Beltway Boxing 2011 -- Card of The Year!

There should be very little doubt in the final three awards for 2011 starting with the Card of the Year. In 27 years of covering boxing in the Beltway region, I can't remember a card that people were talking about days after the card was over. There can truly be only one Card of the Year for 2011.

The BATB Card of the Year of 2011 is:

"Capital Showdown" -- December 10 -- Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC.

The main event and co-feature not withstanding, this card was a nice showcase of the present and future of the Beltway Boxing scene with 11 Beltway Boxers on the card. The undercard featured solid performances by Anthony Peterson (in a win over DC resident Daniel Attah), a comeback win for Fernando Guerrero and great wins by undefeated boxers Thomas Williams, Jr., Dusty Harrison (against Terrell Davis), Joshua Davis and Terron Grant. The card was exciting and great for the sport in this area.

Honorable Mention:

March 12 -- George Mason University Patriot Center, Fairfax, VA.

This card saw the continuation of a Beltway Boxing franchise, the end of a storied career a big upset and a controversy.

No matter how fans feel about Jimmy Lange the boxer, Jimmy Lange the franchise is one of the most successful in Beltway Boxing history. Win or lose, people come to see him. The cards themselves have also grown and have showcased some great talent from the Beltway region. Lange had a workmanlike win over Jimmy Holmes on this card. Former world champion and Beltway legend William Joppy put a bow on his incredible career by defeating Baltimore's Cory Cummings by unanimous decision in a rematch for his 40th victory. Unheralded Larry Pryor upset previously undefeated and rising prospect Mark Tucker and Todd Wilson won by controversial disqualification over Dean White.

November 19 -- Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, MD

This card had a number of really good bouts and some great knockouts. We've talked about Kevin Womack's devastating KO of Benjamin Olinga, but there were a number of others including Dennis Benson's crushing KO of Abodurin Akinyanju. There was also a nice comeback knockout for Lenwood Dozier over Norman Allen and Venroy July's stoppage of Jason Pauley in the main event. There was also a great bout between Omar Sims and Barry Trotter that Sims won by majority decision. A very exciting card.

July 16 -- DC Star Nightclub, Washington DC

A number of solid Beltway prospects were on this card and put in some good workmanlike performances. Alexander Johnson dominated the main event scoring a fourth-round TKO over Keon Johnson. Emmanuel Taylor won a six-round unanimous decision over veteran Jose Roman. Venroy July, Alantez Fox and Thomas Snow all won decisions and young pros Jerren Cochran and Jacey Thompson all won by crushing knockouts.

Previous BATB Cards of the Year:

2006 -- December 9, George Mason University Patriot Center, Fairfax, VA (Jimmy Lange draws with Fontaine Cabell, Dean White defeats Dorin Spivey, JP Flaim of the Junkies loses against Jay Watts.)

2007 -- December 7, Pikesville National Guard Armory, Pikesville, MD (Tim Coleman draws with Martinus Clay, Jessie Nicklow defeats Anthony Little and John Mackey defeats Tony Cygan) and August 3, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD (Pro-Am card -- Horace Grant over Mujaheed Moore, Thomas Snow knocks out Markel Muhammad, Seth Mitchell [his only amateur loss] falls to Abodurin Akinyanju and Dusty Harrison also on the amateur portion.

2008 -- October 18, ABC Sports Arena, Springfield, VA (John Mackey wins over Jesse Williams, Darrell Martin over Andre Nichols)

2009 -- September 25, Shipley Arena, Westminster, MD (Mark Tucker wins USBO title, Tyrell Samuel over Gustavo Dailey)

2010 -- March 20, Du Burns Arena, Baltimore, MD (Jessie Nicklow over Scott Sigmon, James Stevenson over George Rivera)

Next: Bout of the Year