Beltway Boxing 2018 -- Bout Of The Year!

We now come to the 2018 Beltway Boxing Bout Of The Year.  Once again, the bout chosen must take place within the Beltway area so that eliminates the Jarrett Hurd-Erislandy Lara contest that took place in Las Vegas from this award.

However, our choice for 2018 should go down as a Beltway-area classic between two solid local prospects.

The 2018 Beltway Boxing Bout Of The Year is:

(Photo by Mike Greenhill)

Bout of the Year: Winner: Donald Wallace TKO 6 over Ashton Sykes, August 18th, Live Casino, Hanover, MD

This all-Beltway contest was a toe-to-toe slugfest from the opening bell as both men were extremely offensive-minded.  Both men were able to land quality shots throughout the bout. Increasingly, Wallace's punches began to take their toll in the middle rounds.


In the sixth, Wallace stepped up his attack to land crushing shots to Sykes's face.  The punches really took their toll, forcing referee Harvey Dock to stop the contest at 2:50 of the round.  Tremendous bout.


Honorable Mention (in chronological order):

Gary Russell, Jr. UD 12 over Joseph Diaz, Jr. May 19th, MGM National Harbor Casino, Oxon Hill, MD.

Early on, Russell landed extremely quick flurries and was able to use his hand and foot speed to his advantage.

In the third round, Diaz started to score with wicked body shots with his right hand.  Diaz seemed to be in control while Russell was suffering from an injured hand that may have hurt in that round.
As the bout reached the midway point, Russell's output increased as he made adjustments with his positioning and Diaz could not use his right hand body shot as effectively.  Russell landed effective punches that gave the advantage back to him and helped him regain his WBC Featherweight championship.

Diaz ended the bout with a solid 12th round but he did not do enough to gain the victory.  Dave Braslow saw the bout 115-113 while judges Dave Moretti and Nathan Palmer scored the contest 117-111.

Tyrieshia Douglas 10 round majority draw with Helen Joseph, June 29th, Martin’s West, Woodlawn, MD. 

This bout, for the vacant Universal Boxing Federation Super Flyweight championship, had a little bit of everything. Both boxers had elaborate ring walks -- Joseph, who is from Connecticut by way of Nigeria, wore a unique headdress and was accompanied by live drummers and dancing girls.  Douglas, originally from Washington, DC, would follow with African warriors as she came to the ring.

The bout was halted before it started as the Douglas camp complained of a substance that was on Joseph's body.  Maryland Commission officials made the Joseph corner wipe the substance off their boxer's body before the bout could begin.  Once the bout got underway, Joseph proved to be the aggressor in the contest as she forced Douglas backward and did not allow Douglas to use her vaunted hand speed.  Douglas used good defense to avoid some of Joseph's punches but Joseph did land her share.

Judge Don Risher saw the bout for Joseph, 98-92 but he was overruled by judges Dave Braslow and John Gradowski who scored the draw at 95-95.


Previous Beltway Boxing Bouts of the Year:

2006: Maxell Taylor six-round draw with Derek Ennis, March 9, Michael's Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, MD.

2007: John Mackey six-round unanimous decision over Tony Cygan, December 7, Pikesville, MD

2008: Juan Rodriguez TKO 3 over Benjamin Borteye, November 7, Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, MD

2009: Cory Cummings TKO 9 over Demetrius Davis, May 29, Du Burns Arena, Baltimore, MD

2010: Jessie Nicklow 10-round unanimous decision over Scott Sigmon, March 20, Du Burns Arena, Baltimore, MD/Nicklow 10-round draw with Julius Kennedy, September 17, Du Burns Arena/Sigmon 10-round unanimous decision over Kennedy, December 11, Pikesville National Guard Armory, Pikesville, MD.

2011:  Lamont Peterson 12-round split decision over Amir Khan, December 10, Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC

2012: Brandon Quarles D6 John Mackey, October 27, George Mason University Patriot Center (now Eagle Bank Arena), Fairfax, VA

2013: Mike Reed KO 6 over Rameses Gil, September 7, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD

2014: Tony Jeter 10 round majority decision over Jimmy Lange, November 15, George Mason University Patriot Center (now Eagle Bank Arena), Fairfax, VA

2015: Jennifer Salinas 10-round unanimous decision over Melissa St. Vil, November 12, Martin’s Valley Mansion, Cockeysville, MD

2016: Jordan White six-round unanimous decision over Jose Elizondo, November 5, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD

2017: Glenn Dezurn eight-round unanimous decision over Leroy Davila, April 14th, MGM National Harbor Casino, Oxon Hill, MD

Next: The Beltway Boxing Card Of The Year!