Sunday, March 31, 2013

Sam Garrett, DC Boxing Hall Of Famer, Potomac Valley Official, Passes!

Another tough loss for the Beltway Boxing community.  Longtime Potomac Valley Association member Sam Garrett has died.  Garrett served with the Potomac Valley Association of USA Boxing for more than 40 years and was elected to the DC Boxing Hall of Fame.   Garrett coached boxing at the Seat Pleasant Recreation Center, was a master official with USA Boxing and a National Golden Gloves official.

Garrett also was a mentor and advisor to many of us who work in the Beltway Boxing Scene today.  I considered him a friend and a great person to talk to.  Sam could also be seem working in and around Prince George's County.  I once introduced him to my family while he operated the train at Watkins Park.  Funeral arrangements are pending for a man who will truly be missed.

Nelson-Lindberg Title Bout Suffers Late Cancellation; Salinas, Newby, Grayton Victorious in DC!

It was a rather crazy night at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC on Saturday night.  The scheduled WIBA Middleweight Title match between champion Tori "ShoNuff" Nelson and challenger Maria Lindberg was cancelled about an hour before the two ladies were to step into the ring.

Details are sketchy on what happened but this is what we do know:  The District of Columbia Boxing and Wrestling Commission received word from the Association of Boxing Commissions Saturday that there was an issue with Lindberg's medical record.  What we don't know is why this issue -- whatever the issue is -- didn't surface prior to Saturday.    Both boxers along with promoter Cassandra White apologized to the crowd who seemed to take the explanations very well.

The co-feature turned out to be the showcase matchup as Manassas, VA featherweight "The Bolivian Queen" Jennifer Salinas won a six-round unanimous decision over a very game DJ "So Fly" Morrison of Denver, CO.   Salinas landed brutal body shots and showed solid head movement offensively and defensively to score a shutout (60-54) on all three judge's scorecards.  Salinas is now 14-3, four KO's while Morrison is 3-17, two KO's.

The opening bouts ended in first round TKO's for Beltway Boxers.  DC light heavyweight Greg Newby (6-0, four KO's) stopped Ivan Burke of Wilson, NC (0-3) at 2:02 while DC junior middleweight David "Day-Day" Grayton (4-0, four KO's) finished Tyrone Braswell (0-6) at 1:04.

There were also amateur bouts featuring wins by two boxers who will be competing in the Novice Division Championships of the Washington Golden Gloves on April 13 in Waldorf, MD -- Shaundre Kellum-Gee of Mobtown Gym in Baltimore and Drayvontay Speed-Rawls of No Xcuse Gym in Capitol Heights, MD.

Here is the Post-Fight Wrap-Up:



Also, we have an interview with Jennifer Salinas:








.











Friday, March 29, 2013

Douglas Wins Unanimous Decision in New York!

Burke, VA middleweight Antoine "Action" Douglas won a four-round unanimous decision over John Worthy of Riverside, CA tonight at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY.

Douglas scored a shutout (40-36) on all three cards to raise his record to 5-0, three KO's.  Worthy is now 3-6, one KO.

Weights From The Renaissance Hotel!

Here's the scale watch for the Babie Girl Productions card Saturday night at the Renaissance Hotel, located at 999 9th St, NW in Washington, DC:

Tori Nelson 155 vs. Maria Lindberg 155
(WIBA Middleweight Championship)

Jennifer Salinas 127 vs. DJ Morrison 126

Greg Newby 175 vs Ivan Burke 183

David Grayton 154 vs. Tyrone Braswell 160

The bout featuring James Stevenson has been scratched from the card.

There will also be some amateur bouts on the card which is slated to begin at 7:30 PM.  Due to the lack of internet in the ballroom, there will be no live blogging during the card.  We will have our normal Post-Fight Wrap-Up, however.

Thompson Slated to Fight Rematch With Price in July!

DC heavyweight Tony "The Tiger" Thompson will return to Liverpool, England for a rematch against British heavyweight prospect David Price, the man Thompson stunningly knocked out in the second round on February 23.  The bout will be held on July 6 at the Echo Arena, the very same arena where the early candidate for upset of the year took place.

According to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, Thompson, who does not have a promoter, has been in "secret negotiations" with Price's promoter, Frank Maloney for about two weeks before the contracts were signed earlier this week.

Price was ESPN.com's choice for Prospect of the Year in 2012 and no one gave Thompson a chance to win the bout, especially after getting knocked out for the second time against Wladimir Klitschko last July.  However, Thompson stunned Price with a right hand that dropped the young prospect.  Price beat the count but was in no condition to continue.

Douglas Weighs In to Face 'Worthy' Opponent in New York!

Antoine Douglas weighed in at 161 pounds for his four-round bout at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY.  Douglas's opponent will not be Devar Ferhadi, it will be John Worthy of Riverside, CA (3-5, one KO) who will be trying to break a two-bout losing streak.  Worthy tipped the scales at 159 pounds.

Peterson Tests Are Clean; Holt Tests Positive!

We believe the correct information is now out there.  IBF Junior Welterweight champion Lamont Peterson tested negative for all banned substances on the World Anti-Doping Agency list as well as for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and luteinizing hormone (LH).

According to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, it was, in fact, Kendall Holt that tested positive for HCG after Holt lost to Peterson on February 22 at the DC Armory.  As reports said earlier, HCG is a female fertility drug that can be used to restart testosterone production. When former Los Angeles Dodgers player Manny Ramirez used it, he claimed it was used to lose weight.  Rafael's article also revealed that HCG's presence in the body can be an indicator of cancer.

“We are very pleased that there has been clarification that Lamont Peterson did not test positive for any banned substances as reported inaccurately earlier today,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions in a statement “Today’s incident exemplifies the importance of accurate fact checking prior to reporting news. Golden Boy Promotions looks forward to Lamont Peterson’s next fight and furthering his career.”

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Update: Peterson Result Not Official!

Ring Magazine has now altered its original story concerning IBF Junior Welterweight champ Lamont Peterson.

The report now only says that the IBF has received documentation fron the DC Boxing and Wrestling Commission but there is no word as of yet whether either boxer -- Peterson or Kendall Holt -- has tested positive for anything.

We'll keep you posted.

Ferhadi to Face Douglas March 29 in Verona!

Frederick, MD middleweight Devar "The Warrior" Ferhadi told BATB after his bout at the Frederick Fight Club that he wanted to stay busy.  That is one goal Ferhadi seems to be accomplishing.

Just after his knockout win in Frederick, MD on March 23, Ferhadi (2-0, two KO's) is reportedly slated to face fellow undefeated Beltway Boxer Antoine "Action" Douglas (4-0, three KO's) in a four-round contest on Friday, March 29 at Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY.  This will be on the undercard of an ESPN2-televised card.  We will find out if this bout happens when the weights are posted.

By the way, Ferhadi's scheduled bout against the debuting Demond Nicholson that was slated for April 20th at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD will not take place.


Peterson Tests Positive for HCG, Reports Say!

The road ahead may be very rough -- again -- for IBF Junior Welterweight champion Lamont Peterson.  Ring Magazine's Lem Satterfield is reporting that the DC native has tested positive for the substance Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG). Satterfield is attributing sources familiar with the post-fight results after Peterson's knockout victory over Kendall Holt on February 22 at the DC Armory.

HCG is a women's fertility drug and is the same substance that Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez claimed he used as a method for weight loss and that he was using it under a doctor's recommendation.  Ramirez was suspended by Major League Baseball for 50 days.

The results of Peterson's drug test was revealed in official documents released by the District of Columbia Boxing and Wrestling Commission to the president of the IBF, Daryl Peoples.  Originally, however, a commission spokesperson had notified both camps that Peterson's results came back negative.  The urine tests were administered by an affiliate of the World Anti-Doping Agency.   In an email from the DC commission, Satterfield was originally informed that commission policy states that the official documentation would be private.

"Medical records are confidential; not routinely released unless another commission has business concerning the medical records,"  the email said.  "Medicals, in the commission's view, are confidential and extreme measures are taken to protect medical records.  Perhaps other commissions may have a different view and practice but that is the approach this commission takes."

The notification of the clean test, according to Satterfield's report, was not enough for Peoples or Holt's attorney, Pat English, who insisted on written clarity based on Peterson's drug test last year that came up before Peterson's scheduled rematch with Amir Khan.  Peterson tested positive for synthetic testosterone after winning the IBF and WBA titles from Khan in December of 2011 at the Washington Convention Center.   The WBA stripped Peterson of his title while the IBF allowed him to keep the title after an independent doctor said that the testosterone did not enhance Peterson's performance.

Peterson is scheduled to defend his title against Lucas Matthysse on May 18 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.  That bout would look to be in jeopardy at this time.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

'Next Wave' of Beltway Pros Battle April 20 at Show Place Arena!

A number of undefeated and talented young prospects will compete on the Keystone Boxing card on Saturday, April 20 at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD. 

The main event will have Forestville, MD junior middleweight Alantez "Slyaza" Fox taking on Djolevi Ballogou of Lome, Togo in a six-round encounter.  Fox (10-0-1, four KO's) has been busy in 2013 as this will be his third bout of the year.  In his last outing, Fox won a six-round unanimous decision over Greg Hackett on March 2 at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, MD.  Ballogou (8-4, six KO's) will be competing for just the second time in the United States, losing a six-round unanimous decision to Wilky Campfort on June 29 in Tampa, FL.  Ballogou is a distance fighter, having gone into the 10th, 11th or 12th rounds in four of his last five contests.

Hackett, a native of Philadelphia, PA (2-10), will face another undefeated local on this card in Accokeek, MD's "Swift" Jarrett Hurd in a four-round encounter.  Hurd (5-0, three KO's) won a four-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Thomas Baldwin on the March 2 card in Fort Washington.

Bowie, MD super middleweight "The King's Son" Jerry Odom will take on PJ Cajagas of Illinois in a four-rounder.  Odom (3-0, three KO's, one NC) stopped Craig Boykin in the first round on March 2 in Fort Washington.  Cajagas (0-0-1) fought to a four-round draw in his pro debut against Gerald Taylor on June 21 in Elk Grove, IL.

Waldorf, MD junior welterweight Mike "Yes, Indeed" Reed will try to follow a celebrated pro debut on March 2 in Fort Washington where he scored a first-round TKO over Kareem McFarland as he faces a boxer named Cassius Clay who hails from Las Vegas, NV.  Clay (0-7) has gone the four-round distance in six of his seven bouts.

In other four-round bouts on the card, Baltimore, MD featherweight Gervonta "Rambo" Davis will take on the debuting Jacob Ninow of Illinois.  Davis (1-0, one KO) made his pro debut on February 22 at the DC Armory and scored a first-round knockout over Desi Williams.  Also, Capitol Heights, MD cruiserweight Mario Murphy (1-0) returns to face the debuting Devin Morris of Illinois. Murphy won a tough four-round unanimous decision over Lamont Capers on January 12 in Fort Washington, MD.


Palmer Park, MD super featherweight Kevin "K-Smoov" Rivers, Jr. (5-0, four KO's) is also slated to be on the card after scoring a second-round TKO over Antonio Sanchez on March 2 in Fort Washington.  Rivers is still looking for an opponent.

One other bout has been agreed upon by both parties and contracts are to be signed soon.  Frederick, MD middleweight Devar "The Warrior" Ferhadi (2-0, two KO's) will make a quick return to action after his third-round stoppage of Jason Bakanowski on March 23 in Frederick. Ferhadi's opponent will be the debuting Demond Nicholson of Laurel, MD.  Nicholson was a decorated amateur who won the National PAL title in 2008 and was involved in some exemplary amateur battles with Hurd and D'Mitrius Ballard.

Nicholson is one of six Beltway Boxers on this card who won national amateur titles.  This list includes three National Golden Gloves champions (Reed in 2011 and Odom and Davis in 2012), one Under-19 champ (Fox) and one USA National Champion (Rivers).




Amateur Action Moves To Millersville March 30!

This reminder -- there will be no Golden Gloves action this weekend but if you like amateur boxing, you should head to Club One Fitness in Millersville, MD on Saturday, March 30 for the Jeter Promotions card.  It's an all-amateur show featuring some solid young talent including Club One boxers Andre Harris and Marc Julian.

Call 410-729-3900 for details on the card that will begin at 7:30 PM.

Guerrero Opponent Changes in Salisbury; Mobley, Grant, Giddens Added to April 12 Card!

The Jake The Snake Promotions card on Friday, April 12 at the Wicomico Civic Center in Salisbury, MD is starting to take shape with an interesting change in the main event.  Undefeated Salisbury, MD cruiserweight Alex Guerrero will now face Elvin "Koko" Sanchez of Paterson, NJ in the eight-round contest.

Sanchez (6-2-1, five KO's) is coming off a big third-round TKO win over Venroy July on February 22 at the DC Armory in Washington, DC.

Just added to the card is the 2012 Beltway Boxing Rookie of the Year, undefeated Upper Marlboro, MD heavyweight Duane Mobley who will face Baltimore veteran Lonnie Kornegay in a four-round contest.  Mobley (7-0, four KO's) is coming off a disqualification win over Deandre McCole on December 1 in Norfolk, VA.  Kornegay (1-8-2) will try to break a four-bout losing streak.

Also on the card will be undefeated White Plains, MD junior welterweight Terron "Kid" Grant (5-0, three KO's) who will face an opponent to be determined.  Grant is coming off a first-round TKO of Abraham Esquivel on November 17 in Atlantic City, NJ.  Salisbury junior welterweight Damont Giddens (0-1) and undefeated Newport News, VA heavyweight Jerry "Slug" Forrest (5-0, four KO's) will also be on the card.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Douglas Joins Whitlock on March 29 Card in Verona, NY!

We recently told you about Landover, MD welterweight Cornelius Whitlock's appearance on the Friday, March 29 card at Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY.  Now comes word that another Beltway Boxer is slated to appear on the card.

Undefeated Burke, VA middleweight Antoine "Action" Douglas is slated to return to action on this card as well.  Douglas (4-0, three KO's) is coming off a four-round unanimous decision win over Emmanuel Medina on January 25 at Turning Stone.  No word yet on who Douglas's opponent will be.

WIBA Champ Nelson Interviewed By ABC7!

WIBA Middleweight champion Tori "ShoNuff" Nelson of Ashburn, VA is getting ready for her title defense against WIBA Junior Middleweight titleholder Maria Lindberg of Sweden on Saturday, March 30 at the Renaissance Hotel in DC.  Recently, Nelson was profiled on ABC7 in their "Working Woman" segment.

Here's what the segment looked like:

Monday, March 25, 2013

Landover Boxer Whitlock Signs With Banner Promotions!

Landover, MD welterweight Cornelius Whitlock has signed a promotional contract with Banner Promotions of Philadelphia, PA.  Whitlock (1-0-1, one KO).  Whitlock is slated to make his Banner debut on Friday, March 29 at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY when he is slated to take on Calvin "The Gladiator" Pritchard of Toledo, OH (2-6-2) in a four-round bout.

Whitlock is coming off a solid third-round TKO over Shakur Jackson on January 31 in Staten Island, NY.  That win impressed Banner Promotions CEO Arthur Pelullo who said in a press release:
"We are very excited about this signing. We got to see Cornelius in person and we came away very impressed after he stopped Jackson and we know he has talent to become a terrific fighter.”

Results From Washington Golden Glove Semis; Bout Sheet For Finals In Waldorf!

Here are the results for the Washington Golden Gloves Semifinals held on March 23 at the Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Center in Palmer Park, MD:

There was one championship bout in the Novice DivisionBrittany Evans of Midtown won the Female 130 Pounds division with a win over Mellissa Andre.

In other Novice Division results:

123 Pounds: Anjelo Roces (Club One) advances by walkover

132 Pounds: Christian Bratton (Raw Assassin) over Nathan Jackson (NOMIS)

132 Pounds: James Early (NOMIS) over Umar Cheema (Unattached)

141 Pounds: Eric Johnson (Keystone) over Terry Romualdo (Club One)

152 Pounds: Lamonte Jackson (Cherry Lane) over Jacob Gabian (Laurel Boxing)

165 Pounds: Gregory Clark (NOMIS) over Francisco Bustos (Champions Gym)

178 Pounds: Maurice Burrell (Mobtown) over Lamar Pierce (Club One)

178 Pounds: Jerrod Bowling (Benning Park) advances by walkover

201 Pounds: Jordan Scott (Sugar Ray Leonard) over Donnell Daniels (RHP Boxing Academy)

201 Pounds: Shaudre Kelleum-Gee (Mobtown) over Darnell Pierce (Club One)


Open Division:

114 Pounds:  Duglas Soto (Down Under) advances by walkover

123 Pounds:  Gary Antonio Russell (Enigma) over Paul Jerry (Hillcrest)

123 Pounds:  Jalonte Cole (No Xcuse) over Antwain Robinson (UMAR)

132 Pounds: Lamont Roach (No Xcuse) over Jerome Postley (Down Under)

141 Pounds: Patrick Harris (Headbangers) over Cornell Hines (NOMIS)

141 Pounds: Jahmal Dyer (Loch Raven) over Emmanuel Rodriguez (Down Under)

152 Pounds: Jonathan Burr, III (Hagerstown) over Demetrius Martin (D-Block)

165 Pounds: Jason Bell (No Xcuse) over Anthony Williams (Baltimore Boxing)

165 Pounds: Jerome Featherstone (Baltimore Boxing) over Tavon Marshall (Upton)


So the stage is set for the Washington Golden Gloves Championship Finals on Saturday, April 13 at the Waldorf Jaycees Community Center in Waldorf, MD beginning at 8 PM.  Here are the matchups:

Novice Division

123 Pounds:  Anjelo Roces (Club One) vs. Marquise Pryor (UMAR)

132 Pounds: Christian Bratton (Raw Assassin) vs. James Early (NOMIS)

141 Pounds: Eric Johnson (Keystone) vs. Dionte Burts (Woodland)

152 Pounds: Lamonte Jackson (Cherry Lane) vs. Darryl Jacobs (NOMIS)

165 Pounds: Tyrell Johnson (Sugar Ray Leonard) vs. Gregory Clark (NOMIS)

178 Pounds: Jerrod Bowling (Benning Park) vs. Maurice Burrell (Mobtown)

201 Pounds: Jordan Scott (Sugar Ray Leonard) vs. Shaudre Kelleum-Gee (Mobtown)

201+ Pounds: Andrew Evans (Headbangers) vs. Jeffrey Knight (First Class)

201 Pounds (Female): Desiree Abrams (Keystone) vs. Brandi Miller (Upton)


Open Division

114 Pounds:  Duglas Soto (Down Under) vs. Malik Jackson (Limelite)

123 Pounds: Gary Antonio Russell (Enigma) vs. Jalonte Cole (No Xcuse)

132 Pounds: Gary Riley (No Xcuse) vs. Lamont Roach, Jr. (No Xcuse)

141 Pounds: Patrick Harris (Headbangers) vs. Jahmal Dyer (Loch Raven)

152 Pounds: Kareem Martin (Headbangers) vs. Jonathan Burr, III (Hagerstown)

165 Pounds: Jerome Featherstone (Baltimore Boxing) vs. Jason Bell (No Xcuse)

201 Pounds: Albi Sadikaj (Raw Assassin) vs. Simon Rojas (Young Titans)

One boxer has advanced to the Regionals on Friday, April 26 in Waldorf.  Joe Jones, III of No Xcuse will be unopposed at 178 Pounds.

We'll be blogging live from the Waldorf Jaycees on April 13.










Sunday, March 24, 2013

Recap From Frederick Fight Club!

Here is the recap from the Hardwork Promotions card at the Frederick Fight Club in Frederick, MD:  All bouts were scheduled for four rounds.

The main event saw Frederick junior middleweight Dillon "The Stalker" Hayman win a  majority decision over Stanley Harvey of San Diego, CA.  Hayman is 4-0, two KO's while Harvey falls to 1-4.

DC cruiserweight Zakki "Too Slick" Scott also notched a majority decision against the debuting Travis Reeves of Baltimore.  Scott is now 3-0, one KO.

Frederick junior middleweight Devar "The Warrior" Ferhadi notched a third-round TKO over Jason Bakanowski of Northborough, MA.  Ferhadi is 2-0, two KO's.  Bakanowski was making his pro debut.

Cheverly, MD light heavyweight Eric "The Inferno" Govan won his pro debut against Temple Hills, MD's "The Honorable" Mark Baltimore, capturing a unanimous decision.  Baltimore's record falls to 1-2, one KO.

Frederick junior featherweight Rodrigo Gabriel won a unanimous decision over Quincey Johnson of Cincinnati, OH who is now 0-9-1.

In the co-feature bout, 2012 Ecuadorian heavyweight Olympian Ytalo Parea stopped Chris Gordon of Charlestown. SC at 1:27 of the first round.  Both men were making their pro debuts.

Here is the BATB Post-Fight Wrap-Up that features an interview with promoter Venroy " Hard Work" July.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Hayman Wins Majority Decision!


In the main event tonight, Frederick, MD junior middleweight Dillon Hayman won a four-round majority decision over San Diego, CA's Stanley "The New Chinchecker" Harvey.  Hayman hit Harvey with seemingly every legal punch available but Harvey would not go down.  Hayman did bloody Harvey's nose but that was the extent of the visible damage.  Harvey had some moments and got a draw from John Gradowski's card at 38-38.  However, judges Paul Wallace and Steve Rados saw the bout 39-37.

Hayman is now 4-0, two KO's.  Harvey is 1-4, one KO.

Nice competitive card in front of a packed house here at the Frederick Fight Club.  Good night for now -- Post-Fight coming up!  However, we talked to Hayman after his bout.

Perea Scores First Round TKO!

Ytalo Perea scored a relatively easy first-round TKO over Chris Gordon.  Perea dropped Gordon early in the round with a right hand and then hit him more with rights before the bout was stopped at 1:27.  Both men were making their pro debuts.

Coming up next -- intermission followed by the main event -- Dillon "The Stalker" Hayman vs. Stanley Harvey.

Scott Wins Majority Decision Over Reeves!


Zakki "Too Slick" Scott has won a majority decision over Travis Reeves.  Both men were very competitive and some in the crowd did not approve of Scott's showboating style.  Judge Paul Wallace scored the bout even at 38-38 while both John Gradowski and Steve Rados saw the bout 39-37 for Scott who remains undefeated at 3-0, one KO.  Reeves falls in his pro debut.

Next is our co-feature -- Chris Gordon of Charlestown, SC takes on Ecuadorian heavyweight Ytalo Perea.

Ferhadi Scores Third-Round TKO!


Devar Ferhadi stops a very game Jason Bakanowski at 1:29 of the third round.  Ferhadi worked hard to get the TKO victory, using solid body shots and right hands to the head.  Eventually, Ferhadi just wore Bakanowski down and forced referee Kenny Chevalier to stop the contest.  Very good stoppage.

Ferhadi is now 2-0, two KO's while Bakanowski loses his pro debut.

Up next, the debut of Baltimore's Travis Reeves as he takes on undefeated DC cruiserweight Zakki Scott (2-0, one KO).

We talked to Ferhadi shortly after his victory.





Govan Wins Unanimous Decision Over Baltimore!


In a real spirited encounter, Eric "The Inferno" Govan wins a four-round (actually all bouts are four-rounders tonight) unanimous decision over "The Honorable" Mark Baltimore.  Govan scored a knockdown in the second round when Baltimore's glove touched the canvas.  The two men waged a spirited battle in the third round and Govan did a nice job closing the show in the fourth.

Govan won by scores of 39-36 (twice) and 40-35 in his pro debut.  Baltimore is now 1-2, one KO.

Coming up next:  Frederick's Devar "The Warrior" Ferhadi taking on the debuting Jason Bakanowski of Northborough, MA.

Gabriel Wins Unanimous Decision!


(Photos by Juan Marshall, ProAm Fight Talk)

Rodrigo Gabriel wins a four-round unanimous decision over Quincey Johnson.  Gabriel hit Johnson with some clean shots, especially in the third round.  However, Johnson stayed strong and true to his career, having only been stopped once in 10 bouts.

All three judges scored a shutout for Gabriel in his pro debut, 40-36.  Johnson falls to 0-9-1.

Next is a pro rematch of a mini amateur rivalry.  Eric Govan of Cheverly, MD takes on Temple Hills, MD's "The Honorable" Mark Baltimore.

Quigley, Ayres Put on Spirited Exhibition!

Nice performance from Gerome "GQ" Quigley against Tommy Ayres, Jr.  Quigley actually knocked down Ayres in the second round of the bout and did a solid work, especially with the right hand.  Very good performance.

Up next is the debut of Frederick, MD junior featherweight Rodrigo Gabriel taking on Quincey Johnson of Cincinnati, OH.

Exhibition Bout Kicks Off Action in Frederick!

Action is getting underway with an exhibition bout to kick off in Frederick.   Gerome "GQ" Quigley, a junior welterweight from DC, will take on Tommy Ayres, Jr of Cincinnati, OH.  Quigley is being trained by former three-time world champion William Joppy.  Ayres is the son of Tommy Ayres, Sr. a former welterweight contender in the 80's.

Once the exhibition is over, we will come back with the other bouts.

Good Evening From Frederick!

Hi again, everyone from the Frederick Fight Club on Jefferson Street off 270 in Frederick, MD.  We're here for the initial promotion for Venroy July's Hardwork Promotions. 

We should be getting underway very shortly.

Beltway Amateurs Prepare For USA Nationals in Spokane March 30-April 6!

While the Washington Golden Gloves are going on here, many Beltway amateurs are also preparing for the USA Boxing National Championships which will take place March 30-April 6 at the Northern Quest Resort and Casino in Spokane, WA. 

There will be boxers competing in five categories:  Youth Men, Youth Women, Senior Men, Elite Men and Elite Women.  Observers will be looking closely at the Elite Men's division not only because of the talent but also because they will compete WITHOUT headgear.

In a related story, headgear for the Elite Men's division has been eliminated across the board including the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Kazakhstan in October as well as the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.  AIBA, the international governing body for amateur boxing, also announced recently that they will be eliminating the computerized punch count scoring system and moving to the 10-point must system like the pros.

Registration for the USA Championships ended on March 22.  Here is a list -- according to USA Boxing's website -- of the Beltway participants:

Youth Men

123 Pounds:  Jalonte Cole, Washington, DC

132 Pounds:  Lamont Roach, Jr., Upper Marlboro, MD
                       Gary Antuanne Russell, Capitol Heights, MD

152 Pounds: Justin Bell, District Heights, MD
                      Kareem Martin, Clinton, MD

165 Pounds: Jason Bell, District Heights, MD

201+ Pounds: Calvin Countess, Abingdon, MD


Senior Men:

123 Pounds: Terrell Curbean, Baltimore, MD
                      Gary Antonio Russell, Capitol Heights, MD

132 Pounds: Tyreese Barbour, Elkton, MD
                      Gary Riley, Temple Hills, MD

141 Pounds: Patrick Harris, Hyattsville, MD
   
165 Pounds: Clinso Brumfield, Alexandria, VA


Elite Men:

114 Pounds: Malik Jackson, Washington, DC

123 Pounds: Antwan Robinson, Baltimore, MD
                      Raul Santana, Rockville, MD

141 Pounds: Antonio Magruder, Suitland, MD

165 Pounds: Brian Cordova, Alexandria, VA

178 Pounds: Jerrod Bowling, Washington, DC


Elite Women:

132 Pounds: Tiara Brown, Hyattsville, MD

165 Pounds: Franchon Crews, Baltimore, MD

178 Pounds: Dara Shen, Alexandria, VA


 
                       

Friday, March 22, 2013

Weights From Frederick, MD!

Here is the scale watch for the Hardwork Promotions card Saturday, March 23 at the Frederick Fight Club in Frederick, MD:

Dillon Heyman 156 1/2 vs. Stanley Harvey 160

Travis Reeves 186 vs. Zakki Scott 196 1/2

Devar Ferhadi 164 vs. Jason Bakanowski  164 1/2

Eric Govan 172 1/2 vs. Mark Baltimore 173 1/2

Rodrigo Gabriel 118 1/2 vs. Quincy Johnson 123

Ytalo Perea 243 1/2 vs. Chris Gordon 220

The bout between Gerome Quigley and Tommy Ayres, Jr. is now an exhibition bout.

The card begins at 7 PM.  We'll have complete coverage here and on ProAm Fight Talk.  We will have results of Saturday's action from the Washington Golden Gloves semis early next week.


Peterson-Matthysse Set For May 18 in Atlantic City!

Numerous sources are saying that the matchup between IBF Junior Welterweight champion Lamont Peterson and WBC Interim champion Lucas Matthysse is a done deal for Saturday, May 18 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.

Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com's Dan Rafael during his weekly chat that the fight will take place with another championship bout between IBF Welterweight champ Devon Alexander and challenger Kell Brook.  Schaefer has told many sources that he wants the Peterson-Matthysse contest will be part of a "tournament" where the winner of that contest will face the winner of the April 27 bout between Danny Garcia and Zab Judah with the ultimate prize being former champ Amir Khan.

Boxing Photographer Greenhill Thanks 'Angel' In Person At Howard County Fire And Rescue Awards Ceremony!

This is a very happy postscript to what could have been a real tragedy.  Back in April 2012, Beltway Boxing photographer Mike Greenhill went into cardiac arrest while playing indoor soccer.  An off-duty first responder named Stephanie Andrews, who was invited by another player to participate, happened to be there.  Andrews used CPR and saved Greenhill's life. Greenhill returned to ringside in September. 

This past Thursday, Greenhill had the opportunity to publicly thank Andrews at a ceremony that honored many fire and rescue workers in Howard County.  Greenhill was interviewed by both WMAR Channel 2 and WBFF Fox Baltimore and we have both links for you to see.

This is WMAR's story:

http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/region/howard_county/fire-and-rescue-honors-bravest-hero

And this comes from WBFF:

http://foxbaltimore.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/howard-county-department-fire-rescue-award-ceremony-18549.shtml#.UUyX6TeS9mo


Baltimore Afro Profiles 'Coach Mack!'

The Baltimore Afro-American's Perry Green has a wonderful profile on one of the many true nice people in the Beltway Boxing scene -- Mack Allison of the Upton Gym in Baltimore.

"Coach Mack", as Allison is better known, has written two books on boxing that focuses on training as an amateur and the business of being a professional.

Here is the link to the article:

http://www.afro.com/sections/sports/story.htm?storyid=77767

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Update On March 23 Card in Frederick!

The bout sheet is complete for the Saturday, March 23 Hardwork Promotions card at the Frederick Fight Club in Frederick, MD.  The card features all four-round bouts with many local prospects.

In the main event, undefeated Rockville, MD junior middleweight Dillon "The Stalker" Heyman will take on Stanley Harvey of Norfolk, VA by way of San Diego, CA.  Heyman (3-0, two KO's) is coming off the tough four-round unanimous decision win over Ervin Fuller on December 8 at the Washington Convention Center in DC.  Harvey (1-3, one KO) was stopped by Antoine Douglas in the first round on January 10 in Woodhaven, NY.

Also on the card will be Frederick, MD middleweight Devar "The Warrior" Ferhadi who will face the debuting Jason Bakanowski of Northborough, MA.  Ferhadi (1-0, one KO) won his pro debut on November 3 in DC by first-round knockout over Anthony Madden with a solid bodyshot.

The rest of the card consists of locals making their pro debuts.  DC welterweight Gerome "GQ" Quigley will take on Tommy Ayres, Jr. of Cincinnati, OH.  Ayres (0-1) is the son of the former welterweight contender of the 1980's.  Ayres made his pro debut on December 1 in Winchester, VA and lost a four-round unanimous decision to Edgar Torres.

Baltimore cruiserweight Travis Reeves takes his initial step into the pro ranks and faces DC's Zakki Scott.  Scott (2-0, one KO) has not fought since March 10 of 2012 when he defeated Andre Ward by four-round unanimous decision in DC.

In what should be another solid matchup, Cheverly, MD light heavyweight Eric Govan will make his pro debut against Temple Hills, MD's "The Honorable" Mark Baltimore (1-1, one KO).  Baltimore is trying to bounce back after a tough loss to Immanuwel Aleem on October 27 in Fairfax, VA.

Frederick, MD junior featherweight Rodrigo Gabriel makes his debut and will battle Quincey Johnson of Cincinnati, OH (0-8-1).

Also on the card will be a battle of out-of-town debuting boxers as Chris Gordon of Charleston, SC takes on Ytalo Perea of Ecuador.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

The 'Awesome April of Beltway Boxing' Returns!

The month of April always seems to be a busy one along the Beltway and 2013 looks to be no different.  There are a number of boxing cards in the area both on the pro and amateur side during April.  Here's what we know so far.

Friday, April 12 -- Wicomico Civic Center, Salisbury, MD -- Jake The Snake Promotions will be putting on a card headlined by undefeated Salisbury cruiserweight Alex Guerrero who returns to action for the first time in 2013.  Guerrero (8-0-1, five KO's) has not fought since scoring a fifth-round knockout of Harvey Jolly on September 15 in Duluth, GA.  Guerrero is slated to take on Pedro Martinez of Philadelphia, PA (6-7, three KO's) in an eight-round contest.  Martinez will be trying to break a three-bout losing streak.

Saturday, April 13 -- Waldorf Jaycees, Waldorf, MD -- The championships of the Washington Golden Gloves

Saturday, April 20 -- Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, MD -- Keystone Boxing has a card to feature undefeated locals Alantez Fox, Jarrett Hurd, Michael Reed, Jerry Odom, Kevin Rivers, Greg Newby, Gervonta Davis and Mario Murphy.

Friday, April 26 -- Echostage Lounge (formerly DC Star/DC Tunnel), Washington, DC --  G Promotions, a new company from Southern Maryland, will be putting on a card featuring Thomas Snow, Tyrieshia Douglas, the pro debut of Yurii Polischuk and two WBU (World Boxing Union) title bouts.

Friday, April 26 -- Waldorf Jaycees -- The Regional Golden Gloves.  Open winners advance to the National Golden Gloves in Salt Lake City, UT May 12-19.


There are boxers competing outside the Beltway Region in April as well.

Friday, April 12 -- Dover Downs, Dover, DE -- Undefeated DC welterweight Dusty Harrison is slated to compete.

Saturday, April 27 -- Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY -- Three Beltway Boxers are slated to participate on that card.  In the co-feature, Fernando Guerrero challenges Peter Quillin for the WBO Middleweight title. Another Salisbury boxer, Joshua Snyder takes on Boyd Melson and D'Mitrius Ballard will also be on the card.

Bout Sheet For Washington Golden Gloves Semis on March 23!

Here is the bout sheet for the Semifinals of the Washington Golden Gloves on Saturday, March 23 at the Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Center in Palmer Park, MD.  The action begins at 7:30 PM.

The Junior Division has concluded with the last two unopposed champions announced.  Congratulations to:

Somer Smith (First Class Boxing) 15, 113 Pounds (Female)

Shanikqua Jones (No Xcuse) 16, 150 Pounds


There are three unopposed champions in the Novice Division.  Congratulations also to:

Roya Darvishian (Sugar Ray Leonard) 113 Pounds (Female)

Anna Dwyer (Unattached) 152 Pounds (Female)

Teyonna Wright (First Class Boxing) 201+ Pounds (Female)


The rest of the Novice Division schedule looks like this:

130 Pounds (Female --CHAMPIONSHIP):  Mellissa Andre (Unattached) vs. Brittany Evans (Midtown)

123 Pounds:  Dionte' Lovelace (Headbangers) vs. Anjelo Roces (Club One)

132 Pounds: Nathan Jackson (NOMIS) vs. Christian Bratton (Raw Assassin)

132 Pounds: Umar Cheuma (Unattached) vs. James Early  (NOMIS)

141 Pounds: Eric Johnson (Keystone) vs. Terry Romualdo (Club One)

152 Pounds: Lamonte Jackson (Cherry Lane) vs. Jacob Gabian (Laurel Boxing)

165 Pounds: Francisco Bustos (Champions) vs. Gregory Clark (NOMIS)

178 Pounds: Lamar Pierce (Club One) vs. Maurice Burrell (Mobtown)

201 Pounds: Jordan Scott (Sugar Ray Leonard) vs. Donnell Daniels (RHP Boxing)

201 Pounds: Shaundre Kellum-Gee (Mobtown) vs. Darnell Pierce (Club One)


Open Division

114 Pounds: Duglas Soto (Down Under) vs. Roemello Webster (NOMIS)

123 Pounds: Gary Antonio Russell (Enigma) vs. Paul Jerry (Hillcrest)

123 Pounds: Antwain Robinson (UMAR) vs. Jalonte Cole (No Xcuse)

132 Pounds: Jerome Postley (Down Under) vs. Lamont Roach, Jr. (No Xcuse)

141 Pounds: Patrick Harris (Headbangers) vs. Cornell Hines (NOMIS)

141 Pounds: Jahmil Dyer (Headbangers) vs. Emmanuel Rodriguez (Down Under)

152 Pounds: Demetrius Martin (D-Block) vs. Jonathan Burr, III (Hagerstown)

165 Pounds: Jason Bell (No Xcuse) vs. Anthony Williams (Baltimore Boxing)

165 Pounds: Jerome Featherstone (Baltimore Boxing) vs. Tavon Marshall (Upton)

The winners from the Novice and Open competition will advance to the Washington Golden Gloves Finals on Saturday, April 13 at the Waldorf Jaycees Community Center in Waldorf, MD.



Sunday, March 17, 2013

More Junior Champions Crowned; Novice and Open Action Heats Up at Washington Golden Gloves!

Five more Junior Division champions were crowned Saturday night in front of another packed house at the Washington Golden Gloves at the Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Center in Palmer Park, MD.

In the 9-10, 65 Pounds Division, Muhammad Robinson of UMAR won the title with a win over Eric Acosta of Main Street.  UMAR would win two more titles on the evening as Kyron Curry captured the 11, 86 Pounds championship with a victory over Kobe Moore of Main Street while Donte Baytop won the 12-13, 90 Pounds title over Keith Cooke of No Xcuse.

In the 12-13, 85 Pounds class, Rudy Calixto of Main Street captured the title with a win over Cornell Gray of Kenilworth.  Also, Daron Williams of Benning Park was victorious in the 16, 125 Pounds division with a win over Daquaun White of NOMIS.

One other championship was decided by walkover as Calvin Countess of Charm City won the the 15-16, 201 Pounds class.

There was one RSC (Referee Stops Contest) in the Novice Division as Michael Farmer of Upton stopped Leonard Poe of Hillcrest in the second round of a 178-Pound bout. The other bout at 178 pounds saw Maurice Burrell of Mobtown win over Patrick Law of LA Boxing.

In other Novice Division Bouts:

132 Pounds:  Umar Cheuma (Unattached) over Corey Snowden (No Xcuse)

141 Pounds: Dionte Burts (Woodland) over Terrance Smith (Loch Raven)

152 Pounds: Darryl Jacobs (NOMIS) over Evgueny Metchenov (Laurel Boxing)

165 Pounds: Tyrell Johnson (Sugar Ray Leonard) over Matthew Coleman (Champions)

201 Pounds: Shaundre Kellum-Gee (Mobtown) over Timothy Lee (No Xcuse)


In the Senior Division,  Kareem Martin of Headbangers provided the highlight with a solid RSC-1 over Justin Bell of No Xcuse in a 152-Pound encounter.  Bell's twin brother, Jason, captured a win over Justin Hurd of Hillcrest in a 165-Pound bout.

In other Senior Division contests:

141 Pounds: Patrick Harris (Headbangers) over Michael Peoples (Born Champions)

141 Pounds: Jahmil Dyer (Loch Raven) over James Scott III (Charm City)

141 Pounds: Emmanuel Rodriguez (Down Under) over Johnny DaSilva (No Xcuse)

152 Pounds: Jonathan Burr III (Hagerstown) over Shawn Woodford (Main Street)

Semi-Final action continues on Saturday, March 23 at the Sugar Ray Leonard Center beginning at 7:30..  That will be the last night in Palmer Park before the action shifts to the Waldorf Jaycees on April 13.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Kennedy Drops Split Decision to Yorgey in Valley Forge!

Windsor Mill, MD middleweight "Relentless" Julius Kennedy lost a six-round split decision to Harry Joe Yorgey of Bridgeport, PA Friday night at the Valley Forge Convention Center in Valley Forge, PA.

According to reports, Kennedy pressured Yorgey against the ropes early but Yorgey came on in the final two rounds.  Kennedy did enough to win on one judge's scorecard, 58-56.  Kennedy lost on the other two cards, 58-56 and a seemingly disjointed 60-54.

Kennedy's record falls to 7-4-1, three KO's.  Yorgey's record rises to 26-2-1, 12 KO's.


Stevenson Added to March 30 Card In DC!

Undefeated Baltimore, MD welterweight James "Keep 'Em Sleepin'" Stevenson has been added to the Saturday, March 30 Babie Girl Promotions card at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC.

Stevenson (18-0, 11 KO's) has not fought since winning a four-round unanimous decision over Damon Antoine on November 8 in Cockeysville, MD.  Stevenson's opponent will be Eric "Fast Hands" Burke of Columbus, Ohio.  Burke (6-29-3, five KO's) has been stopped in his last three outings including a fifth-round stoppage at the hands of Ivan Ziglar in May of 2012 at the Washington Convention Center.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Former World Champion Hosts 'Breakfast With Boxers' Fun Run March 17!

Former three-time WBA middleweight champion and Beltway Boxing legend William Joppy is hosting  the first annual "Hope for the Homeless 5K Fun Run on Sunday, March 17 at Burke Lake Park in Fairfax, VA beginning at 8 AM.  Joppy is the founder of the organization Breakfast With Boxers, which continues to battle the homelessness problem in our communities.

All proceeds for this event will go to providing food, boxing demonstrations and encouragement to DC-area homeless residents.  Registration for the event is $30 and you can register online by going to this link:

http://www.breakfastwithboxers5krun.com/index.html

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Gary Russell Jr. Says No Thanks To 50 Cent-Led Promotional Company!

Undefeated Capitol Heights, MD featherweight "Mr." Gary Russell, Jr. says he recently received an offer to sign with SMS Promotions, the company led by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson.  The Russell camp, however, has said thanks but no thanks.

“Over the last few days, we’ve been getting a number of phone calls from 50 Cent’s SMS Promotions. They want us to sign with their camp. I don’t have anything against his team; but we are not interested…I’m not interested,” Russell said in a press release. “Like I’ve said before Team Russell is not signed to any promotions team. I have a manager, Al Haymon, and he is the only person I’m signed with.”

 “Growing up with all brothers, our father taught us a long time ago that loyalty is important,"Russell continued. "I feel the same way about my relationship with Al. We consider him a part of our boxing family. Al has been a big part of my career and things are going smooth."

"Our working relationship with Golden Boy Promotions has also been great,” Russell said. "We would not sign with any promotional team without having a conversation with Al. We have watched folks commit what we feel is boxing suicide by going against the grain. We like the way I’m being moved along, and the dates, venues, and television time I have received have all been positive for my career. So while my team appreciates the offer, we chose to decline the proposal from SMS.”

Recently, Russell (22-0, 13 KO's) told BATB that he suffered a hairline fracture of his left hand in his 10-round unanimous decision victory over Vyacheslav Gusev on March 2 in Las Vegas, NV.  Doctors have told Russell that he will be out of action 6-8 weeks.

Monday, March 11, 2013

Bout Sheet For March 16th Action at Washington Golden Gloves!

Here is the bout sheet for the Saturday, March 16 edition of the Washington Golden Gloves at the Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Center in Palmer Park, MD:

There will be six championship bouts in the Junior Division:

9-10, 65 Pounds: Muhammad Robinson (UMAR) vs. Eric Acosta (Main Street)

11, 86 Pounds: Kobe Moore (Main Street) vs. Kyron Curry (No Xcuse)

12-13, 85 Pounds: Rudy Calixto (Main Street) vs. Cornell Gray (Kenilworth)


12-13, 90 Pounds: Donte Baytop (UMAR) vs. Keith Cooke (No Xcuse)

16, 125 Pounds: Daquan White (NOMIS) vs. Daron Williams (Benning Park)

15-16, 201+ Pounds: Calvin Countess (Charm City) vs. Corey Carrington (Hillcrest)

Three Juniors are unopposed Junior Champions.  Congratulations to:

Aiyahnah Burke (UMAR) 11, 112 Pounds (Female)

Zoria Curry (UMAR) 12, 132 Pounds (Female)

Malik Titus (Upton) 15, 201 Pounds


Novice Division:

123 Pounds:  Marquise Pryor (UMAR) vs. Christopher Pak (LA Boxing)

132 Pounds: Corey Snowden (No Xcuse) vs. Umar Cheuma (Unattatched)

141 Pounds: Dionte Burts (Woodland) vs. Terrance Smith (Loch Raven)

152 Pounds: Evgueny Metchenov (Laurel Boxing) vs. Darryl Jacobs (NOMIS)

165 Pounds: Tyrell Johnson (Sugar Ray Leonard) vs. Matthew Coleman (Champions Gym)

178 Pounds: Maurice Burrell (Mobtown) vs. Patrick Law (LA Boxing)

178 Pounds: Michael Farmer (Upton) vs. Leonard Poe (Hillcrest)

201 Pounds: Shaundre Kelleum-Gee (Mobtown) vs. Timothy Lee (No Xcuse)


Open Division:  

141 Pounds: Patrick Harris (Headbangers) vs. Michael Peoples (Born Champions)

141 Pounds: James Scott III (Charm City) vs. Jahmil Dyer (Loch Raven)

141 Pounds: Emmanuel Rodriguez (Down Under) vs. Johnny DaSiva (No Xcuse)

152 Pounds: Jonathan Burr III (Hagerstown) vs. Shawn Woodford (Main Street)

152 Pounds: Justin Bell (No Xcuse) vs. Kareem Martin (Headbangers)

165 Pounds: Jason Bell (No Xcuse) vs. Justin Hurd (Hillcrest)

 

 
 


Sunday, March 10, 2013

Update On March 30th Card in DC!

Here's an update on the Saturday, March 30th Babie Girl Productions card at the Renaissance Hote, located on 999  9th Street, NW in Washington, DC.

Two female bouts will headline the card.  WIBA (Women's International Boxing Association) Middleweight champion Tori "Sho Nuff" Nelson of Ashburn, VA will defend her title against Maria Lindberg of Malmo, Sweden in a 10-round bout.  Nelson (6-0-3) will be in her fourth straight world title bout going through two title draws against Teresa Perozzi in Bermuda and and her WIBA title win against Vashon Living in Fairfax, VA.

Lindberg (8-1-2, two KO's) is the current WIBA Junior Middleweight titleholder and her only loss was against Christina Hammer for the WBO and WBF Middleweight titles in 2011.  This is Lindberg's third trip to the United States and her second visit to DC, having fought a draw with Ann Saccurato in May of 2004.

Also slated to be on the card is Manassas, VA featherweight "The Bolivian Queen" Jennifer Salinas who is competing against an opponent to be determined.  Salinas (13-3, four KO's)  is coming off a six-round unanimous decision win over Karen Dulin on October 13 in Southhampton, Bermuda.

In other bouts on the card, DC welterweight David "Day-Day" Grayton will take on Tyrone Braswell of Wilson, NC.  Grayton (3-0, three KO's) is coming off a second-round TKO over Greg Coverson, Jr. on February 22 at the DC Armory.  Braswell (0-5) has faced nothing but undefeated opponents and will look to get out of the first round for the first time in this contest.  Also, DC light heavyweight Greg Newby will be in action against Ivan Burke of Wilson.  Newby (5-0, three KO's) last fought on January 12 in Fort Washington, MD and won a four-round unanimous decision over John Terry. Burke is 0-2.

There are also amateur bouts slated for this card, which is scheduled to be videotaped for a future broadcast on Channel 50.


Open Division of Washington Golden Gloves Opens With Excitement; Junior Champions Crowned!

A packed, standing-room-only crowd watched a spirited beginning to the Open Division and a number of Junior Champions crowned at the Washington Golden Gloves Saturday night at the Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Center in Palmer Park, MD.

In the open bout most fans came to see, Patrick Harris of the Headbangers Gym defeated Drayvontay Speed-Rawls of No Xcuse by decision in a spirited 141-pound contest that had fans of both camps screaming and on their feet throughout the contest.  Harris, who is co-trained by his father, Patrick "Boogie" Harris,  seemed to be the busier boxer especially in the second and third rounds.  Speed-Rawls's uncle, by the way, is former National Golden Gloves champion Eugene "Sonny" Speed.

In the only other Open bout of the night, Gary Antonio Russell of Enigma Boxing scored an RSC-3 over Cesar Rojas of Sugar Ray Leonard Gym in a 123-pound matchup.

In the Junior Division, four champions were crowned after actual boxing matches.  Quincey Williams of Tony's Gym won a decision over Jacob Matthews of Enigma to win the 9 Years, 70 Pounds title.  Kesean Bagwell of Charm City won the 10 Years, 70 Pounds championship by decision over Jordan Jones of Headbangers. Also, Ronnell Jackson of No Xcuse captured the 16 Years, 119 Pounds title with a decision over Cory Moore of Main Street and Keeshawn Williams, boxing unattached, won the 16 Years, 110 pound title with a win over Rasheed Wright of Headbangers.

Other Junior champions were awarded titles by walkover:
9, 60 Pounds: Ragahleak Bartee (Tony's Gym)
9, 75 Pounds: Lawerence Malcolm (Enigma)
12-13, 100 Pounds: Siete Shuler (Langdon)
13-14, 115 Pounds: Andres Garbiray (Laurel Boxing Club)
14-15, 119 Pounds: Ivan Calixto (Main Street)

Here are the results from Saturday's action in the Novice Division:
141 Pounds:  Eric Johnson (Keystone) over Michael Martin (LA Boxing)
141 Pounds:  Terry Romualdo (Club One) RET-2 over Donald Nalle (Old School)
141 Pounds: Terrance Smith (Loch Raven) RSC-3 over Mikhail Kozlov (LA Boxing)
152 Pounds: Jacob Gabian (Laurel Boxing Club) over James Poe (Old School)
152 Pounds: Evqueny Metchenov (Laurel Boxing Club) over Kristopher Gatling (Hillcrest)
165 Pounds: Gregory Clark (NOMIS) over Estebain Sanchez (Hillcrest)
201 Pounds: Shaundre Kellem-Gee (Mobtown) RSC-3 over Jeremy Boyle (Sugar Ray Leonard)

Action continues on Saturday, March 16 at 7:30 PM at Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Center.

To see photos from the event go to Juan Marshall's ProAm Fight Talk   http://proamfighttalk.blogspot.com/

Saturday, March 09, 2013

M. Taylor to Face Jackson-Benson for Vacant Fecarbox Title May 11 in Millersville!

Friday night in Atlantic City, one Taylor brother moved himself into a prime position for a world title shot.  On Saturday, May 11 at Club One Fitness in Millersville, MD, the older of the two brothers has a chance to do the same.

BATB has learned that Baltimore, MD super middleweight Maxell "The General" Taylor will try to duplicate what his brother Emanuel did as he will battle for the vacant WBC Fecarbox Super Middleweight title. However, his opponent should make this scheduled 10-round contest a real exciting one.  Taylor will battle Landover, MD's Phillip Jackson-Benson.

Taylor (18-4-1, eight KO's) is coming off a six-round unanimous decision victory over Nathan Bedwell on December 1 in Winchester, VA.  Jackson-Benson (11-1, 10 KO's) has been on a roll, winning eight straight since suffering his only loss back in June of 2009.  Seven of those eight wins have come by knockout, including his last six opponents.  Jackson-Benson stopped John Terry in the first round in his last outing on March 2 in Fort Washington, MD.

The bout will be one of two WBC Fecarbox title bouts on the Jeter Promotions card.  WBC Fecarbox Middleweight champion Tony "Mo Better" Jeter  (15-3-1, 10 KO's) will defend his title against an opponent to be determined.  As BATB mentioned earlier, Jeter, the 2012 Beltway Boxer of the Year, is now ranked at number 15 in the WBC Middleweight rankings.

Also slated to be on this card are undefeated Baltimore welterweight James "Keep 'Em Sleepin'" Stevenson (18-0, 11 KO's), undefeated Baltimore heavyweight "Slick" Nick Kisner (11-0, five KO's),
Severn, MD middleweight Sherman Artis, Jr. (2-0) and Baltimore middleweight Dan Cannaday (3-0, one KO).

The card is also slated to feature the hopefully temporary pro boxing swan song of Glen Burnie, MD super bantamweight Brady "The Magician" Sensibaugh (1-0).  After this contest, the 18-year-old Sensibaugh will enlist into the United States Navy.


Olympic-Style Amateur Boxing Event Featuring Collegiate Boxers March 22 at Michael's Eighth Avenue!

Baltimore Boxing Promotions is hosting an Olympic-style amateur boxing event on Friday, March 22 at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD.  In this event, however, a number of the competitors will come from the collegiate ranks.  The card will begin at 8:15 PM.

Baltimore Boxing promoter Jake Smith is working in conjunction with Luke Runion, the president of the United States Intercollegiate Boxing Association (USIBA), a new organization looking to re-introduce boxing into the college and university systems.  Teams from Maryland and Georgetown Universities are among the member teams of the USIBA.  Boxers from DC, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina as well as Dublin, Ireland are slated to participate in this event.  

General admission tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Individual VIP tickets are $50 and $500 for a table of 10.  For more information, call 410-375-9175.




Friday, March 08, 2013

Emanuel Taylor Survives Knockdown to Score Eighth-Round TKO in Atlantic City!

Edgewood, MD junior welterweight Emanuel "Tranzforma" Taylor has taken another big step in his pro career with an eighth-round TKO over veteran Victor Cayo of the Dominican Republic tonight at Resorts Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.

Taylor had a solid second round as he had Cayo hurt and against the ropes.  However, Cayo came back very strong in the fourth and fifth rounds. Cayo dropped Taylor with a right hand from the southpaw stance in the fifth.

However, Taylor worked his way back into the fight, eventually damaging Cayo with a right hand in the eighth that sent him to the canvas.  Cayo beat the count.  Taylor quickly forced referee Benji Esteves to stop the contest at 1:11 of the eighth.  

The win, shown live on ESPN2, is Taylor's second straight victory on national television following his sixth-round TKO over Raymond Serrano on January 25 in Huntington, NY that was broadcast on Showtime.

With the win, Taylor raises his record to 17-1, 12 KO's.  Cayo falls to 31-4, 22 KO's.  Cayo also loses to a Beltway Boxer for the second time in his career having been stopped by Lamont Peterson in the 12th round in July 2011 in Las Vegas.

In other bouts featuring local boxers on this card, DC-based junior middleweight Ivan "King Shango" Ziglar lost a six-round unanimous decision to Samuel "Rock City Cobra" Rogers of the US Virgin Islands.  The scores were 59-55, 60-54 and 58-56,  Rogers, a nephew of former world champion Julian Jackson, remains undefeated at 13-0, seven KO's while Ziglar falls to 7-3-1, four KO's.

Also, middleweight Joshua "The Berlin Bomber" Snyder of Berlin, MD lost a six-round unanimous decision to Thomas "Cornflake" LaManna of Millville, NJ.  Snyder suffered two knockdowns and lost by scores of 58-54 (twice) and 57-55.  LaManna is now 11-0, six KO's while Snyder is 9-9-1, three KO's.

Jeter Promotions Has Amateur Card March 30 in Millersville, MD!

There will be an amateur card coming to Club One Fitness in Millersville, MD on Saturday, March 30.  The card is promoted by Jeter Promotions headed by the reigning WBC Fecarbox champion Tony "Mo Better" Jeter.  Scheduled to appear on the card are Club One boxers Andre Harris, Jr., Bobby Breslin, Austin Wolfrey and Marc Julian.

Tickets are $35 for general admission and $50 for VIP Seating.  Call 410-729-3900 for details.

In a related story, Jeter has moved into the top 15 in the WBC Middleweight rankings.  Jeter now sits at number 15.  Jeter is slated to return to competition on his own pro show on May 11.

Taylor, Snyder, Ziglar Hit Scales in Atlantic City!

Three Beltway Boxers weighed in for their bouts Friday night at Resorts Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.

Emmanuel Taylor weighed in at 142 pounds for his 10-round televised (ESPN2) main event bout against Victor Cayo, who weighed in at 142 1/2.

Joshua Snyder hit the middleweight limit of 160 pounds for his six-round contest against Thomas LaManna, who tipped the scales at 157.

Ivan Ziglar weighed in at 154 1/2 pounds for his six-round contest against Samuel Rogers.  Rogers came in at 153.

Wednesday, March 06, 2013

Taylor ESPN2 Bout Now An IBF Eliminator!

BATB has learned that Emmanuel "Tranzforma" Taylor's bout against Victor Cayo on Friday, March 8 in Atlantic City, NJ is now an IBF elimination bout that could have interesting long-range possibilities for the Beltway.

A win for the Edgewood, MD native Taylor in his ESPN2-televised junior welterweight bout would put him closer in line to face the winner of the proposed May 18 IBF title bout between champion Lamont Peterson and challenger Lucas Mathyesse.  Apparently, a win here would put Taylor in position to fight for the number one spot.

Looking hopefully down the road, if both Peterson wins in May and Taylor gets to be the number one contender, it could mark the first time two Beltway Boxers would battle for a world title since Keith Holmes defended his WBC Middleweight title against Andrew Council on August 24, 1999 at MCI (now Verizon) Center in DC.

By the way, the Peterson-Matthyesse bout looks like it will also be in Atlantic City.

Monday, March 04, 2013

Second Day Results; Third Day Bout Sheet For Washington Golden Gloves!

Here are the results from the second day of competition at the Washington Golden Gloves held on Saturday, March 2 at the Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Center in Palmer Park, MD:

There were two championship bouts in the Junior Division as Chamar Flowers from Headbangers won the 11-12, 80 Pounds title with a win over Salvador Escamilla of Langdon.  Also, Hakeem Middleton of Woodland captured the 14-15, 112 Pound division title with a victory over Deron Whitley of Laurel Boxing Club.

Other Junior Division results:

9-10, 65 Pounds: Eric Acosta (Main Street) over Ricardo Romualdo (Club One)

11, 86 Pounds: Kobe Moore (Main Street) over Richard Pearson (No Xcuse)

11, 86 Pounds: Kyron Curry (UMAR) over Adam Calixto (Main Street)

12-13, 85 Pounds: Rudy Calixto (Main Street) over Mekhi Payne-Dey (Keystone)

12-13, 100 Pounds: Siete Shuler (Langdon) over Cory Matthews (Enigma)

13-14, 115 Pounds: Andres Garibay (Laurel Boxing Club) over Charlie Tuckson (Young Titans)

16, 125 Pounds: Daron Williams (Benning Park) over Michael Cate (LA Boxing)

Novice Division:

132 Pounds: James Early (NOMIS) over Andrew Barrett (Laurel)

132 Pounds: Nathan Jackson (NOMIS) over Gorur Karyah (Tony's Gym)

141 Pounds: Dionte Burts (Woodland) over Jalil Hunter (Headbangers)

141 Pounds: Terrance Smith (Loch Raven) over Alejandro Zen (Champions)

152 Pounds: Lamont Jackson (Cherry Lane) over Ignacio Marion Suartz (Laurel Boxing Club)

165 Pounds: Tyrell Johnson (Sugar Ray Leonard) over Bryan Mata (Ground Control)

178 Pounds: Lamar Pierce (Club One) over Jordan Payne (NOMIS)

201 Pounds: Jordan Scott (Sugar Ray Leonard) over Daniel Steel (LA Boxing)

It will be an eventful third day of competition on Saturday, March 9 back at the Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Center as all the Junior Division bouts scheduled will be championship contests and the Open Division will get underway as well.

Here is the scheduled bout sheet:

Junior Division (all CHAMPIONSHIP bouts):

9, 60 Pounds: Ragahleak Bartee (Tony's Gym) vs. Tyrek Williams (unattached)

9, 70 Pounds:  Quincey Williams (Tony's Gym) vs. Jacob Matthews (Enigma)

10, 70 Pounds: Jordan Jones (Headbangers) vs. Kesean Bagwell (Charm City)

9, 75 Pounds: Antonio Tate (Kenilworth) vs. Lawerence Malcolm (Enigma)

12-13, 100 Pounds: Siete Shuler (Langdon) vs. Vincent Goedecke (Legends)

13-14, 115 Pounds: Andres Gabiray (Laurel Boxing Club) vs. Keleaf Tate (Kenilworth)

16, 110 Pounds:  Rasheed Wright (Headbangers) vs. Keeshawn Williams (unattached)

14-15, 119 Pounds: Ivan Calixto (Main Street) vs. Jared Gravely, Jr. (Keystone)

16, 119 Pounds: Ronnell Jackson (No Xcuse) vs. Cory Moore (Main Street)

Two competitors are unopposed champions.  Congratulations to:

Kevon Cooke (No Xcuse) 13, 65 Pounds

Juan Jenkins (Mobtown) 13, 95 Pounds

Novice Division:

123 Pounds: Raul Santana (No Xcuse) vs. Christopher Pak (LA Boxing)

132 Pounds: Christian Bratton (Raw Assassin) vs. Jefri Gutierrez (Laurel Boxing Club)

141 Pounds: Michael Martin (LA Boxing) vs. Eric Johnson (Keystone)

141 Pounds: Donald Nalle (Old School) vs. Terry Romualdo (Club One)

141 Pounds: Mikhail Kozlov (LA Boxing) vs. Terrance Smith (Loch Raven)

152 Pounds:  Jacob Gabian (Laurel Boxing Club) vs. James Poe (Old School)

152 Pounds: Evqueny Metchenov (Laurel Boxing Club) vs. Kristopher Gatling (Hillcrest)

165 Pounds: Gregory Clark (NOMIS) vs. Esteban Sanchez (Hillcrest)

201 Pounds: Darnell Pierce (Club One) vs. David Butler (Enigma)

201 Pounds: Shaundre Kellem-Lee (Mobtown) vs. Jeremy Boyle (Sugar Ray Leonard)

Open Division:

123 Pounds: Cesar Rojus (Sugar Ray Leonard) vs. Gary Antonio Russell (Enigma)

141 Pounds: Drayvontay Speed-Rawls (No Xcuse) vs. Patrick Harris (Headbangers)

141 Pounds: Jarrell Harris (Unattached) vs. Cornell Hines (NOMIS)

Action gets underway at 7:30 PM and tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for kids..



Sunday, March 03, 2013

Snyder, Zigler Added to March 8 Card in Atlantic City!

Three Beltway Boxers will be on a card on Friday, March 8 at Resorts Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.

We've already talked about the main event -- a 10-round junior welterweight contest between Emmanuel "Tranzforma" Taylor of Edgewood, MD (16-1, 11 KO's) and Victor "Mermelada" Cayo of the Dominican Republic (31-3, 22 KO's).  That bout will be the main event on ESPN2 and it will mark the third consecutive week that at least one Beltway Boxer will be seen on national television. (If you count Thomas Williams and Daniel Attah appearing on Showtime Extreme, Taylor will be the sixth local boxer to appear on national TV in the last three weeks, joining Lamont Peterson. Tony Thompson and Gary Russell, Jr.

Two other local boxers have been added to the card.  Berlin, MD middleweight "The Berlin Bomber" Joshua Snyder will battle undefeated Thomas "Cornflake" LaManna of Millville, NJ in a six-round contest.  Snyder (9-8-1, three KO's) will try to stop a two-bout losing streak that includes a fifth-round stoppage loss to Demetrius Hopkins on November 17 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.  LaManna (10-0, six KO's) is coming off a fourth-round TKO victory over Erick Hernandez Perez on November 10 in Millville, NJ.  Snyder will be the most experienced pro boxer LaManna has faced.

DC junior middleweight Ivan "King Shango" Ziglar will face another undefeated boxer in Samuel Rogers of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands in a six-round bout.  Ziglar (7-2-1, four KO's, one NC) is coming off a no-contest against Lawrence Jones on October 27 in Fairfax, VA. Jones suffered a cut during the second round because of an accidental headbutt.  Rogers (12-0, seven KO's) has knocked out his last four opponents.  Rogers is a nephew of former three-time world champion Julian "The Hawk" Jackson, who will also have his two sons -- Julius and John Jackson -- fighting on this card.

Recap From Rosecroft!

Here is a full recap from the Keystone Boxing Card at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, MD:

Landover, MD light heavyweight Philip Jackson-Benson scored a first-round TKO over John "The Baptist" Terry of Portsmouth, VA.  Jackson-Benson dropped Terry twice -- first with a gorgeous body shot, then with a right hand to the head.  The bout was stopped at 1:24.  Jackson-Benson is now 11-1, 10 KO's while Terry falls to 4-27-3, one KO.

Forestville, MD junior middleweight Alantez "SlyAza" Fox won a six-round unanimous decision over Greg Hackett of Philadelphia, PA.  Fox scored a shutout on all three cards (60-54) to remain undefeated at 10-0-1, four KO's.  Hackett is 2-10.

Waldorf, MD junior welterweight Mike "Yes, Indeed" Reed made a very successful and explosive pro debut with a first-round TKO over Kareem McFarland of Philadelphia, PA.  Reed completed his demolition of McFarland with a brutal right hand that sent McFarland careening towards the ropes and almost out of the ring.  The bout was stopped at 2:43.  McFarland is now 1-2, one KO.

Bowie, MD super middleweight "The King's Son" Jerry Odom scored a first-round TKO over Craig "I'm a Beast" Boykin of Columbia, SC.  Odom dropped Boykin twice en route to the win at 2:50.  Odom is now 3-0, three KO's, one NC while Boykin is 0-2.

Accokeek, MD junior middleweight "Swift" Jarrett Hurd won a four-round unanimous decision over Thomas Baldwin of Jersey City, NJ.  Hurd was busier and more effective against a very tough Baldwin.  Hurd won by scores of 40-36 (twice) and 39-37.  Hurd is now 5-0, three KO's and Boykin is now 2-1-2, one KO.

Palmer Park, MD senior lightweight Kevin "K-Smoov" Rivers, Jr. scored an explosive second-round TKO over Antonio Sanchez of Columbia, SC.  Rivers wore Sanchez down throughout the contest and ended it with a solid right hand that made Sanchez slump down on the ropes.  The bout was stopped at 1:41 of the second round.  Rivers, Jr. is now 5-0, four KO's while Sanchez is now 1-1-1, one KO.

DC lightweight Joshua Davis stopped Benjamin "The Shadow" Burgos of Philadelphia, PA in the second round.  Davis landed a hard right hand that drove Burgos to the ropes where he pummeled Burgos until the bout was stopped at 32 seconds of the second.  Davis is now 3-0, two KO's while Burgos is 1-4.

The attendance was estimated at 750.

Here is the Post-Fight Wrap-Up from Rosecroft with Juan Marshall of ProAm Fight Talk.


Fox Wins Unanimous Decision in Rosecroft Co-Feature!



Forestville, MD junior middleweight Alantez "SlyAza" Fox has won our co-feature bout here at Rosecroft with a six-round unanimous decision over Greg Hackett of Philadelphia, PA.  The bout was target practice for Fox as he landed numerous shots over a game Hackett who did little more than absorb shots and try to clown and throw Fox off his game.  It didn't work as Fox scored a shutout on all three scorecards.  Fox is now 10-0-1, four KO's while Hackett is 2-10.

Next the main event -- Phillip Jackson-Benson vs. John Terry

Russell Wins Unanimous Decision in Vegas Despite Hand Injury!

Capitol Heights, MD featherweight "Mr." Gary Russell, Jr. won a lopsided 10-round unanimous decision over Vyacheslav Gusev of Russia tonight at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Saturday night.  However, an old nemesis that Russell thought he put behind him may have cropped up again.

According to Fightnews.com, Russell may have injured his left hand at some point during the contest.  Russell has had hand issues in the past but told reporters during the week that those problems were resolved.  This doesn't seem to be the case.  The hand issue did not stop Russell from scoring a knockdown when Gusev's glove touched the canvas in the third.  Russell went on to win 100-89 on all three scorecards.

Russell is now 22-0, 13 KO's.  Gusev is 20-3, five KO's.

Saturday, March 02, 2013

Jackson-Benson Scores First-Round TKO!


Landover, MD light heavyweight Phil Jackson-Benson made short of the normally durable John Terry of Portsmouth, VA.
Benson dropped Terry with a solid body shot.  After Terry got up, a right hand over the top sent Terry down for the second and final time. The bout was stopped at 1:24.  Benson is 11-1,  10 KO's.  Terry is 4-27-3, one KO.

Next up, our post-fight show.  Good night from Rosecroft.

Reed Makes Explosive Pro Debut With First-Round TKO!!




Waldorf, MD junior welterweight Mike "Yes, Indeed" Reed made his pro debut a successful and an explosive one with a solid first-round TKO over Kareem McFarland of Philadelphia, PA.

With a boisterous and enthusiastic crowd chanting "Mike Reed, Mike, Mike Reed,"  the 2011 National Golden Gloves champion went to work with solid lefts and rights.  Eventually Reed got McFarland with a gorgeous right hand that sent McFarland through the ropes.  The bout was stopped at 2:43 of the first.

McFarland falls to 1-2, one KO

Up next -- the co-feature, Alantez Fox vs. Greg Hackett.

Odom Registers First-Round TKO!



Bowie, MD super middleweight "The King's Son" Jerry Odom has stopped Craig "I'm A Beast" Boykin of Columbia, SC in the first round here at Rosecroft.

Boykin tried to come out like a beast and pressured Odom,  However, Odom weathered the early storm and then went to work, landing some very nice rights and lefts, eventually dropping Boykin.  Boykin got up but Odom quickly finished the job and the bout was stopped at 2:50 of the first round.

Odom is now 3-0, three KO's while Boykin is now 0-2.

Intermission followed by the pro debut of Mike Reed.

Hurd Wins Four-Round Unanimous Decision!



Accokeek, MD junior middleweight "Swift" Jarrett Hurd has won a four-round unanimous decision over Thomas Baldwin of Jersey City, NJ.  The bout was a good hard-hitting affair and we credit both men for keeping focused in the ring despite an altercation between two females in the crowd.

Hurd won the contest by scores of 40-36 (twice) and 39-37 to raise his record to 5-0, three KO's while Baldwin loses for the first time as a pro and he is now 2-1-2, one KO.

Heading to the ring -- Jerry Odom vs. Craig Boykin of Columbia, SC.

Attah Drops Unanimous Decision to Fontanez in Vegas!

DC's Daniel "The Prophet" Attah has dropped a six-round unanimous decision to undefeated lightweight Jeffrey Fontanez tonight at the Hard Rock Cafe Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

According to Fightnews.com, the bout as an uneventful one with Fontanez winning by scores of 60-54 and 59-55 (twice).  Attah is now 27-14-1, 10 KO's while Fontanez is 11-0, nine KO's.

Rivers Scores Explosive Second-Round TKO!




Palmer Park, MD junior lightweight Kevin "K-Smoov" Rivers, Jr. has registered an explosive second-round TKO over Columbia, SC's Antonio Sanchez.

The bout was a solid give-and-take situation through the first round, although Rivers was wearing Sanchez down throughout the contest.  In the second, Rivers let loose with a brutal right hand that made Sanchez slump onto the ropes.  Referee Kenny Chevalier ruled it a knockdown as the ropes kept Sanchez from hitting the canvas.  When Sanchez got up, he was in no condition to continue and the bout was stopped at 1:41 of the second.

Rivers is now 5-0, four KO's.  Sanchez is now even at 1-1-1, one KO.

Next, Jarrett Hurd battles Thomas Baldwin.

Davis Scores Second Round TKO!


(Photos tonight by Juan Marshall, ProAm Fight Talk)

DC lightweight Joshua Davis opens tonight's card at Rosecroft with a second-round TKO over Philadelphia, PA's Benjamin "The Shadow" Burgos.  Burgos opened the bout strong and hit Davis with some good shots.  However, Davis turned the tide late in the first round with solid left hands.

Early in the second, Davis landed a hard right hand that drove Burgos to the ropes where Davis was able to pummel Burgos until referee Brent Bovell stopped the contest at 32 seconds.  Davis is now 3-0, two KO's while Burgos is 1-4.

Next up:  Kevin Rivers, Jr. versus Antonio Sanchez of Columbia, SC.

Williams, Jr. Scores Third-Round KO in Las Vegas!

Fort Washington, MD light heavyweight Thomas "Top Dog" Williams, Jr. remained undefeated with a third-round knockout over Kevin Engel tonight at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. 

Williams used head and body shots to stop Engel at 1:31 of the third.  Williams is now 13-0, 10 KO's.  Engel is now 20-8, 16 KO's. 

Meanwhile, they are getting things started here at Rosecroft.  Joshua Davis battles Benjamin Burgos.

Good Evening From Rosecroft!

Hi again, everyone from Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, MD for the Keystone Boxing card. We are still a few minutes from getting underway.

We'll also be keeping tabs on the locals in Las Vegas.  Thomas Williams, Jr. and Daniel Attah's bouts are on Showtime Extreme tonight while Gary Russell, Jr.'s contest is on Showtime tonight at 10 PM.  Feel free to post a result or two.

Back when events get underway here!

Russell, Williams, Attah Hit Scales in Las Vegas!

Three Beltway Boxers weighed in for their appearances on tonight's card at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

Gary Russell, Jr. tipped the scales at 127 pounds for his 10-round televised (Showtime) co-feature bout against Vyacheslav Gusev, who weighed in at 126 1/2.  The telecast begins at 10 PM ET.

Thomas Williams, Jr. weighed in at the light heavyweight limit of 175 for his eight-round undercard contest against Kevin Engel.  Engel came in at 174 1/2.

Former world title contender Daniel Attah came in at 135 pounds for his six-round undercard lightweight bout against undefeated Jeffrey Fontanez, who tipped the scales at 134 1/2.

Friday, March 01, 2013

Weights from Rosecroft!

Here are the weights for the Keystone Boxing card on Saturday, March 2 at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, MD:

Phillip Jackson Benson 174 vs. John Terry 176 1/2

Alantez Fox 154 vs. Greg Hackett 164

Mike Reed 140 vs. Kareem McFarland 139

Jerry Odom 167 vs. Craig Boykin 169 1/2

Jarrett Hurd 153 1/2 vs. Thomas Baldwin 153

Kevin Rivers, Jr. 128 vs. Antonio Sanchez 129

Joshua Davis 133 1/2 vs Benjamin Burgos 131

'Day-Day' Grayton Subject of Post Profile!

Undefeated DC welterweight David "Day-Day" Grayton is the subject of a nice profile by local writer Gautham Nagesh in the Root DC section of the Washington Post.  The article talks about Grayton's boxing roots, including David Grayton III, who was a boxer at one time as well.

Nagesh knows a lot about boxing in the area -- he runs the great StiffJab blog as well.

Here's a link to the article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/dc-boxer-shoots-for-the-stars-amid-worries-from-his-family/2013/03/01/d86676ac-8273-11e2-8074-b26a871b165a_blog.html