(Photos by Mike Greenhill)
Tori Nelson of Ashburn, VA wins the ninth championship title bout of her career. Nelson earned a unanimous decision over Kita "Ready-Made" Watkins of Fort Worth, TX to capture the vacant Universal Boxing Federation Middleweight title.
This bout between Nelson and Watkins was a contest of familiar faces. These two women met once before on March 20th at the same location, Martin's West in Woodlawn, MD. In the first bout Nelson had no problem finding a home for her right hand. Watkins was not able to avoid it and also wasn't able to establish any kind of offence of her own. Nelson scored 100-89 on all three judges scorecards to get the unanimous decision win.
The rematch was a little different. Watkins looked a little more prepared this time. She had better side to side head movement. She also moved around the ring much more this time than in the previous bout.These changes made it harder for Nelson to find her distance to land the right hand. It might have taken a little longer, but Nelson made the adjustments she needed to. Midway through the bout Nelson's right hand found it's home.
Watkins tried to bait Nelson in with some backwards movement so she could land a shot of her own. That backfired when Nelson noticed what Watkins game plan was, and she adjusted by throwing a left jab which was followed by a looping right hand to the head of Watkins.
That right hand sent Watkins to the canvas for the eight count. With that knockdown Nelson was able to take control of the rest of the bout. Judge John Gradowski saw the bout 98-91 and David Greer scored it 99-90 while judge Brent Bovell scored every round for Nelson at 100-89.
Nelson keeps her undefeated record 15-0-3, (1 KO) while Watkins falls to 7-13, (1 KO).
"The Bolivian Queen" Jennifer Salinas of Manassas, VA. faced Jasmine "Ms. Redd" Clarkson of Cedar Hill, TX. in the co-feature on the card.
The southpaw Clarkson was facing the task of being in her first eight round contest. She held her own in the first few rounds, but it was the experience of "The Bolivian Queen" that took control of the bout. Salinas started the bout throwing multiple shots upstairs without very much success. Salinas adjusted to the southpaw style of Clarkson by landing shots to the body to allow a opportunity to land punches to the head. It was the bodywork of Salinas that was breaking Clarkson down. Salinas put on more pressure as the rounds continued and was landing more shots frequently.
Judge Kenny Chevalier scored the bout 79-73 while judges David Greer and John Gradowski scored it 78-74 giving Salinas the eight-round unanimous decision.
"The Bolivian Queen" Jennifer Salinas is now 17-3, (4 KO's) while Clarkson falls to 2-3.
Eric "El Torito" Hernandez of Leesburg, VA opened up his lightweight professional career against Mason Wickett of Milwaukee, WI in a four round contest.
This bout was a great test for Hernandez. Wickett is a fighter that has only been stopped three times out of his nine fights coming into this contest. Both Hernandez and Wickett started round one with even exchanges, but Hernandez ended the round strong. Hernandez picked up his pace by landing numerous combinations throughout each round after the first. Hernandez had Wickett up against the ropes landing hard body shots along with perfect uppercuts. These shots seemed to hurt Wickett, but he would not fall. It was a total dominating performance put on by Hernandez. He wins the contest by unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the bout 40-36.
Hernandez starts his career off at 1-0 while Mason Wickett falls to 0-10.
The opening portion of the card started with five good match-ups that ended with five knockouts!
In bout one it was Baltimore, MD welterweight Kevin "The Scarecrow" Womack, Jr. in a scheduled four round contest against James "Trouble" Gooding of Tampa, FL. Womack looks to change directions in 2015. May 8th he knocked out (5-1) Nathaniel Rivas at the 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, PA. Then he takes a fight on a few days notice to fight 14-1 Jesse Cook on May 30th and get a draw at the Buffalo Run Casino, Miami, Oklahoma. Womack comes back to his hometown less than a month later to get a 2:29 second round knockout over James Gooding. Womack improve to 6-5-3, (4 KO's) while Gooding drops to 1-8-1, (1 KO's).
In bout two another Baltimore Boxer added his name to the list of possible Knockout Of The Year.
Baltimore's Devin Butcher over powers Walter McCray of Lynchburg, VA with a hard right hand, mouthpiece flying 55 second first round knockout. Butcher is now 4-0, (2 KO's) while McCray is 0-2.
The third bout of the night consisted of two out of town fighters. It was the undefeated Ivan Baranchyk of Brooklyn, NY taking on Angel Figueroa of Lorain, Ohio. It only took two punches and three seconds for this fight to be over by knockout. Baranchyk throws a right hand followed by a hard left hook and then the bell sounds. Baranchyk remains undefeated at 7-0, (6 KO's) as Figueroa falls to 3-3-1.
Bout four featured Ashburn, VA lightweight Seth "Killer B" Billups taking on Christopher Russell of Amarillo, TX. Billups sent Russell to the canvas late in the first round while showing his patients in the second round to let Russell off the hook. Billups made his adjustments and sent Russell down to the canvas for the second and final time in round three. The bout was stopped at 28 seconds of the third. Billups stays undefeated at 6-0, (5 KO's) while Russell falls to 3-13-1, (2 KO's).
In the firth bout of the night it was the younger brother of middleweight Cecil McCalla. Randallstown, MD middleweight Jeffrey "Gladiator" McCalla stopped Carlos Dixon of Dallas, TX at 2:50 in the first round by TKO. Dixon beat the count after being sent to the canvas by a solid left hand earlier in the first. McCalla kept the pressure on him until referee Kenny Chevalier jumped and put a stop to the contest.
McCalla starts 1-0, (1 KO) while Dixon falls to 1-4-1, (1 KO).
Dominic Wade remains undefeated with a 10 round split decision over the former IBF middleweight world champion Sam Soliman. This contest wasn't an exciting bout, but it was a fight that Wade needed to win no matter what. This win puts Wade in the race for a top ranking and future title shot. It looked to be a hard fight to judge, but the judges figured it out. 
