Saturday, September 09, 2006

October 7th Patriot Center Card Taking Shape!

The boxing card scheduled for Saturday, October 7 at the George Mason University Patriot Center is starting to really take shape. The card, promoted by Joe Hensley of Major League Boxing.com, is now called “The Beltway vs.the World.”

Here is the card as it currently stands (Beltway Boxers in Bold):

MAIN EVENT: Jimmy Lange (26-3-1, 18 KO’s) vs. Thomas Wilt (20-5, four KO’s) 10 rounds

CO-FEATURE: Purcell “Hard Rock” Miller (22-4-1, 18 KO’s) vs. Larry “Laser” Marks (28-8, 16 KO’s) 8 rounds

CO-FEATURE: Dorin Spivey (32-4, 23 KO’s) vs. Roberto “El Viejo” Valenzuela (37-25-2, 32 KO’s) 8 rounds

SPECIAL ATTRACTION: Anthony Bonsante (from “The Contender: Season 1” 26-8-3, 15 KO’s) vs. Larry “The Gladiator” Brothers 6-19-3, four KO’s) 6 rounds

UNDERCARD (all four-round bouts): Ray Grant (1-0, one KO) vs. Jonathan Felton (1-4, one KO)

“Money” Mike Sawyer (2-1, one KO) vs. Randy McCrory (0-1)
Derek Amos (14-22, nine KO’s) vs. Juan Robles (3-0, two KO’s)
Andrew Farmer (3-0, three KO’s) vs. TBD

Check back next week when I will have a full detailed preview on this card.

46 comments:

Anonymous said...

Don't know if you wanna count Spivey as a Beltway Boxer or not (I like the title of the show by the way)-according to Boxrec.com, he's from Portsmouth, VA. Also, Boxrec has an additional match-Jed Phipps vs. Rowyan Wallace.

Anonymous said...

Two more things:

1: I'm very much looking forward to this.

2: This goes w/out saying, but the card is of course tentative-on the Boxrec forums, Joe's posted like 5-10 changes. Digital, you've been involved in boxing for awhile-why do the matches change so often, sometimes up to, and even including, the night of the fight?

Gary Digital Williams said...

Portsmouth is a little south of our Beltway, so I didn't count Spivey as a Beltway Boxer.

I have heard that Rowyan Wallace's opponent will be either Phipps or Cecil Smith, that's why I didn't include the bout yet.

To answer your question, bouts fall out or change for a lot of reasons. Injuries is one reason. Also, the matchups may not be right for one reason or another.

The night before the fight, the weights may not be right. One guy may be too much heavier than the other and they don't meet the agreed-upon weight. Sometimes the regulating commission may find out the boxer may not have all the paperwork needed.

Then there is that old adage that we like to use around the Beltway: "If it don't make dollars, it don't make sense." If a boxer doesn't feel the money is right, they pull out in a heartbeat.

Anonymous said...

I like that "If it don't make dollars, it don't make sense" saying. BUT, boxers are allowed to just pull out like that? Wow. Shows how little I know about the business aspect of the sport.

Anonymous said...

talking about spivey they did try to get him several fighters to fight him around beltway but the problem was they wasn't paying no money and yes if it don't make money it don't make sense for what they were offerring they were looking for a cracchead and jimmy lange come on people he's bum i hope they got him a cab driver your seen what happen last time when he fought somebody they can fight he got knock out

Anonymous said...

Yes joe I spoke to one of my sources and iwas told that the money was some crumbs and are you lange going to ride conteender its over. Call jimmy budweiser because his back is allways on that sign come on joe if you want a great show get some names on the card I can name so many fighters that would sell that cracker jack card out

Anonymous said...

Joe hi you doing I have several 140 how much are you were you going to pay I hope not nothing less than 5 thousand if so you are not paying top money like you said how much so the poeple no you are not paying topmoney

Anonymous said...

Jimmy Lange is world class? Come on Joe, let's be honest here. He has the right complexion and nothing more. He is a great kid but cannot fight. Anyone in the top 20 would stop him. Hell, Joey Gilbert knocked him out. Call it what it is Joe. A local guy with a following with limited skills.

Anonymous said...

I gotta kinda agree with the last post. Jimmy is definitely popular, and he convincingly beat Perry Ballard, but he did lose to Gilbert. For all intends and purposes he NEEDS this win against Wilt IMO.

Anonymous said...

Joe come on man. Being a draw and being able to fight or to be worldclass are two different things. Butter Bean is a draw! Does that make him world class?

Jimmy Lange = Great Kid, average boxer. I rest my case.

Anonymous said...

Come on joe jimmy is a d class fighter he can be compared to butterbean both of them got to have a cab driver he can't beat know top 10 opponet joe you better have have a bus driver so he can look so you can come back

Anonymous said...

Joe you are dealing with boxing fans around here I can name several fighters that can sell that show out you know he has to have right opponent or that's your ass you must be having another show this year that's why you have a bum for him I'm watching a tape of toosharp when he was the commontator and this guy beat jimmy bad an they said he should have lost but because that bum could tickets that's why he won after that I even seen henry jones was laughing an look out the ring an told several jimmy got his ass beat ask them about that both them would tell you

Anonymous said...

Would love to come, but the tickets price is unjustified (for those of us who aren't Jimmy Lange fans)!! $500 ringside is a bit much for a fighter who was TKOed his last fight. I'll admit Jimmy is popular and can box (check his opponents records), but its not worth $500 ringside to see him fight a 37 year old who has built up his record against boxers with losing records. I respect the financial bottom line, and really would like to attend the fight, but can't bring myself to drop 1K on tickets for Jimmy Lange even with an 8 fight undercard as supporting cast. Just some feedback.

Guzz

Anonymous said...

Guzz-From personal experience, even the nosebleeds provide a decent view.

Joe-I'm very much looking forward to this card. You gonna be there? I wanna say hi before the show if possible.

Anonymous said...

I belive its already been said in the post on this blog some will
like Jimmy some won't, In boxing we all can argue who is world class
and we all will have a different out look on opines.. Boxing is a
sport like all other sports, you will like who you will like, bottom
line is Jimmy is training hard and takes his career seriously.
Theres no doubt Jimmy will get a chance at the world title, hes
trained to hard to turn away now..

The Joey Gilbert "TKO" lost is something that happened, you shake yourself
off and correct that mistake. Jimmy Lange "natural Light middle
weight" against Joey Gilbert "natural light heavy weight" thats a pain in ass
match up, Its done and over with.. Theres many a boxer that have lost to
opponents they should have never lost to, Tommy Wilt fought some good boxers for
the Golden Gloves in his amateur days "300 matches", Losing is not something
Tommy wants to have happen Oct/7... And Jimmy Knows whats at stake I
would guess.. It looks like Joe Hensley put together a good
line up for the Oct/7 match ups.. Will be a good night of boxing,

And will agree you don't need Ringside seats for good view,
25/50/ are great seats 100/150 getting better 350/500 well that will
impress your girl friend or wife, Might retract the wife part, that
might get your ass kicked for spending $500

"Butter bean is fat will agree on that one" not to many will argue
that fact..

Gary Digital Williams said...

Eddy, what you have said is very true. Let me add a couple of points.

1. Jimmy once had the longest winning streak of anyone along the Beltway -- 18 straight wins. That streak was stopped by the first loss to Gilbert on "The Contender.

2. If you take the period of Jimmy's bouts between May 1999 when he drew with James Johnson at Michael's, Jimmy's opponents had a total won-loss record of 291-261-24. That isn't great but it is over .500. Many boxers can't say that.

3. Here's the real issue, though. With the exception of the knockout over Perry Ballard, Lange has not had a good performance since his win over Gabriel Rodriguez in February of 2004. The fight against Sammy Sparkman in May of 2004 at the Convention Center (I think that's the one referenced by someone who had a tape of it) was a terrible performance. Even Jimmy told me he probably lost that one. He lost twice to Gilbert and really didn't look good against Tarick Salmaci.

The bottom line is if Jimmy wants to be universally considered a world-class boxer, he has to not only win, but he has to look good doing it. He can't afford anything else at this stage.

Anonymous said...

Digital,

What's your opinion on the Patriot Center seating as a boxing venue?

Guzz

Gary Digital Williams said...

Guzz,

I like the Patriot Center as a boxing site. If it is scaled down like it was when Lange fought Perry Ballard, there truly isn't a bad seat in the house.

I think the Patriot Center seats close to 10,000 for George Mason basketball. The first bout they had there, it was scaled back to about 7,000 if I remember correctly.

Cell phone reception there is terrible, but that's a minor thing.

Anonymous said...

Seating's fine. Digital, you're right-~10k for basketball. Cellphone reception does work somewhat,

Anonymous said...

Come on henry you ars saying this because you like jimmy but I knw what you said I was there they must have given you a job and just like I told people jimmy can't fight an gary you said he had the longest winning streak for the beltway boxers name them that's not true you had people have streaks longer than that. You are giving false info gary

Anonymous said...

Henry I can't believe you not being a man an stand up for what you said you are taking the sucker way out I don't know if too sharp know about this web site so have him text what he said about jimmy when the fight was he not like you he will say what he believe in but no not you an yes I said it an will say it again jimmy is a bum an he will never be world champion

Anonymous said...

b more finest, I'm begging you, PLEASE stop with the run-on sentences.

Anonymous said...

somebody get in touch with too sharp so i can hear what he got to say about what i said he would set the record straight unlike henry jones who is scared he might get fired from ring announcer and i want to hear what he got to say about what gary said about dc boxing commission and them dropping the ball on too sharp he will tell your how he feel even thought i feel as if he was a ok fighter not great

Gary Digital Williams said...

At one time, Jimmy DID have the longest streak in the Beltway. I did leave out a word -- active. Jimmy's streak went from July 1999 until September of 2004. He fought at least one time in every year during that stretch.

No Beltway Boxer AT THAT TIME came close to that.

Tony Thompson now has the longest CURRENT winning streak with 23 straight.

Anonymous said...

Digital, just out of curiosity, which Beltway Boxer has the ALL-TIME longest streak?

Gary Digital Williams said...

ACW,

I'm not sure about all-time streaks. But it is a great question and I will do some research.

Anonymous said...

B more this is Mark TooSharp Johnson.I was contacted and heard you want my point of view on what you all be talking about.I will set the record straight.I will tell gary set up a live interview over the phone.So you who have all the question,an you who are the problem solver.

Anonymous said...

Too sharp I'm glad you wrote in first let me say I respect you an thanks for texting back I hope you can get gary to set up a phone interview like you said I an people can hear what you have to say from you I mad a lot of people mad joe henry an those jimmy lange fans gary when are you going to set this up about every thing too sharp what you think about that bum show I hope I see you at fights the real fights

Gary Digital Williams said...

I will get to Mark as soon as I can. I've got a whole bunch of interviews scheduled for the next couple of weeks.

I was hoping to get Corey Cummings this week before the show on Sept. 14. I left messages for him but he didn't respond.

But I've got interviews scheduled for the shows on Sept. 28 and Oct. 7 also.

Anonymous said...

Joe, I'm for that! But Discombobulating, maybe I'm naive, but do you think race is really a part of this?

Anonymous said...

Hmm, alot of posts here. As for Lange, as often is the case, the truth lies somewhere in between. No, he's not a "world class" fighter, and can't be reasonably considered as such despite his record, but he's also not a Butterbean or a "D-level fighter". He's a C-level fighter and a fringe-contender, and yes, he does have alot of heart, and is a good draw. He's a decent honest fighter, and the people like to watch him. Nuff said.

P.S- As for myself folks, I'm just a West Coast guy, and I wasn't even a C or D-level fighter. I was a "Y-level one". (As in, one-notch above Z, and - "Y-the-f*ck is he in the ring???")

Peace & Respect...

Anonymous said...

* Sidenote- *Chuckle* I've always loved that nickname/moniker "Discombobulating" since the moment I first heard it years ago...LOL...I know he's probably been asked this a zillion times, but I've always wondered how in the world he got that?

*BB*

Anonymous said...

WOW!!! I have no idea what Jones said or did not say, but I do know for a fact that the man has always treated the boxers from Old School Boxing with complete respect.In fact, he has went out of his way several times for all of us. Old School Boxing has Hispanic, Black, and White boxers and he has treated us all equal. I personally hope that he remains around here for quite sometime. The entire boxing family is lucky to have the guy in our lives. I just hope he does not let the negative comments drive him away. Think about it, who can take his place????

Anonymous said...

for you to you jones i will at the fights in b more tomorrow you can see me and yes i will take that fight joe make that match lets keep it real are you upset over words than you is dumb as i thought you was fool and thank all of you for letting me set the record straight on this fool

Gary Digital Williams said...

B more Finest:

Let's be real: What Joe said was a JOKE!!! C'mon! Let's not make this personal! From here on out, if you have constructive comments about the October 7 card, feel free to post. Any personal, non-boxing thoughts about anyone, please keep them to yourself!

Anonymous said...

gary what i said was a joke about fighting henry but i do want to set the record straight on some different point that touch on about toosharp as well scary jones and that bum card thats my point of view an nobody else yes jimmy will never be a world champion wba wbc ibf wbo when are you going to have henry or joe or toosharp on

Gary Digital Williams said...

I plan to have Joe and Henry on within the next two weeks. Joe will be on talking about the card while Henry will be on the fourth and final part of the "Voices of the Ring" series.

Anonymous said...

Discombobulating-I look forward to it!

Anonymous said...

I very much look forward to it as well.

"You are about as charasmatic and smooth as Cognac and cherry blend tobacco, and as solid as Ironwood, Mr.Jones."

(Ehh...How I came up with the above, I'm not quite sure! LOL)

Anonymous said...

Joe Hensley:
This is Dean "Pitbull" White. I've read your comments for the Oct.7th card . As a beltway boxer, I take offense to this. I returned your call and didn't recieve an answer and wasn't able to leave a message because I didn't get an answering machine. Unfortunatly I'm not able to take this fight because I was cut in my last bout (headbutt). Instead of me fighting Oct 7th as an opponent and not at 100% bring me in on the December card to fight Spivey as a competitive fight and let's see what happens.
Thanks
D.W.

Anonymous said...

Joe-
Where and when is the December event? I've not heard anything.

Man, I wish it was less than 3 weeks until Oct. 7-should be awesome! I got my ticket a few days ago (the $25 nosebleeds, but still, the view's fine, and I can just move down if seats are open).

Anonymous said...

Damn, two Patriot Center shows in a row?! Too bad I don't live on campus anymore; it's cool though, I can take the bus from Ballston (+ a taxi if necessary). The 9th could be tough though-that's when George Mason's (still a grad. student there) b-ball team plays at Duke, and if there's an allotment and a bus, I might head down there. If not, I'll be at the Patriot Center though (hell, if there's a viewing party on campus, I might just stay there that day).

Anonymous said...

Er, make that two Patriot Center shows in three months, not consecutive.

Anonymous said...

Joe I herad TOOSHARP talking to to you at the fight's. I want make sure what I heard himsay was that he wanted to fight on that show if the money is right or CO PROMOTE with you.Now if you get TOOSHARP on your show than you are doing something. How would that with A hole Jimmy lange dad I would be the first to say that show has a lot just OK fighters on the show.If you pull this one off. I will respect you than

Anonymous said...

Joe or too sharp. is this true or what.please let me know because if so i will wait 4 that show. I have never seen him early in his career,and joe if you can work with too sharp i think that woul be great for boxing in VA i heard DC shut him.VA we would love to have you out here. joe work on that. I would finally get to see a true hall of famer.

Anonymous said...

Why all the hostility toward Joe and Jimmy? In response to the lack of "names," exactly who is the Beltway fighter with a bigger draw than Jimmy?

You can argue fight skill and technique all you want, but the fact remains that Jimmy Lange fills seats. I was at both the Ballard and Gilbert bouts, which drew more than 5,000 and 6,000 respectively. Compare that with the crowds you see on any ESPN fight.

The Beltway is blessed to have a lot of skilled boxers, but many of these sorely lack the communications and promotional skills to sell tickets. Don't forget that while winning is a prime component of making the "A-List" the aforementioned skills are imperative.