The main event features undefeated Waldorf, MD junior welterweight Mike "Yes, Indeed" Reed taking on veteran Eddie Soto of Pawtucket, RI in an eight-round contest. Reed (12-0, six KO's) returns to the Beltway for the first time since April of 2014. Reed was the 2014 Beltway Boxing Prospect of the Year.
A Top Rank signee, Reed has fought his last three bouts on the road, including his last outing -- an eight-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Oscar Valenzuela on November 29 in Omaha, NB.
Soto (12-7, four KO's) is also no stranger to the Beltway area as he lost by fifth-round TKO to Dusty Hernandez Harrison in May of 2013 at the UDC Physical Activities Center in DC. Soto started his career winning his first 12 bouts but has since lost seven in a row.
The co-feature bout will be a six-round contest between undefeated Fort Washington, MD resident Marq "Monster" Johns and Bryan Perez -Navarez of Carolina, Puerto Rico. Johns (5-0-1, four KO's) is coming off a four-round unanimous decision win over Jaxel Marrero on January 17 at the Washington Convention Center. Johns scored the Beltway Boxing Knockout of the Year in 2014 when he stopped Luis Hernandez in the second round on July 18 in Fort Washington, MD.
Perez-Navarez (2-1, one KO) has won two straight since losing his pro debut. In his last outing, Perez-Navarez won a four-round decision over Kevin Vasquez on July 11 in Humacao, PR. This will be the first six-round bout for both fighters.
Hyattsville, MD super lightweight Patrick Harris will be in a four-round contest against Carlos Acevedo of Aguadilla, PR. Harris (4-0, three KO's) scored a first-round TKO over Sean Lockhart on the January 17th card in DC. Acevedo (0-2) has been stopped in the first round in both of his losses.
District Heights, MD lightweight Renaldo "Misunderstood" Gaines is in a four-round encounter against Marquise Pierce of Phillipsburg, NJ. Gaines (5-2, one KO) returned to action after an almost two-year absence and won a four-round unanimous decision over Arthur Parker on January 17 in DC. Pierce (1-4) will be trying to break a four-bout losing streak. Pierce fought in the Beltway region in July of 2013 and lost a four-round unanimous decision to Glenn Dezurn in Baltimore, MD.
In another four-round bout, Fort Washington, MD cruiserweight "The Golden Goat" Albi Sadikaj makes his return to boxing in a four-round bout against James Jenkins of Atlanta, GA. Sadikaj (2-0, two KO's) has not fought since scoring a second round TKO over Alando Pugh in September of 2013 in Baltimore. Jenkins (1-2-1, one KO) was stopped in the first round by Jay Rodriguez in his last contest on September 20 in Queens, NY.
Undefeated featherweight Alexandru Marin of Silver Spring, MD moves into the six-round bout camp with his contest against Arturo Santiago of Mayaquez, PR. Marin (5-0, four KO's) scored a third-round TKO over Rasool Shakoor on September 27 in Springfield, VA. Santiago (7-10-1, four KO's) will be facing an undefeated boxer for the fifth straight time.
This card will mark the pro debut of Lusby, MD lightweight Chris "The Rock" Warden who will take on the equally debuting Marshawn Hughes of South Bend, IN. Warden was a prominent amateur in the area from 2008-2010 participating in the Junior Olympics, Washington Golden Gloves and the Belfast-Beltway Boxing Classic. Hughes begins a transition to boxing from the Mixed Martial Arts world.
Also scheduled to be on the card are undefeated Forestville, MD lightweight Mykal "The Professor" Fox (5-0, one KO) and light heavyweight Joseph "Mack" Williams (3-0, three KO's) of Far Rockaway, NJ. Both are still looking for opponents.
This will be the first of four pro cards in a three-week period along the Beltway. There will also be pro cards on March 20 (at Martin's West in Woodlawn, MD), 21 and 28 (both at the ABC Sports Complex in Springfield, VA) as well as one amateur card in Glen Burnie, MD on March 27 and the Washington Golden Gloves happening in Palmer Park, MD all throughout March.
