight-round contest and it may be a tough one. Nicklow's scheduled to face Jose Luis "El Cuervo" Gonzalez of Guadalajara, MX.
Gonzalez (9-1, eight KO's) has won eight in a row since suffering his first loss in 2004. Gonzalez, now fighting out of Garden City, KS, is coming off a six-round knockout victory over previously undefeated Tim Connors on July 14 in St. Louis, MO.
Also, undefeated Dundalk, MD cruiserweight "The American Dream" Mike Dietrich (10-0, five KO's) looks to be serious about dropping down from the heavyweight ranks. His bout could be an interesting one as well as he takes on veteran William "The Storm" Bailey from Portsmouth, VA.
Bailey (7-12-2, four KO's) has won his last two bouts by knockout. Both wins came at the Augusta Expoland in Fisherville, VA against Beltway Boxers Adam Seal (Seal's first loss) and Derek Amos (who announced his retirement after the bout.) The 37-year-old Bailey said that 2007 will be his last year as an active boxer. Bailey has fought a number of Beltway Boxers during his career including Darnell Wilson, Willie Williams, Willis Lockett and Alton Rice. The wins against Seal and Amos were his only two Beltway victories.
The previously announced bouts (Mike Paschall vs. Richard Stewart and Andrew Farmer vs. Ryan Belasco) are still intact.
Undefeated Severn, MD middleweight Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow (12-0-1, five KO's) will participate in his first scheduled eight-round contest and it may be a tough one. Nicklow's scheduled to face Jose Luis "El Cuervo" Gonzalez of Guadalajara, MX.
Gonzalez (9-1, eight KO's) has won eight in a row since suffering his first loss in 2004. Gonzalez, now fighting out of Garden City, KS, is coming off a six-round knockout victory over previously undefeated Tim Connors on July 14 in St. Louis, MO.
Also, undefeated Dundalk, MD cruiserweight "The American Dream" Mike Dietrich (10-0, five KO's) looks to be serious about dropping down from the heavyweight ranks. His bout could be an interesting one as well as he takes on veteran William "The Storm" Bailey from Portsmouth, VA.
Bailey (7-12-2, four KO's) has won his last two bouts by knockout. Both wins came at the Augusta Expoland in Fisherville, VA against Beltway Boxers Adam Seal (Seal's first loss) and Derek Amos (who announced his retirement after the bout.) The 37-year-old Bailey said that 2007 will be his last year as an active boxer. Bailey has fought a number of Beltway Boxers during his career including Darnell Wilson, Willie Williams, Willis Lockett and Alton Rice. The wins against Seal and Amos were his only two Beltway victories.
The previously announced bouts (Mike Paschall vs. Richard Stewart and Andrew Farmer vs. Ryan Belasco) are still intact.
Smith Loses by Stoppage in Florida!
DC junior middleweight Luther "Sugarman" Smith lost by fourth-round TKO to Miami's David Estrada last night in West Palm Beach, FL.
My colleague Randy Hammonds of Floridaboxingnews.com called the bout target practice for Estrada as he hurt Smith with head and body shots, resulting in a knockdown in the third round. Estrada continued the assault until referee Frank Gentile stopped the bout at 1:25 of the fourth.
Smith is now 22-5-2, 12 KO's while Estrada rises to 21-3, 12 KO's.
My colleague Randy Hammonds of Floridaboxingnews.com called the bout target practice for Estrada as he hurt Smith with head and body shots, resulting in a knockdown in the third round. Estrada continued the assault until referee Frank Gentile stopped the bout at 1:25 of the fourth.
Smith is now 22-5-2, 12 KO's while Estrada rises to 21-3, 12 KO's.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Tyrell Samuel to Appear on ShoBox August 3!
Just received word that Baltimore featherweight Tyrell "Da Show Shock A" Samuel will be appearing on the next ShoBox telecast on Friday, August 3.
Samuel (9-1, five KO's) will be taking on Philadelphia's Eric "The Outlaw" Hunter in the eight-round co-feature bout that will take place at the Far West Rodeo Complex in Doraville, GA. Samuel is a late replacement for undefeated Joel Santiago, who suffered a recent injury.
Samuel has not fought since suffering his first pro loss -- a fourth-round technical knockout at the hands of Jose Hernandez on April 19 at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD.
Hunter (7-1, three KO's) is coming off a six-round unanimous decision victory over Vineash Rungea on April 20 in Atlantic City. This will be Hunter's first scheduled eight-round contest. Some Beltway Boxing fans may remember Hunter from a brief appearance he put in at Michael's on March 9, 2006. Hunter stopped Steve Lozoya in 29 seconds of the first round in that bout.
What's also interesting is that both boxers have a tough common opponent by the name of Carlos Vinan of New Jersey. Samuel fought Vinan twice -- winning a majority decision in October of 2005 in New Jersey and winning a tough split decision in September of 2006 at Michael's.
Hunter's only loss came to Vinan on January 11, 2007 in Philadelphia. Hunter lost a six-round split decision in that bout.
The ShoBox telecast begins at 11 PM ET on Showtime.
Samuel (9-1, five KO's) will be taking on Philadelphia's Eric "The Outlaw" Hunter in the eight-round co-feature bout that will take place at the Far West Rodeo Complex in Doraville, GA. Samuel is a late replacement for undefeated Joel Santiago, who suffered a recent injury.
Samuel has not fought since suffering his first pro loss -- a fourth-round technical knockout at the hands of Jose Hernandez on April 19 at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD.
Hunter (7-1, three KO's) is coming off a six-round unanimous decision victory over Vineash Rungea on April 20 in Atlantic City. This will be Hunter's first scheduled eight-round contest. Some Beltway Boxing fans may remember Hunter from a brief appearance he put in at Michael's on March 9, 2006. Hunter stopped Steve Lozoya in 29 seconds of the first round in that bout.
What's also interesting is that both boxers have a tough common opponent by the name of Carlos Vinan of New Jersey. Samuel fought Vinan twice -- winning a majority decision in October of 2005 in New Jersey and winning a tough split decision in September of 2006 at Michael's.
Hunter's only loss came to Vinan on January 11, 2007 in Philadelphia. Hunter lost a six-round split decision in that bout.
The ShoBox telecast begins at 11 PM ET on Showtime.
Ocean City Card Taking Shape!
Beltway Boxing Fans may wish to look into being cloned on Saturday, August 25. Not only do we have the SugHan card at Robert E. Lee High School in Springfield, VA, but there is also the Baltimore Pro Boxing card at the Ocean City Convention Center in Ocean City, MD that will take place on the same evening.
The card is starting to come together with two bouts already signed. Undefeated Baltimore cruiserweight Mike "The Persecutor" Paschall will take on New Castle, DE's Richard Stewart in an eight-round encounter.
Paschall (12-0-1, two KO's) recently came back to action, winning a four-round unanimous decision over Jacob Rodriguez on July 20th at DuBurns Arena in Baltimore. This will be Paschall's second scheduled eight-round bout of his career; the last time Paschall went eight was on October 20, 2006 when he fought to an eight-round draw against Dhafir Smith.
Stewart (13-3-1, eight KO's) is coming off a sixth-round knockout win over James North on June 15 in Harrington, DE. The win was a bounce-back victory for Stewart, who had previously been stopped by William Gill in the sixth round on May 4 in Fairless Hills, PA. I've talked to people who saw Stewart's performance against Gill and they all say Stewart was woefully out of shape for that bout.
This will be an interesting contest because both men have been brought along in similar fashion against similar opponents. Paschall has beaten Gill three times, all by decision. They both hold victories over Ronald Boddie.
As a matter of fact, these two men appeared on last year's Ocean City card on August 12 against different opponents. Paschall defeated Boddie by sixth-round majority decision while Stewart lost a six-round majority decision to Willie Williams.
The other bout already scheduled for this card will bring Front Royal, VA lightweight Andrew "The Doo Man" Farmer to Maryland for the first time as a pro. According to the information I've received, Farmer (7-1, six KO's) will fight a six-rounder against Ryan Belasco of Wilmington DE (4-1, one KO). Both men are coming off knockout victories. Farmer scored a fourth-round TKO over Marcos Antonio Soto on July 14 in Winchester, VA while Belasco knocked out Darrell Crenshaw on June 15 in Harrington, DE.
Also slated for this card will be undefeated Baltimore-area prospects Tim Coleman, Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow, "The American Dream" Mike Dietrich and "The Golden Greek" Elias Bouloubassis. Nicklow, by the way, will be fighting in his first scheduled eight-round bout on this card.
There is also a possibility that Middle River, MD super middleweight Tony "Cyclone" Cygan may make his return to the ring on this card. Cygan (11-1, six KO's) has not been in the ring since suffering winning a fifth-round technical decision over David Estrada on the last Ocean City card on August 12, 2006.
The card is starting to come together with two bouts already signed. Undefeated Baltimore cruiserweight Mike "The Persecutor" Paschall will take on New Castle, DE's Richard Stewart in an eight-round encounter.
Paschall (12-0-1, two KO's) recently came back to action, winning a four-round unanimous decision over Jacob Rodriguez on July 20th at DuBurns Arena in Baltimore. This will be Paschall's second scheduled eight-round bout of his career; the last time Paschall went eight was on October 20, 2006 when he fought to an eight-round draw against Dhafir Smith.
Stewart (13-3-1, eight KO's) is coming off a sixth-round knockout win over James North on June 15 in Harrington, DE. The win was a bounce-back victory for Stewart, who had previously been stopped by William Gill in the sixth round on May 4 in Fairless Hills, PA. I've talked to people who saw Stewart's performance against Gill and they all say Stewart was woefully out of shape for that bout.
This will be an interesting contest because both men have been brought along in similar fashion against similar opponents. Paschall has beaten Gill three times, all by decision. They both hold victories over Ronald Boddie.
As a matter of fact, these two men appeared on last year's Ocean City card on August 12 against different opponents. Paschall defeated Boddie by sixth-round majority decision while Stewart lost a six-round majority decision to Willie Williams.
The other bout already scheduled for this card will bring Front Royal, VA lightweight Andrew "The Doo Man" Farmer to Maryland for the first time as a pro. According to the information I've received, Farmer (7-1, six KO's) will fight a six-rounder against Ryan Belasco of Wilmington DE (4-1, one KO). Both men are coming off knockout victories. Farmer scored a fourth-round TKO over Marcos Antonio Soto on July 14 in Winchester, VA while Belasco knocked out Darrell Crenshaw on June 15 in Harrington, DE.
Also slated for this card will be undefeated Baltimore-area prospects Tim Coleman, Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow, "The American Dream" Mike Dietrich and "The Golden Greek" Elias Bouloubassis. Nicklow, by the way, will be fighting in his first scheduled eight-round bout on this card.
There is also a possibility that Middle River, MD super middleweight Tony "Cyclone" Cygan may make his return to the ring on this card. Cygan (11-1, six KO's) has not been in the ring since suffering winning a fifth-round technical decision over David Estrada on the last Ocean City card on August 12, 2006.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Update on August 3 Rosecroft Show!
Here is an update on the Friday, August 3 Keystone Boxing card at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, MD:
Bowie, MD heavyweight Horace "The Reason" Grant (5-1, four KO's) will battle Mujaheed Moore of Shaker Heights, OH (4-1, three KO's) in a six-round encounter.
This will be Grant's first bout since March 10 when he won a six-round unanimous decision over Chris Riley at the Pikesville National Guard Armory. Grant hurt his hand during that contest, but is in good shape for this encounter.
Moore has not fought since March 31 when he won a four-round majority decision over Dan Whetzel in Warren, OH. This is Moore's first scheduled six-round bout.
Also returning to action on this card will be undefeated Capitol Heights featherweight Thomas "KO" Snow. Snow (8-0, six KO's) will make his first appearance in 2007. Snow has not fought since December 9, 2006 when he scored a ninth-round TKO over Mike Salyers at the Lincoln Theatre.
Snow will take on Markel Muhammad of Columbus, OH (2-4) in a six-round bout. Muhammad is coming off a first-round TKO loss to Juan Carlos Velasquez on May 2 in Miami, FL.
In what could be a very interesting four-round bout, Capitol Heights junior middleweight Jason Champion will battle Damon "The Mailman" Antoine of Akron, OH.
Champion has a record of 4-3, three KO's and is coming off a first-round TKO win over Kenneth Meeks on the last Rosecroft show on May 18. Two of Champion's losses have come by decision to undefeated Beltway prospects Jessie Nicklow and Tim Coleman.
Antoine comes into this bout with a record of 6-15, three KO's, but don't let his record fool you. Antoine's last two victories have been against undefeated fighters. This includes a second-round TKO over Mike Carrigan on May 12 at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA. Antoine's last bout was a four-round majority decision win over previously undefeated Gerry Grealish on June 20 in Mashantucket, CT. Antoine also lost a six-round unanimous decision on June 1 to Jose Angel Rodriguez , who was 10-0 at the time of the bout.
Three Beltway Boxers will make pro debuts on the card including Laurel, MD junior middleweight Norman Allen, Alexandria, VA junior welterweight Michael Custodia and DC heavyweight Alexander Johnson.
Also on the card will be undefeated, 7'0" heavyweight Ernest "Zeus" Mazyck of Columbia, SC (5-0, one KO). Reportedly, Mazyck has local management now, so this may not be the last time we see him here.
There are five amateur bouts slated for this card, including Brandywine, MD heavyweight Seth "Mayhem" Mitchell, who is looking to keep his stoppage streak alive. (6-0, six bouts won by stoppage.)
Matchmaking the pro portion of the August 3 card is Chris Middendorf, who, according to Boxrec.com, is the most prolific matchmaker in the world today. With this card, Middendorf will have worked more than 30 cards since January of 2006. The second-place person in this ranking has just 11 cards.
Most recently, Middendorf served as matchmaker for the July 14 card in Biloxi, MS that included the main event between Roy Jones, Jr and Anthony Hanshaw.
Bowie, MD heavyweight Horace "The Reason" Grant (5-1, four KO's) will battle Mujaheed Moore of Shaker Heights, OH (4-1, three KO's) in a six-round encounter.
This will be Grant's first bout since March 10 when he won a six-round unanimous decision over Chris Riley at the Pikesville National Guard Armory. Grant hurt his hand during that contest, but is in good shape for this encounter.
Moore has not fought since March 31 when he won a four-round majority decision over Dan Whetzel in Warren, OH. This is Moore's first scheduled six-round bout.
Also returning to action on this card will be undefeated Capitol Heights featherweight Thomas "KO" Snow. Snow (8-0, six KO's) will make his first appearance in 2007. Snow has not fought since December 9, 2006 when he scored a ninth-round TKO over Mike Salyers at the Lincoln Theatre.
Snow will take on Markel Muhammad of Columbus, OH (2-4) in a six-round bout. Muhammad is coming off a first-round TKO loss to Juan Carlos Velasquez on May 2 in Miami, FL.
In what could be a very interesting four-round bout, Capitol Heights junior middleweight Jason Champion will battle Damon "The Mailman" Antoine of Akron, OH.
Champion has a record of 4-3, three KO's and is coming off a first-round TKO win over Kenneth Meeks on the last Rosecroft show on May 18. Two of Champion's losses have come by decision to undefeated Beltway prospects Jessie Nicklow and Tim Coleman.
Antoine comes into this bout with a record of 6-15, three KO's, but don't let his record fool you. Antoine's last two victories have been against undefeated fighters. This includes a second-round TKO over Mike Carrigan on May 12 at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA. Antoine's last bout was a four-round majority decision win over previously undefeated Gerry Grealish on June 20 in Mashantucket, CT. Antoine also lost a six-round unanimous decision on June 1 to Jose Angel Rodriguez , who was 10-0 at the time of the bout.
Three Beltway Boxers will make pro debuts on the card including Laurel, MD junior middleweight Norman Allen, Alexandria, VA junior welterweight Michael Custodia and DC heavyweight Alexander Johnson.
Also on the card will be undefeated, 7'0" heavyweight Ernest "Zeus" Mazyck of Columbia, SC (5-0, one KO). Reportedly, Mazyck has local management now, so this may not be the last time we see him here.
There are five amateur bouts slated for this card, including Brandywine, MD heavyweight Seth "Mayhem" Mitchell, who is looking to keep his stoppage streak alive. (6-0, six bouts won by stoppage.)
Matchmaking the pro portion of the August 3 card is Chris Middendorf, who, according to Boxrec.com, is the most prolific matchmaker in the world today. With this card, Middendorf will have worked more than 30 cards since January of 2006. The second-place person in this ranking has just 11 cards.
Most recently, Middendorf served as matchmaker for the July 14 card in Biloxi, MS that included the main event between Roy Jones, Jr and Anthony Hanshaw.
Springfield Card Now on August 25!
The Sughan (Han Kim) Promotions card that was originally scheduled for Saturday, August 11 will now be on Saturday, August 25 at Robert E. Lee High School in Springfield, VA.
Former cruiserweight world title contender Bobby Gunn of Culpepper, VA will be in the main event.
One bout is already in place for the card, and the genesis of the bout took place during discussions right here on Boxing Along The Beltway. Undefeated DC junior middleweight Lawrence Jones (2-0, one KO) will take on "War Time" George Rivera of Charlottsville, VA (3-1, two KO's) in a four-round contest.
Also slated for the card will be undefeated Arlington, VA welterweight Bayan Jargal (2-0-1, two KO's), DC junior middleweight Victor Randall Davis (1-1) and Beltway heavyweights Horace "The Reason" Grant (5-1, four KO's) and Scott "Duke" Buchanan (1-0, one KO)
Former cruiserweight world title contender Bobby Gunn of Culpepper, VA will be in the main event.
One bout is already in place for the card, and the genesis of the bout took place during discussions right here on Boxing Along The Beltway. Undefeated DC junior middleweight Lawrence Jones (2-0, one KO) will take on "War Time" George Rivera of Charlottsville, VA (3-1, two KO's) in a four-round contest.
Also slated for the card will be undefeated Arlington, VA welterweight Bayan Jargal (2-0-1, two KO's), DC junior middleweight Victor Randall Davis (1-1) and Beltway heavyweights Horace "The Reason" Grant (5-1, four KO's) and Scott "Duke" Buchanan (1-0, one KO)
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Can We Make a Supercard?
There is a very interesting discussion that is going on in a previous item that I want to bring to the forefront. The discussion concerns the feasibility and possibility of putting together a Beltway Boxing Supercard featuring the elite of our boxers.
Currently, we have eight Beltway Boxers that are ranked in the top 15 of the four major governing bodies (WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO). We also have three boxers ranked in the Ring Magazine rankings. I think at least a few of them should be involved in a proposed supercard.
What follows is a FANTASY scenario of what a super card might look like:
MAIN EVENT -- For the WBO Heavyweight Title:
Sultan Ibragimov (Champion) vs. Tony "The Tiger" Thompson (mandatory)
CO-FEATURE -- For the WBC/WBA Cruiserweight Title:
Jean-Marc Mormeck (Champion) vs. Darnell "The Ding-A-Ling Man" Wilson
CO-FEATURE -- For the WBO Lightweight Title:
Michael Katsidis (Champion) vs. Anthony Peterson (Number one contender)
For the WBC Continental Americas Junior Middleweight title:
Jimmy Lange (Champion) vs. Yuri Foreman
For the WBC US Junior Welterweight title:
Lamont Peterson (champion) vs. Demetrius Hopkins
Special Attraction -- 10 Rounds:
Eric "Mighty Mouse" Aiken (former IBF Featherweight champion) vs. Jason Litzau
Also featuring rising Beltway Boxing prospects, Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow, Andrew "The Doo Man" Farmer, Tim Coleman, Ron "Teflon" Boyd, etc.
I would like to hear more from fans on this, but I would also like to hear from people within the sport of boxing itself -- promoters, matchmakers, trainers, commission personnel, boxers (don't get mad if your name's not on here. This is just an example.)
How close can we come to something like this happening? I know there is money and ego and travel among other things to consider. But how close to this can we get? What are the true obstacles and how can we overcome them?
In your comments, please be informative and not nasty. This is not a subject where we have to say who's better for the sport. This might be the discussion that can truly benefit everyone involved with the Beltway Boxing community.
Currently, we have eight Beltway Boxers that are ranked in the top 15 of the four major governing bodies (WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO). We also have three boxers ranked in the Ring Magazine rankings. I think at least a few of them should be involved in a proposed supercard.
What follows is a FANTASY scenario of what a super card might look like:
MAIN EVENT -- For the WBO Heavyweight Title:
Sultan Ibragimov (Champion) vs. Tony "The Tiger" Thompson (mandatory)
CO-FEATURE -- For the WBC/WBA Cruiserweight Title:
Jean-Marc Mormeck (Champion) vs. Darnell "The Ding-A-Ling Man" Wilson
CO-FEATURE -- For the WBO Lightweight Title:
Michael Katsidis (Champion) vs. Anthony Peterson (Number one contender)
For the WBC Continental Americas Junior Middleweight title:
Jimmy Lange (Champion) vs. Yuri Foreman
For the WBC US Junior Welterweight title:
Lamont Peterson (champion) vs. Demetrius Hopkins
Special Attraction -- 10 Rounds:
Eric "Mighty Mouse" Aiken (former IBF Featherweight champion) vs. Jason Litzau
Also featuring rising Beltway Boxing prospects, Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow, Andrew "The Doo Man" Farmer, Tim Coleman, Ron "Teflon" Boyd, etc.
I would like to hear more from fans on this, but I would also like to hear from people within the sport of boxing itself -- promoters, matchmakers, trainers, commission personnel, boxers (don't get mad if your name's not on here. This is just an example.)
How close can we come to something like this happening? I know there is money and ego and travel among other things to consider. But how close to this can we get? What are the true obstacles and how can we overcome them?
In your comments, please be informative and not nasty. This is not a subject where we have to say who's better for the sport. This might be the discussion that can truly benefit everyone involved with the Beltway Boxing community.
Baltimore Examiner Profiles Three Beltway Prospects!
They may be the "second" paper in Charm City, but the Baltimore Examiner has been first class in their coverage of the Beltway Boxing scene.
Recently, reporter Ron Snyder examined two of the city's undefeated prospects -- "The Persecutor" Mike Paschall and Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow. Both stories were done after Paschall and Nicklow appeared on last Friday's card at DuBurns Arena in Baltimore. Both are VERY good reads. Here are the links:
http://www.examiner.com/a-843112~Jail_time_offers_perspective_for__The_Persecutor_.html
http://www.examiner.com/a-841390~_The_Beast__takes_bite_out_of_competition.html
Also, Examiner reporter Dave Carey has a nice article on undefeated heavyweight "The American Dream" Mike Dietrich. Here is the link for that article:
http://www.examiner.com/a-841388~_Dream__continues_for_local_boxer.html
Recently, reporter Ron Snyder examined two of the city's undefeated prospects -- "The Persecutor" Mike Paschall and Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow. Both stories were done after Paschall and Nicklow appeared on last Friday's card at DuBurns Arena in Baltimore. Both are VERY good reads. Here are the links:
http://www.examiner.com/a-843112~Jail_time_offers_perspective_for__The_Persecutor_.html
http://www.examiner.com/a-841390~_The_Beast__takes_bite_out_of_competition.html
Also, Examiner reporter Dave Carey has a nice article on undefeated heavyweight "The American Dream" Mike Dietrich. Here is the link for that article:
http://www.examiner.com/a-841388~_Dream__continues_for_local_boxer.html
Saturday, July 21, 2007
August 11 Show Postponed!
Promoter "Sugar" Han Kim has informed me that his card scheduled for Saturday, August 11 at Robert E. Lee High School in Springfield has been postponed. Main event fighter Bobby Gunn was unable to battle on that date because of a family matter.
A new date has not been confirmed but Kim is still looking to have the show sometime in August.
A new date has not been confirmed but Kim is still looking to have the show sometime in August.
Thompson Discusses Present and Future!
Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #72 - Tony Thompson Discusses Present and Future!
A week after the biggest win of his career to date, DC heavyweight and WBO mandatory contender Tony "The Tiger" Thompson talks about his fifth-round TKO victory over Luan Krasniqi in Hamburg, Germany and where he goes from here.
A week after the biggest win of his career to date, DC heavyweight and WBO mandatory contender Tony "The Tiger" Thompson talks about his fifth-round TKO victory over Luan Krasniqi in Hamburg, Germany and where he goes from here.
Dietrich, Paschall Remain Undefeated in Baltimore!
Baltimore-area prospects "The American Dream" Mike Dietrich and Mike "The Persecutor" Paschall remained undefeated with solid victories in feature bouts at the DuBurns Arena in Baltimore.
Dietrich of Dundalk, MD scored a third-round TKO over Cedar Rapids, IA's Jerry "Ruff House" Simpson in a heavyweight bout. Dietrich landed a wicked uppercut that led to the stoppage of the bout at 1:51 of the third. Dietrich is now 10-0, five KO's while Simpson falls to 2-8-1, one KO.
Pasadena, MD's Paschall won a four-round unanimous decision over a very awkward Jake
"The Snake" Rodriguez of Philadelphia in a light heavyweight encounter. Paschall didn't really pick things up until the last round when he landed solid punches to enabled him to go on to victory. Paschall is 12-0-1, two KO's. Rodriguez is 8-18, five KO's.
In other bouts on the card, undefeated Baltimore heavyweight Adam "Boom Boom" Bloom captured an easy victory over "Stormin" Norman Green of Raleigh, NC. Bloom pressured Green throughout the first round. So much so that Green had enough and did not come out for the second round. Bloom is 5-0, four KO's while Green loses in his pro debut.
Annapolis, MD junior middleweight Steve Garrett got of to a great start in his first bout since 2005. He knocked down Berlin, MD's John Snyder with a solid left hand. But by the end of the bout, Snyder had gained control of the bout and finally dropped Garrett with a solid combination. As he fell, Garrett told referee Kenny Chevalier he had hurt something and the bout was stopped near the end of the fourth round. Snyder raised his record to 4-2, two KO's while Garrett is now 2-5, one KO.
The opening bout was a good battle of Tri-State boxers as Martin Wright of Brooklyn, NY won a four-round split decision over Maurice Williams of Camden, NJ. Williams actually knocked down Wright in the middle of the fourth-round, but Wright won the earlier rounds to gain the edge in the bout. Wright is 4-0-1, two KO's while Williams is 1-3-1, one KO.
The scheduled bout featuring "The Golden Greek" Elias Bouloubassis was a late scratch because the opponent, Bryan Braham, had medical issues.
On the amateur side, there were two solid performances by Baltimore's Jeremy Miller (132 Pounds)and Brandywine, MD's Seth "Mayhem" Mitchell(superheavyweight). Mitchell stopped his opponent for the sixth time this year.
A full report can be heard on the newest Post-Fight Wrap-Up, including some details about the legal rumors surrounding Dietrich.
Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #71 - Post-Fight Wrap-Up From Baltimore!
"The Fight Doctor" Jerome Spears and I talk about the Pro-Am card at DuBurns Arena in Baltimore.
Dietrich of Dundalk, MD scored a third-round TKO over Cedar Rapids, IA's Jerry "Ruff House" Simpson in a heavyweight bout. Dietrich landed a wicked uppercut that led to the stoppage of the bout at 1:51 of the third. Dietrich is now 10-0, five KO's while Simpson falls to 2-8-1, one KO.
Pasadena, MD's Paschall won a four-round unanimous decision over a very awkward Jake
"The Snake" Rodriguez of Philadelphia in a light heavyweight encounter. Paschall didn't really pick things up until the last round when he landed solid punches to enabled him to go on to victory. Paschall is 12-0-1, two KO's. Rodriguez is 8-18, five KO's.
In other bouts on the card, undefeated Baltimore heavyweight Adam "Boom Boom" Bloom captured an easy victory over "Stormin" Norman Green of Raleigh, NC. Bloom pressured Green throughout the first round. So much so that Green had enough and did not come out for the second round. Bloom is 5-0, four KO's while Green loses in his pro debut.
Annapolis, MD junior middleweight Steve Garrett got of to a great start in his first bout since 2005. He knocked down Berlin, MD's John Snyder with a solid left hand. But by the end of the bout, Snyder had gained control of the bout and finally dropped Garrett with a solid combination. As he fell, Garrett told referee Kenny Chevalier he had hurt something and the bout was stopped near the end of the fourth round. Snyder raised his record to 4-2, two KO's while Garrett is now 2-5, one KO.
The opening bout was a good battle of Tri-State boxers as Martin Wright of Brooklyn, NY won a four-round split decision over Maurice Williams of Camden, NJ. Williams actually knocked down Wright in the middle of the fourth-round, but Wright won the earlier rounds to gain the edge in the bout. Wright is 4-0-1, two KO's while Williams is 1-3-1, one KO.
The scheduled bout featuring "The Golden Greek" Elias Bouloubassis was a late scratch because the opponent, Bryan Braham, had medical issues.
On the amateur side, there were two solid performances by Baltimore's Jeremy Miller (132 Pounds)and Brandywine, MD's Seth "Mayhem" Mitchell(superheavyweight). Mitchell stopped his opponent for the sixth time this year.
A full report can be heard on the newest Post-Fight Wrap-Up, including some details about the legal rumors surrounding Dietrich.
Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #71 - Post-Fight Wrap-Up From Baltimore!
"The Fight Doctor" Jerome Spears and I talk about the Pro-Am card at DuBurns Arena in Baltimore.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Final Lineup for Tonight's Card at DuBurns Arena!
Here is how the Baltimore Pro Boxing card shapes up for tonight at DuBurns Arena in Baltimore:
Main event-- "The American Dream" Mike Dietrich (9-0, four KO's) vs. Jerry Simpson of Tallahassee, FL (2-7-1, one KO).
Co-feature -- "The Persecutor" Mike Paschall (11-0-1, two KO's) vs. Jacob Rodriguez of Philadelphia, PA (8-17, six KO's)
"The Golden Greek" Elias Bouloubassis (1-0-3, one KO) vs. Bryan Branham of Uniontown, WVA (0-1)
Adam "Boom Boom" Bloom (4-0, three KO's) vs Norman Green of York, NC (Pro Debut)
Steve Garrett (2-4, one KO) vs. Josh Snyder of Ocean City, MD (3-2, one KO)
Martin Wright of Brooklyn, NY (3-0-1, two KO's) vs. Maurice Williams of Atlantic City, NJ (1-2, one KO).
Special Exhibition bout: Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow vs. "Hurricane" Henry Mayes
Main event-- "The American Dream" Mike Dietrich (9-0, four KO's) vs. Jerry Simpson of Tallahassee, FL (2-7-1, one KO).
Co-feature -- "The Persecutor" Mike Paschall (11-0-1, two KO's) vs. Jacob Rodriguez of Philadelphia, PA (8-17, six KO's)
"The Golden Greek" Elias Bouloubassis (1-0-3, one KO) vs. Bryan Branham of Uniontown, WVA (0-1)
Adam "Boom Boom" Bloom (4-0, three KO's) vs Norman Green of York, NC (Pro Debut)
Steve Garrett (2-4, one KO) vs. Josh Snyder of Ocean City, MD (3-2, one KO)
Martin Wright of Brooklyn, NY (3-0-1, two KO's) vs. Maurice Williams of Atlantic City, NJ (1-2, one KO).
Special Exhibition bout: Jessie "The Beast" Nicklow vs. "Hurricane" Henry Mayes
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Thompson Garners Spot in Washington Times Power Rankings!
In the category of "some mainstream press is better than no mainstream press at all," comes this item in the Washington Times:
DC heavyweight and WBO number one contender Tony "The Tiger" Thompson captured a spot in the Washington Times Area Power Rankings in today's editions.
Because of his big win over Luan Krasniqi last Saturday night, Thompson was placed in the number three position behind recently resigned Wizards forward DeShawn Stevenson and Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell. Thompson placed ahead of New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels who is one of Times writer Ryan O'Halloran's choices to replace Redskins Head Coach Joe Gibbs should he retire. In fifth place was Washington Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden, who must decide his moves as the baseball trading deadline draws closer.
Thompson's win also allowed him to crack the most recent (July 16) Ring Magazine ratings at number 10. Thompson is the third Beltway Boxer to find a place in the ratings for "The Bible of Boxing." Darnell Wilson recently moved up to number 9 at cruiserweight while Anthony Peterson is at number 10 at lightweight.
DC heavyweight and WBO number one contender Tony "The Tiger" Thompson captured a spot in the Washington Times Area Power Rankings in today's editions.
Because of his big win over Luan Krasniqi last Saturday night, Thompson was placed in the number three position behind recently resigned Wizards forward DeShawn Stevenson and Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell. Thompson placed ahead of New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels who is one of Times writer Ryan O'Halloran's choices to replace Redskins Head Coach Joe Gibbs should he retire. In fifth place was Washington Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden, who must decide his moves as the baseball trading deadline draws closer.
Thompson's win also allowed him to crack the most recent (July 16) Ring Magazine ratings at number 10. Thompson is the third Beltway Boxer to find a place in the ratings for "The Bible of Boxing." Darnell Wilson recently moved up to number 9 at cruiserweight while Anthony Peterson is at number 10 at lightweight.
'Sugarman' Smith Returns in Florida July 28!
Fightnews.com is reporting that former welterweight contender Luther "Sugarman" Smith of DC is returning to the ring on Saturday, July 28 when he takes on rising contender David Estrada at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, FL.
Smith (22-4-2, 12 KO's) has fought only once since scoring the biggest victory of his career -- a second-round TKO over perennial welterweight contender Oba Carr on February 10, 2002 in Elgin, IL. That one bout was a first-round knockout loss to Delvin Rodriguez on August 5, 2005.
Estrada (20-3, 11 KO's) is ranked 13th in the world by the IBF. The resident of Miami, FL is coming off a fourth-round TKO over David Toribio on April 13 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.
Smith (22-4-2, 12 KO's) has fought only once since scoring the biggest victory of his career -- a second-round TKO over perennial welterweight contender Oba Carr on February 10, 2002 in Elgin, IL. That one bout was a first-round knockout loss to Delvin Rodriguez on August 5, 2005.
Estrada (20-3, 11 KO's) is ranked 13th in the world by the IBF. The resident of Miami, FL is coming off a fourth-round TKO over David Toribio on April 13 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Andre Hemphill Tries to Bring 'Da Heat' to Philadelphia August 24!
Woodbridge, VA light heavyweight Andre "Da Heat" Hemphill will be involved in a big card on Friday, August 24 at the New Alhambra Boxing Center in Philadelphia, PA.
Hemphill (6-6-1, three KO's) will take on Philadelphia's Simon "One Punch" Carr (4-1, three KO's) in a six round rematch. Hemphill gave Carr his only pro loss in their first outing on October 14, 2006 at the Philadelphia National Guard Armory, winning a four-round unaninmous decision. This will be Hemphill's first bout in 2007 as he tries to bounce back from a first-round loss to Chucky Cavallo on December 29 in Valley Forge, PA.
This card also features a familiar out-of-towner in the main event, junior middleweight Derek Ennis of Philadelphia will headline the show. You'll remember Ennis was in my pick for Bout of the Year along the Beltway in 2006 when he fought to a draw with Baltimore's Maxell Taylor at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD.
Belated congratulations to another Beltway Boxer known as "The Heat." New Carrollton, MD junior middleweight Shawn "The Heat" Garnett won a six-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Kgotso Motau of South Africa on July 14 in Orillia, Ontario, CA. This was Garnett's first bout since June of 2006 and broke a two-bout losing streak.
Garnett is now 11-4-1, three KO's. Motau is now 11-1 with all 11 of his wins by knockout.
Hemphill (6-6-1, three KO's) will take on Philadelphia's Simon "One Punch" Carr (4-1, three KO's) in a six round rematch. Hemphill gave Carr his only pro loss in their first outing on October 14, 2006 at the Philadelphia National Guard Armory, winning a four-round unaninmous decision. This will be Hemphill's first bout in 2007 as he tries to bounce back from a first-round loss to Chucky Cavallo on December 29 in Valley Forge, PA.
This card also features a familiar out-of-towner in the main event, junior middleweight Derek Ennis of Philadelphia will headline the show. You'll remember Ennis was in my pick for Bout of the Year along the Beltway in 2006 when he fought to a draw with Baltimore's Maxell Taylor at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD.
Belated congratulations to another Beltway Boxer known as "The Heat." New Carrollton, MD junior middleweight Shawn "The Heat" Garnett won a six-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Kgotso Motau of South Africa on July 14 in Orillia, Ontario, CA. This was Garnett's first bout since June of 2006 and broke a two-bout losing streak.
Garnett is now 11-4-1, three KO's. Motau is now 11-1 with all 11 of his wins by knockout.
Photos from Winchester!
Beltway Boxing photographer Linda Siadys has another great series of photographs, this time from last Saturday's "Tomorrow's Champions" card in Winchester, VA. Linda takes you from the press conference earlier in the week all the way through the action on the card. Please check out the collection and let her know what you think.
http://photodawg1.smugmug.com/gallery/2991179
http://photodawg1.smugmug.com/gallery/2991179
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