More Local Amateurs Bringing Home National 2017 Silver Gloves Championships!

Jahmal Harvey-Oxon Hill

Richard Dodson-Untouchables (Keystone)

Marcus Luther-Headbangers

Tyreek Williams -NextUp Boxing 

Benjamin Johnson-NoXcuse 

Dontae White-Upton Boxing

Travis Best-Triple Threat

*Travis is the Silver Gloves Regional champion and he went to Missouri to become the national champion!

Congratulations to all the 2017 National Silver Gloves #Champions. All representing #PVA @pvaboxing Washington, D.C. & Maryland #HardworkPaysOff #untouchablesboxingteam #noxcuseboxing #headbangersboxingteam #oxonhillboxingteam #nextupboxingteam #uptonBoxing

Lamont Peterson Returns To Action For A WBA Title Fight!

Peterson Challenges Avanesyan For WBA Title

The former two-time Junior Welterweight titleholder Lamont Peterson (34-3-1, 17 KO's) will challenge WBA Welterweight champion David Avanesyan (22-1-1, 11 KO's) on February 18 at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.

Peterson:  "I’m extremely excited about getting back in the ring and fighting on Showtime again. I’ve been working hard in the gym, and I’m ready to give my fans the kind of show they deserve."

"I know Avanesyan is coming in with a lot of confidence from that belt, but I believe I’m the better fighter and I’ll prove it on February 18."

Peterson has been inactive after his majority decision victory over Felix Diaz of the Dominican Republic on October 17, 2015. That victory followed Peterson’s majority decision loss to undefeated world champion Danny Garcia, who is scheduled to fight Keith Thurman on March 4.

Peterson has won six of eight fights, including victories over former world champions Amir Khan and Kendall Holt. His only career losses are against Timothy Bradley (2009), Lucas Matthysse (2013), and Danny Garcia (2015).

Avanesyan became an interim WBA Weltereweight world champion in November 2015, when he defeated Charlie Navarro by ninth-round TKO. He defended that crown in May when he won a unanimous decision against five-time world champ Shane Mosley.

A 29-year-old Russian, Avanesyan’s only career loss occurred in his second fight on July 11, 2009 by unanimous decision to Jr Lightweight challenger Andrey Klimov.

Avanesyan:  "It is a great pleasure for me to be defending my world title in the U.S. against a very good opponent in Lamont Peterson. I am the champion, and come February 18, I will remain champion."

"This fight gives me a great opportunity to let the U.S. know what I’m about and put me in a position to fight the top fighters in the division. This will be a difficult defense, but I am ready to show everyone how good I am."

Thomas "Top Dog" Williams Takes On Marcus Browne In 10 Round Light Heavyweight Battle!

Light Heavyweight Clash

On February 18 there will be a 10-round, Light heavyweight match-up between undefeated knockout artist Marcus Browne (18-0, 13 KOs) and former title challenger Thomas Williams Jr. (20-2, 14 KO's).

Browne has been inactive since April 2016, when he won an eight-round split decision over fellow unbeaten Radivoje Kalajdzic. The 26-year-old southpaw from Staten Island, New York, dropped Kalajdzic in the first round before getting knocked down himself in Round 6.

Prior to facing Kalajdzic, Browne had stopped six of seven opponents, including four first-round stoppages. He is currently ranked tenth by the WBC, sixth by the IBF, and eleventh by the WBO.

In Williams, Browne will be facing a fellow southpaw and his most experienced foe to date. Williams, 29-year-old native of Fort Washington, Maryland, is ranked twelve by the WBC and also is coming off a fourth-round knockout loss to Light Heavyweight world champion Adonis Stevenson in July 2016. Three months prior to that in a title eliminator, Williams scored a vicious second-round knockout of ex-title challenger Edwin Rodriguez.

Both Browne and Williams said they asked for this fight, and they’re eager to get in the ring and trade leather.

Browne:  "I’m ready to go to work and fight, and it doesn’t matter if I am the underdog; so be it. Let me be the underdog. I just want to beat this guy up. This is who I wanted to fight. I am fired up about this one, and I can’t wait until February 18."

Williams:  "On February 18, I’m not leaving anything up to the judges. I think Marcus has gotten some gifts in the past, so I’m not leaving this up to anyone but myself."

"I wanted to stay in the mix. I don’t need a tuneup. I’ve been fighting since I was 5 years old. I just need to get in there and fight. I think this is going to be a really good battle."

Vasyl Lomachenko vs Jason Sosa Scheduled For April 8 At The New MGM National Harbor!

Vasyl Lomachenko Expected To Defend Title vs Jason Sosa

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum announced that Junior lightweight world titleholder Vasyl Lomachenko (7-1, 5 KO's) will defend his belt against a tough Jason Sosa (20-1-4, 15 KO's) Live on HBO April 8. The Plan is to have this fight take place at the new MGM Hotel and Casino at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. 

The two-time Olympic gold medalist from Ukraine, Lomachenko is quickly moving up the pound-for-pound rankings and is most likely to be the favorite, but out all the lightweights Sosa has the better chance to defeat Lomachenko. 

Bob Arum said,  "Since signing Lomachenko out of the 2012 Olympics he is technically the best fighter that I have seen since the early Muhammad Ali."

"I don't think anybody beats Lomachenko, but Sosa has a puncher's chance," Arum said. "He's certainly a respectable opponent." 


Also on that card will feature local undefeated super lightweight contender Mike "Yes, Indeed" Reed of Waldorf, MD in his first 10-round contest. Reed is also a Top Rank fighter.

Miguel Cotto / James Kirkland Bout Cancelled Because Of Nose Injury!

Miguel Cotto has been out of action for the entire year of 2016 and was planning to make his come back against James Kirkland in what would have been Cotto’s first fight back since losing the WBC middleweight title to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on November 21, 2015.

In a statement promoter Roc Nation said, 

"Roc Nation Sports received notification from James Kirkland’s team that Kirkland has suffered an injury which will force him to withdraw from his match against five-time world champion Miguel Cotto on Saturday, February 25, 2017. The reported injury is a fractured nose. Unfortunately, the entire HBO Pay-Per-View show at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas is cancelled."

"For customers who purchased through Ticketmaster via phone, online or mobile channels, you will receive a credit to the method of payment used. If you purchased in person at Ford Center or AT&T Stadium ticket office, bring the tickets and method of payment used at time of purchase to the AT&T Stadium North Ticket Office, located adjacent to Entry A, to receive your refund. If you purchased tickets from any other source, you will need to contact that point of purchase for your refund."

Michael Miller, Kirkland's manager, 

"Kirkland suffered a hairline fracture during a sparring session last Friday and finally went to the doctor on Tuesday for X-rays. The doctor told Kirkland he should avoid contact for the next six to eight weeks."

"When it happened he was hoping it wasn't broken, but it bled like crazy," Miller said. "He thought it was just a bloody nose, but when he sparred again on Tuesday and he knew he was hurt and trainer Ann Wolfe said he should go to the doctor and sure enough it was broken."

MGM Hotel and Casino Newest Venue Will Host Boxing Very Soon!

Boxing To Make Debut At MGM National Harbor Casino!


Article by,
Gary "Digital" Williams, Boxing Along The Beltway


We are hearing that boxing will make its debut at the MGM National Harbor Casino in Oxon Hill, MD in the very near future. In fact, one date already seems to be set.

ESPN.com's Dan Rafael is reporting that WBO Super Featherweight champion Vasyl "Hi-Tech" Lomachenko and WBA Super Featherweight titleholder Jason "El Canito" Sosa will meet in a unification bout on Saturday, April 8 at the new facility.  This will be a Top Rank promoted card that will also feature local undefeated super lightweight contender Mike "Yes, Indeed" Reed of Waldorf, MD in his first 10-round contest.  Reed is currently ranked sixth in the world by the WBO.



However, that may not be the first boxing date at the new casino. There are some reports that the March 11th title defense for WBC Featherweight champion "Mr." Gary Russell, Jr. against interim champ Oscar Escandon will also take place at the MGM National Harbor Casino.  Recently, the WBC said that the bout would take place on the February 18th card in Cincinnati, OH.  However, representatives for Russell are adamant in saying that the bout will take place at the MGM.  We will keep you posted.

boxingalongthebeltway.blogspot.com

Leo Santa Cruz Recaptured His Title Against Carl Frampton!

Leo Santa Cruz said it was a big relief to take the inspired stand he made Saturday night.

The Los Angeles boxer avenged his only loss. Against the gritty champion Carl Frampton, his lone defeat recapturing the featherweight belt he lost six months earlier.

Santa Cruz stayed loyal to his game plan by continuing to box and fighting against his own urge to brawl. He used his jab to get the majority decision.

Lamont Roach Jr. Gets The First Of His Future Titles To Come!

Lamont Roach Jr. On His Way To A Great Start In 2017! 

Undefeated Upper Marlboro, MD super featherweight Lamont Roach, Jr. wins the biggest bout of his young career when he defeated Alejandro Valdez of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico by 1st round KO for the vacant WBC Youth Super Featherweight championship.


#ProAmFightTalk #boxing 

Mikey Garcia Proves That The Layoff Didn't Matter!

Mikey Garcia looked like he never lost a step with that long layoff he had. After getting back into the swing of things in 2016 Garcia opened 2017 fighting for a world title.  

Garcia ended his championship bout against Dejan Zlaticanin with spectacular third-round KO to win the  #WBC Lightweight Title.