Final Registration For 2018 Golden Gloves And Anti-Domestic Violence Amateur Card Take Place February 3rd!

With no pro boxing cards on the Beltway horizon for the foreseeable future, amateur boxing will take center stage.  There are two events that will take place on Saturday, February 3rd.

The final registration for the 2018 Washington Golden Gloves will begin at 9 AM at the Hillcrest Bingo Hall located at 4104 23rd Parkway in Hillcrest Heights, MD.  The registration will include a physical exam.  Registration will be from 9 until noon.  Please arrive promptly.  The Washington Golden Gloves tournament begins on Saturday, February 17th at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, MD.

Then, the Potomac Valley Association of USA Boxing will have a boxing card that will bring awareness to the horrors of domestic violence.  The card will take place at Tony's Boxing Gym located at 1216 Mt. Olivet Road in Northeast Washington, DC.  All tickets are $15.  The weigh-in starts at 3 PM and the event gets underway at 6:30.

Reed Faces Undefeated Barboza, Jr. In 10-Round Contest March 10th In Carson, CA!

Waldorf, MD super lightweight Mike "Yes, Indeed" Reed looks to rebound from his first pro loss when he takes on undefeated Arnold Barboza, Jr. of Los Angeles, CA in a 10-round contest on Saturday, March 10th at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA.  The bout is scheduled to be televised by ESPN.

Reed (23-1, 12 KO's) was stopped in the second round by undefeated Jose Carlos Ramirez on November 11th in Fresno, CA.  Reed lost an opportunity to win the WBC Continental Americas Super Lightweight title.  Barboza, Jr. (17-0, six KO's) comes off an eight-round unanimous decision victory over Jonathan Chicas on August 5th in Los Angeles.  This is Barboza's first scheduled 10-round bout.

Davis Stopped In Second Round In Philadelphia!

DC lightweight Joshua "Dynamite" Davis was stopped in the second round Friday night by undefeated Philadelphia, PA boxer Steven Ortiz at the Sugar House Casino in Philadelphia, PA.

According to Fightnews.com's John DiSanto, Davis was knocked down three times in the second round, first by a left hook followed by two Ortiz right hands.  After the third knockdown, referee Gary Rosato stopped the contest at 2:21 of the second.  Davis has now lost two straight and is 11-3, five KO's.  Ortiz remains undefeated at 8-0, three KO's.

Davis Weighs 133.1 For Eight-Round Main Event In Philadelphia!

Joshua Davis weighed in 133.1 pounds for his eight-round main event contest against Steven Ortiz Friday night at the Sugar House Casino in Philadelphia, PA.  Ortiz tipped the scales at 133.9 pounds.  The card is promoted by Evander Holyfield's Real Deal Boxing.

Beltway Boxers Continue On Road Trips!

As of now, there are no local pro cards in the Beltway region.  That means a number of locals are on the road looking for victories.  Here is a look at the upcoming Beltway schedule.

On Friday, January 26th, Suitland, MD super welterweight Lenwood "Mr. Composure" Dozier will be in an eight-round bout against undefeated Carlos Gongora of Brooklyn, NY by way of Esmeraldas, Ecuador at Memorial Hall in Melrose, MA.   Dozier (10-18-2, five KO's) has lost six in a row including a six-round unanimous decision loss to Darryl Cunningham on June 23rd in Detroit, MI.  Gongora (10-0, eight KO's) is coming off an eight-round unanimous decision over Henry Beckford on September 30th in Boston, MA.

Also on the 26th, Washington, DC super featherweight Joshua "Dynamite" Davis will look to bounce back from a loss when he takes on undefeated Steven Ortiz of Philadelphia, PA in an eight-round contest at the Sugar House Casino in Philadelphia.  Davis (11-2, five KO's) lost a six-round unanimous decision to Ray Lampkin on October 19th in Atlanta, GA.  Ortiz (7-0, two KO's) won a six-round unanimous decision to Tyrome Jones on June 24th at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.

Two Beltway Boxers will be on a card at the Orlando Live Event Center in Orlando, FL on Saturday, January 27th.  Seat Pleasant, MD featherweight James "Too Slick" Early will battle Alex "Flash" Roman of Kissimmee, FL in a four-round contest.  After winning his first two bouts, Early (2-2) is now riding a two-bout losing streak that includes a four-round unanimous decision loss to Juan Sanchez on November 21st in Bethlehem, PA.  Roman (4-2) will look to bounce back from a fourth-round TKO defeat to Oldier Landin on February 26th in Palm Bay, FL. 

Also, Columbia, MD super middleweight Ashton "The Goon" Sykes will be in a four-round contest against debuting Arman Rysbek of Kissimmee by way of Kazakhstan.  Sykes (1-1) lost a four-round majority decision to Angel Martinez on December 8 in Tampa, FL.

As we move into February, we have talked about the 10-round cruiserweight contest between Roy Jones, Jr. and Scott "Cujo" Sigmon on Thursday, February 8th at the Pensacola Civic Center in Pensacola, FL.  The bout will be for the German version of the World Boxing Union Cruiserweight championship.

Also, we have talked about former WBO Super Lightweight champion DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley taking on former world title contender "Hammerin'" Hank Lundy on Saturday, February 10th at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, PA.  Also on this card, Baltimore, MD heavyweight Hasim "Gold Blooded" Rahman, Jr. will be in a four-round bout against an opponent to be determined.  Rahman (3-0, three KO's) has three first-round knockouts.  Another boxer on the card is cruiserweight Joe Jones III (9-0, seven KO's), who is originally from DC but now boxes out of Jersey City, NJ.  Jones has stopped four of his last five opponents and is also looking for an opponent.

In another bout on February 10th, DC heavyweight Maurice "Freight Train" Byarm returns to action for the first time in more than five years when he battles Richard "Silverback" Carmack of Kansas City, MO in a six-round contest at Hartman Arena in Park City, KS.  Byarm (13-2-1, nine KO's) has not fought since being stopped in the second round by Magomed Abdulsalamov in July of 2012 in Las Vegas, NV.  Carmack (15-12-1, six KO's) is winless in his last six contests including a second-round knockout against Scott Alexander on September 23 at the Hartman Arena.

Then on Tuesday, February 13th, three Beltway Boxers will appear on a card at the Sands Bethlehem Events Center in Bethlehem, PA.  Undefeated Forestville, MD super lightweight Mykal "The Professor" Fox takes on Ricardo Garcia of the Dominican Republic in an eight-round bout.  Fox (15-0, four KO's) won the biggest bout to date in his young pro career, capturing a 10-round unanimous decision over Manuel Alejandro Reyes on November 21st at the Sands Bethlehem Events Center.  Fox captured the vacant UBF All-Americas Welterweight title with the win.  Garcia (14-1, nine KO's) also fought on the November 21st card and suffered his first pro defeat, losing an eight-round majority decision to Victor Vazquez.

Owings Mills, MD heavyweight Colby Madison will be on the card in a six-round contest against Dante Selby of Philadelphia, PA.  Madison (5-0-1, four KO's) comes off a second-round TKO over Randy Easton on December 1st in Philadelphia.  Selby (2-3-1) has lost three straight over a four-year period including a first-round knockout loss to Easton in December of 2013.

Also on the card will be Suitland, MD featherweight Malik "Li'l Leak" Loften who will be in a four-round bout against Martino Jules of Allentown, PA.  Loften (1-0, one KO) made an impressive pro debut stopping Jemour Edwards in the fourth round on June 3 in Fort Washington, MD.  Jules (2-0) comes off a four-round majority decision win in Bethlehem, PA over Weusi Johnson on November 21.

On Saturday, February 17th, Laurel, MD light heavyweight Thomas "Top Dog" Williams, Jr. makes his return in a bout against Humberto Velazco "Tito" Torres of Aguascalientes, Mexico at the Don Haskins Convention Center in El Paso, TX.  Williams (20-3, 14 KO's) returns almost one year to the day since his last contest where he lost by sixth-round TKO to Marcus Browne on February 18 in Cincinnati, OH.  This will also be the first bout since the passing of Williams's stepfather, Jerry Peterson.  Torres (18-1-1, 12 KO's) has a 10-bout unbeaten streak and comes off a seventh-round TKO over Josue Obando on August 31st in Aguascalientes. This will be the first bout for Torres in the United States.

One week later on Saturday, February 24th, Baltimore, MD lightweight Jahmal Dyer has his first bout of 2018 when he faces Vanderley Miranda of Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhone, France by way of Portugal in a four-round tilt at the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ.  Dyer, the 2017 Beltway Boxing Co-Rookie Of The Year (4-0, two KO's) capped off a great first year with a four-round unanimous decision win over Roger Blankenship on October 7th in Erie, PA.  Miranda (0-3) hopes to have his fortunes change as he makes his first voyage to the United States after losing all three of his pro bouts in France.

As always, bouts are subject to change without notice.  Also, the National Silver Gloves Tournament will be from February 1st through the 3rd in Independence, MO and the Washington Golden Gloves also will begin in February.

Amateur Boxing Returns To Howard Theatre January 27th!

There will be an amateur boxing card coming to the historic Howard Theatre on Saturday, January 27th.  The card is sponsored by the Potomac Valley Association (PVA) Junior Olympic Committee.

Doors for the Winter Gloves will open at 6 PM ET.  VIP tickets are $50.  Ringside seats are $40 and General Admission tickets are $25.

L.Peterson Stopped By Spence In Eighth Round!

(Photo by Emily Harney)

Lamont Peterson's bid for a fourth world title was halted Saturday by the younger, stronger and dominant IBF Welterweight champion Errol "The Truth" Spence, Jr. of Dallas, TX in the eighth round at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.  The bout was the main-event on a DiBella Entertainment card that was televised live on Showtime.

Spence started quickly, using accurate body and head shots.  Peterson, as usual, got off to a slow start but managed to stay right in front of Spence despite the ferocity of the champion's onslaught.  Peterson came back with a solid fourth round but in the fifth, Spence landed a solid left hand that dropped Peterson.  However, the DC native showed tremendous heart and battled back to stay in the contest, but Spence was just too powerful as he seemed to walk right through Peterson's best shots.

By the seventh round, Peterson's trainer and father figure, Barry Hunter, became increasingly concerned about the condition of his fighter.  Peterson's eyes were swollen to where it looked like he could barely see.  At the beginning of the eighth round, Hunter decided enough is enough and had the contest stopped on behalf of Peterson.  The official time was one second of the eighth round.

 “I thought we took too much damage early in the fight and we got too far behind. If he never fight another day in his life it’s OK by me,"  Hunter told the press after the bout.

Peterson is now 35-4-1, 17 KO's.  Spence makes the first successful defense of the IBF Welterweight title and he is now 23-0, 20 KO's and has stopped his last 10 opponents.

A. Peterson Wins Unanimous Decision; Williams Draws in Brooklyn!

(photos by Daniel Cork)

Two Beltway Boxers fought in undercard bouts this evening at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. 

DC lightweight Anthony Peterson was dominant in winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Luis Eduardo Florez of Puerto Librador, Colombia.  There were no knockdowns in the contest but Peterson won by scores of 100-89 and 100-90 (twice).  Peterson is now 38-1, 24 KO's while Florez falls to 23-9, 19 KO's.

DC welterweight Keyshawn Williams opened the card and battled to a split decision draw against Denis Okoth of Siaya, Kenya.  Each boxer received a 39-37 score from two of the judges while the third saw a 38-38 draw.  Each boxer is also 1-0-1, one KO.

A. Peterson, Williams Weigh In Brooklyn!

Anthony Peterson and Keyshawn Williams also hit the scales for their undercard bouts Saturday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.

Peterson weighed in at 140.8 pounds for his 10-round contest against Luis Eduardo Florez, who tipped the scales at 141 pounds.

Williams weighed 145.8 pounds for his four-round bout against Denis Okath, who came in at 145 pounds.

Williams will be in the first bout on the card, which is scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM ET.  Peterson's contest is slated to be the third bout on the card, at approximately 6:10 PM.

Peterson Weighs 146 3/4 For Title Bout In Brooklyn!

Lamont Peterson weighed in at 146 3/4 for his 12-round championship bout against IBF Welterweight titleholder Errol Spence, Jr. on Saturday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Spence hit the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.

Spence and Peterson headline the Showtime Championship Boxing telecast that begins at 9 PM ET.

Respectful Quotes Coming From Final Spence-Peterson Workout!

As the big bout between IBF Welterweight champion Errol "The Truth" Spence, Jr. and former world super lightweight champion Lamont Peterson approaches on Saturday, January 20th, the two men had their final workout session in Brooklyn, NY on Wednesday.  The two men also made comments that were very respectful towards each other.  First, the challenger:

(Photos by Amanda Westcott/Showtime)

"The hard work is over and now we're just fine-tuning and making sure everything is perfect for Saturday. It's been a great training camp that was tough at times, but that's exactly how we want it.

"Errol Spence is clearly a great fighter. I can see why people revere him in that way. But on Saturday, we're going to give him a fight and he's going to have to prove it.

"I don't have to worry about what anyone says about us leading up to this fight. I know Errol well and it happened that it was time for us to fight. This is what we do so we'll definitely give it our all on Saturday. My mentality is to win.

"I've been staying in the gym the whole time since my last fight. Even if I haven't been fighting, I've been sparring and keeping my craft sharp. You never know how long a layoff will be, so I made sure to keep my mind on boxing.

"I can't do anything but go in there and take care of my business. I can't control the judges or anything that happens outside of us fighting. I'm trying to win a fight and that's all I'm concerned about.

"I think the fans are really going to like this one. We may start out feeling each other, but I know from the way we both fight that it's going to turn into a war pretty quickly.

"There's nothing that I'm really looking to expose, but doing things at the right time during the fight will be key. Errol is a solid fighter across the board and we'll see what he brings on fight night.

"I'm looking for a victory. That's what I've trained for. It doesn't matter how I get the win. I'm determined to take home that belt."

Now, the champion:

"I'm training for the Lamont Peterson that I know. He's a hard worker, he's hungry and he has a big heart. People shouldn't look past this fight because I'm not at all. Peterson is a great fighter who's seasoned.

"Everyone knows my style. The outcome usually is a stoppage. I won't be looking for it, but if it presents itself, I'll be ready to take advantage.

"I'm going to stick to my game plan. I can't be worried about anything my opponent does during training camp. I have to focus on what I do best and listen to my coach. My style isn't going to be effected by Lamont's training.

"I'm keeping the same mentality that I've always had heading into fights. Winning the belt helped get my name out there, but my mentality is still to grind and stay hungry and listen to my coach. Nothing is different, I still change diapers and everything else you'd imagine.

"There are so many guys in the welterweight division, I want to clean them all out. If I keep beating the top guys, I'll be the last one standing. I'm going to dominate like I've been doing.

"I'm not going to wait around for unification fights, I want to fight three times this year and I'll take on the best opponent who steps into the ring.

"I'll have to wait until I get into the ring to see how our power compares to each other. I'm the bigger guy but I don't think we'll really know until the first round. I'm going to stick to my game plan and adjust on the fly.

"I expect a 12 round fight and that's what I train for. You have to have a smart coach to make adjustments during the fight and capitalize off your opponent's mistakes.

"I know he's going to be difficult. He's a guy with fast feet who can come forward. He can basically do it all. I'm going to have to solve the puzzle."

The Spence-Peterson battle will take place on Saturday, January 20th from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.  The bout will headline a Showtime telecast that will begin at 9 PM ET.  Beltway Boxers Anthony Peterson and Keeshawn Williams will be on the undercard.

'Dynamite' Davis Battles Undefeated Ortiz January 26th In Philadelphia!

Washington, DC super featherweight Joshua "Dynamite" Davis returns to action in an eight-round main event contest against undefeated Steven Ortiz of Philadelphia, PA on Friday, January 26th at the Sugar House Casino in Philadelphia.

Davis (11-2, five KO's) looks to bounce back from a six-round unanimous decision loss to Ray Lampkin on October 19th in Atlanta, GA.  The bout was televised by FS1.  Ortiz (7-0, two KO's) comes off a six-round unanimous decision victory over Tyrome Jones on June 24th at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.  Ortiz has fought his last four bouts at the 2300 Arena but has never fought at the Sugar House Casino.

The bout is being promoted by Real Deal Boxing, led by International Boxing Hall of Famer Evander Holyfield. This is the second straight time that Davis has appeared on a Real Deal Boxing-promoted card.

A. Peterson, Williams To Appear on Spence-Peterson Undercard!

Two more Beltway Boxers will appear on the DiBella Entertainment card that will take place on Saturday, January 20th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.  The card, of course, will be headlined by the IBF Welterweight title bout between champion Errol "The Truth" Spence, Jr. and challenger and former three-time world champion Lamont Peterson.

Peterson's brother, Anthony returns to action for the first time since April of 2016 when he takes on Luis Eduardo Florez of Puerto Libertador, Colombia in a 10-round super lightweight contest.  Anthony Peterson (37-1, 24 KO's) last fought on April 1st and won a 10-round unanimous decision over Samuel Neequaye at the DC Armory.  Florez (23-8, 19 KO's) looks to bounce back from a 10-round unanimous decision loss to Brayam Rico on December 15th in Monteria, Colombia.

Also on the card, DC welterweight Keyshawn Williams will battle Denis Okoth of Siaya, Kenya in a four-round bout.  Williams (1-0, one KO) made a successful pro debut knocking out Christian Sales on November 17th in Flint, MI.  Okoth (1-0, one KO) comes to the United States after making his pro debut in Nairobi, Kenya and knocking out Shadrick Ignas in the sixth round on February 4th.

The Spence-L.Peterson bout will be the main event on the Showtime telecast that will begin at 9 PM ET.  Reportedly, the undercard contests will be shown on Showtime's YouTube page.

Nelson Drops Unanimous Decision To Shields In Verona!

Ashburn, VA's Tori "Sho Nuff" Nelson has lost a 10-round unanimous decision to Claressa "T-Rex" Shields of Flint, MI Friday night at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY.  Shields retained her IBF and WBC Super Middleweight championships in front of a national television (Showtime) audience.

Nelson was aggressive throughout the contest. However, she was outworked by the bigger and taller Shields.  Nelson tried to work inside but was unable to land telling blows.  Shields, who went 10 rounds for the first time in her pro career, won a shutout victory across the board, 100-90. 

Nelson loses for the first time as a pro and she is now 17-1-3, two KO's.  Shields is now 5-0, two KO's.

Crews Dezurn Wins By Unanimous Decision In Verona, NY!

Baltimore, MD super middleweight Franchon Crews Dezurn has won a six-round unanimous decision over a very game Tiffany Woodard of Wilson, NC tonight at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY.

According to Fightnews.com's Boxing Bob Newman, Crews Dezurn came out socking, and Woodard was rocking with every landed shot, once being shoved to the canvas, which referee Benji Esteves correctly ruled no knockdown. Round three saw a Woodard tackle of Crews Dezurn and a sag to the canvas by Woodard- a sloppy affair to be sure. Crews did however find her rhythm in the fourth, displaying her full arsenal of hooks, crosses, jabs, uppercuts and decent defense.

The fifth devolved once again into WWE tactics as both gals crashed to the canvas once, in full embrace of each other. The sixth saw Crews Dezurn penalized a point for throwing Woodard to the canvas. Both fighters made it to the final bell where the scores read: Wynn Kintz and Don Ackerman both had it 59-54, while John McKaie tabbed it 59-53.  Crews Dezurn is now 3-1, one KO while Woodard falls to 4-10-3, three KO's.

The main event between Claressa Shields and Tori Nelson will be coming later on this evening.

Nelson, Crews Dezurn Hit Scales In Verona!

Tori Nelson and Franchon Crews Dezurn weighed in for their bouts on Friday at the Turning Stone Casino and Resort in Verona, NY.

(Photo by Boxing Bob Newman)

Nelson (right) tipped the scales at 164 3/4 for her 10-round championship contest against Claressa Shields for Shields's IBF and WBC Super Middleweight titles.  Shields came in at 167 pounds.  The bout will headline the Shobox telecast on Showtime that will begin at 10 PM ET.

Crews Dezurn weighed in at 169 1/4 pounds for her six-round bout against Tiffany Woodard, who weighed 166 pounds.

Nelson Has Feature Article On ESPNW.com!

There is a nice feature story on 10-time world champion Tori "Sho Nuff" Nelson on ESPNW.com as she continues to prepare for Friday night's 10-round world championship bout against Claressa Shields at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY.  The bout will be televised live on Showtime beginning at 10 PM ET and will be for Shields's WBC and IBF Super Middleweight titles.

The article is written by Cecelia Townes.  By the way, Nelson is not a grandmother.  The 41-year-old Nelson is jokingly called that by Shields.  Here is the article:

http://www.espn.com/espnw/sports/article/22008854/tori-nelson-41-year-old-grandma-claressa-shields-toughest-test

'Super Brawl' Amateur Card Takes Place January 26th At Michael's!

The first Beltway Boxing card of 2018 will be an amateur card that will take place on Friday, January 26th at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD.  Baltimore Boxing will be the promoter.

The card, dubbed the "Super Brawl of Boxing" will be headlined by a unification middleweight bout between Maryland State titleholder Deshawn Chase of Baltimore Boxing taking on East Coast champion Marquis Moore of Salisbury's Main Street Gym.

The card will also feature the boxing debut of former pro football player Leon Joe.  Originally from Dayton, OH, Joe, a linebacker, played his high school football at Friendly High School in Fort Washington, MD and his college ball at the University of Maryland.  Joe was drafted in the fourth round by the Chicago Bears and participated in Super Bowl XLI.  Joe also played for the Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions before playing two years in the Canadian Football League.

There will also be a fundraiser for Tina Frost. On October 1, Frost was shot in the head during the mass shooting in Las Vegas. Her right eye was removed and spent time in a rehab facility. Originally from Baltimore, the 28-year-old Frost was working as a CPA for Ernst & Young in San Diego but is back in Maryland with her family. While Frost has made great progress, she has a long way to go and has a mound of medical bills that will only continue to grow.  To assist the Frost family, Baltimore Boxing will have a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction. Those unable to make it to the card are encouraged to donate at https://www.gofundme.com/mary-watson-moreland.

“What happened to Tina is incredibly sad,” said promoter Jake Smith. “She was professionally successful and had everything going for her in life. It is a true tragedy what happened to her and all of the other shooting victims in Las Vegas. Baltimore Boxing’s fans have done a great job of getting behind the causes we support and we hope everybody is able to come out on the 26th to help raise money for the Frost family.”

Tickets from $40 are available by going to Baltimoreboxing.com/events or calling 410-375-9175. Doors open at 6:30 and the first fight is scheduled for 8:30.

Corley Scheduled To Battle Lundy February 10th In Philadelphia!

Another strong matchup involving a Beltway Boxer is slated to take place on Saturday, February 10th and this contest pits two strong veterans against one another.

Former WBO Super Lightweight champion DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley of Washington, DC is scheduled to take on former world title contender "Hammerin'" Hank Lundy of Philadelphia, PA at Philly's 2300 Arena.

The 43-year-old Corley (50-28-1, 28 KO's) continues to be an ageless wonder as he won two of his three bouts in 2017.  After losing a close 10-round unanimous decision to Jovanie Santiago on April 7th in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, Corley won a 10-round unanimous decision over former world champion Vivian Harris on May 20th in Raleigh, NC for the UBF All-Americas Welterweight championship.  Corley then traveled to Kingston, Jamaica and won an eight-round unanimous decision over Ramel Lewis on July 12th.

The 34-year-old Lundy (28-6-1, 14 KO's) has won two straight contests since suffering his last loss in a world title opportunity against Terence Crawford in February of 2016 in New York.  Lundy was knocked out in the fifth round challenging for Crawford's WBO Super Lightweight title.  Lundy bounced back and won a 12-round unanimous decision over John Delperdang in December of 2016 in Cincinnati, OH for the vacant UBF World Lightweight title.  In his only bout of 2017, Lundy notched a fifth-round TKO over Daniel Evangelista, Jr. on June 2 at the 2300 Arena.

BATB will keep you posted on the progress of this contest.

Franchon Crews Dezurn Signs With Salita Promotions!

Congratulations to Baltimore, MD's Franchon Crews Dezurn, who recently signed a promotional contract with Salita Promotions and she will be a part of the Friday, January 12th card featuring Claressa Shields vs. Tori Nelson at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY. 

Crews Dezurn (2-1, one KO) made her pro debut against Shields in November of 2016 and lost a four-round unanimous decision.  Since then, she has knocked out Latashia Burton in the first round in March of 2017 at the UDC Physical Activities Center in Washington, DC and won a four-round unanimous decision over Sydney LeBlanc in August of 2017 at the Howard Theatre in DC.   Crews Dezurn will face Tiffany Woodard of Wilson, NC (4-9-3, three KO's) in a bout scheduled for six-rounds on the January 12th undercard.

Of course, prior to her pro career, Crews Dezurn was a former highly decorated, elite amateur boxer. Among her many championships, she was an eight-time US Open National Champion, a four-time National Female Golden Gloves Champion, a four-time Pan Am Continental Champion, a two-time National PAL Champion, and a two-time US Olympic Team Alternate.

She also represented Team USA in numerous international competitions, and in 2011, Crews-Dezurn made history by becoming the first of three women in the United States to qualify and compete in the debut of women's boxing at the Pan American Games.

Salita Promotions, headed by former world title contender Dmitriy Salita, has a number of female boxers under contract including Shields and Christina Hammer, who was originally scheduled to be on the January 12th card but now will not be there.

"Women's boxing is suddenly flooded with great talent and Franchon, as a pioneering woman of the modern boxing age, deserves to be part of that group," said Salita. "I'm happy to have reached an agreement with her. With her tremendous skill and marketable personality, Franchon has the potential to become another women's superstar in a golden age for the sport."