Beltway Boxing 2018 -- Knockout Of The Year!

We come to the 2018 Knockout Of The Year.  There were a number of devastating knockouts in 2018 but one in particular was extremely quick in its devastation.

The 2018 Beltway Boxing Knockout Of The Year is:

(Photos by Mike Greenhill)

Sam Crossed KO1 over Joshua Jones, June 16th, Gardens Ice House, Laurel, MD  

In this co-feature bout, the cruiserweight known as “The Vanilla Gorilla” needed just 23 seconds to knock out his opponent.  Crossed landed a devastating right hand to Jones's chin that made Jones slump forward and fall to his knees.  Referee Brent Bovell immediately waived the bout off without a count.  Crossed becomes the first Beltway Boxer to win this award twice. Crossed took this award in 2016.


Honorable Mention (in chronological order):

Demond Nicholson KO 6 over Isaac Rodrigues, August 18th, Live Casino, Hanover, MD

Nicholson’s gutsy knockout victory for the vacant WBC USNBC Super Middleweight title made this selection close.  The bout was a war of attrition with both boxers taking and delivering quality punches.  Nicholson had a mouse under his left eye while Rodrigues suffered a cut near his right eye. In the sixth round, Nicholson pressured Rodrigues with straight right hands before dropping him with a vicious right hand body shot.  Rodrigues could not beat referee Harvey Dock's count and the bout ended at 2:07.

Francisco Bustos KO1 over Jauvan John, August 18th, Live Casino, Hanover, MD

Bustos landed a crushing left hand to the body that turned John around and dropped him to his knees in the Bustos corner. John could not beat referee Kenny Chevalier's 10 count and the bout was over in just 45 seconds.  Bustos improved on the first meeting against John that he won by four-round unanimous decision.

Nathaniel Copeland KO1 over Kwasi Horton, December 15th, Tyson’s Playground, Vienna, VA

In his pro debut, Copeland used a right-left combination to send Horton crashing to the canvas.  Horton's eyes blinked rapidly as he tried to get up.  Referee Billy Johnson stopped the contest in mid-count at 45 seconds.

Previous Beltway Boxing Knockouts of the Year:

2006: Jed Phipps KO1 over David Cleage -- January 20, Pikesville Armory, Pikesville, MD.

2007: Elias Bouloubassis KO1 over Vincent Robbins -- March 10, Pikesville Armory, Pikesville, MD.

2008: Seth Mitchell TKO2 over Alexis Cruz Medina -- May 29, Michael's Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, MD.

2009: Tony Jeter KO1 over Keith Gross -- September 26, George Mason University Patriot Center, Fairfax, VA.

2010: Jimmy Lange KO 10 over Joe Wyatt -- November 6, George Mason University Patriot Center, Fairfax, VA.

2011: Kevin Womack KO4 over Benjamin Olinga -- November 19, Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, MD

2012: Kevin Rivers KO1 over Bobby Wooten --  November 3, Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC

2013: Jarrett Hurd KO2 over George Armenta -- December 6, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD

2014: Marq Johns TKO 2 over Luis Hernandez --July 18, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD

2015: Travis Reeves TKO 6 over Samar Barakat --July 9, Tall Cedars Hall, Parkville, MD

2016:  Sam Crossed KO1 over Mike Estus -- August 19, Crystal City Hilton, Crystal City, VA

2017: Luther Smith KO 1 over Darnell Pierce -- February 11, Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MD.

Next:  The Beltway Boxing Bout Of The Year!