Beltway Boxing 2017 -- Prospect Of The Year!

Now it is time to name the Beltway Boxing Prospect Of The Year.  In previous years, this has been a very tough category to select.  However, this year, it was relatively easy.

The Prospect of the Year fought twice in 2017 and he managed to elevate his game based on an improvement in his quality of opposition.

The 2017 Beltway Boxing Prospect Of The Year is:

Malik “Iceman” Hawkins (12-0, nine KO’s), welterweight, Baltimore, MD

Hawkins began his career in late 2014 and made steady increases in his quality of opposition.  In 2016, he fought a number of veteran opponents.  In 2017, Hawkins took a step up not only in his opponents but also moved to the eight-round plateau.  He did not have to go the full eight rounds in either of his bouts, however.  Hawkins scored a second-round TKO over previously undefeated Carlos Soto in front of a nationally-televised audience (Showtime) on April 14th at the MGM National Harbor Casino in Oxon Hill, MD.  Then, Hawkins stopped Juan Jesus Rivera at the end of the seventh round at the Silver Eagle Group Arena in Ashburn, VA on November 4.

Throughout his career, Hawkins has proven he can travel and be successful and he has proven he can be a ticket draw in front of his home crowd.  Hawkins should be a boxer in demand in 2018.

Honorable Mention:

Alexandru "Spartan" Marin (15-0, 10 KO's), super flyweight, Bethesda, MD

The Romanian-born Marin continues to impress Beltway Boxing fans.  After winning the IBO Bantamweight title in an impressive performance in June of 2016, Marin defeated three veterans in 2017.  On May 20th, Marin won a six-round unanimous decision over 100-fight veteran German Meraz at the MGM National Harbor Casino.  Then, he knocked out Juan Palacios in the second round on August 12th in Norfolk, VA.  Marin also won an eight-round unanimous decision over 10-1 boxer Juan Gabriel Medina on November 4 at the Silver Eagle Group Arena.  This year should be the time that Marin gets some national exposure.  He is scheduled to compete in his first 10-round contest in April so that might send him on his way.

Gerome "GQ" Quigley (18-0, 16 KO's), welterweight, Gaithersburg, MD

After spending the bulk of his career battling veterans with under -.500 records, Quigley increased the quality of opposition in 2017 while continuing his knack for winning regional titles.  After knocking out Dennis Sharpe in the fourth round on March 25 at the UDC Physical Activities Center in Washington, DC, Quigley put on a dominating performance in winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Luis Hernandez on July 15th at the Sphinx Club in Washington, DC, capturing the USBO Welterweight title.  One of the great aspects of Quigley's career is his ability to travel and win overseas.  Quigley made his fourth career overseas voyage as he went to Neu-Isenburg, Germany and scored a second-round TKO over Orlen Padilla on August 26 to win a German version of the WBU Welterweight title, his fourth career regional title.  Quigley's willingness to make voyages and his increasing growth in opposition should serve him well in 2018.

Previous Beltway Boxing Prospects of the Year:

2006: Tyrell Samuel
2007: Tim Coleman

2008: Bayan Jargal

2009: Mark Tucker

2010: Gary Russell, Jr. and Seth Mitchell

2011:  Maurice Byarm and Venroy July

2012: Thomas Williams, Jr.

2013: Dusty Hernandez Harrison

2014: Mike Reed

2015: Jarrett Hurd

2016: Mykal Fox, Travis Reeves and Lamont Roach, Jr.

Next: The Knockout Of The Year!