Gervonta "Tank" Davis Carries Power Up To Capture 140 lb WBA Title!

Gervonta "Tank" Davis remains undefeated and now is a three-division champion by defeating Mario Barrios by 11th round TKO to capture the WBA junior welterweight title. Davis' record now stands at 25-0, 24 KO's. 

Barrios led for much of the early and middle rounds by using his jab, but the eighth round changed things. Davis dropped Barrios with a right hook to score his first knockdown, then got another a few seconds later. Barrios managed to finish the round, but Davis was the aggressor from there. 

Davis knocked down Barrios again midway through the 11th round, this time landing a body punch that left his opponent doubled over and on his knees. Barrios again stayed in the fight, but not for long. Davis found his distance once again and landed another hard shot that send Barrios off balance causing the referee to wave the fight off. Barrios suffers his first defeat and falls to 26-1, 17 KO's.

Gervonta Davis vs. Mario Barrios Workout Photos & Quotes

Baltimore, MD's Gervonta “Tank” Davis 24-0, (23 KO's) and undefeated WBA Super Lightweight Champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios 26-0, (17 KO's) took part in a media workout to kick off fight week at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, GA on Wednesday ahead of this Saturday’s SHOWTIME PPV event.

GERVONTA DAVIS:

“I’m excited to be in this position to be able to give the fans what they want to see, which is an exciting fight. Atlanta showed me love the last time I came, so why not come back?"

“This is one of my toughest fights on paper. I’ll be ready, and hopefully, he’ll be ready, and we’ll give the fans what they want to see."

“Las Vegas is definitely a boxing town. My team is there at Mayweather Promotions, and I brought my personal team out there as well. We’re all a family. We train together, get along, and help each other."

“There is no pressure on me, and I am just going out there to do my job. It’s just another day at the job for me. Hopefully, he’s ready because I’m definitely ready, and we can give the fans what they want to see, which is a knockout."

“Barrios is a young champion. I’m going up two weight classes to face him. If they don’t give me the respect after this, I don’t know what I have to do. It’s pretty cool. This is actually the first time I’m fighting at this weight class. Whatever opportunities they give me at 135, or 140, I’ll take them.”

MARIO BARRIOS:

“This is all brand new, but I’m taking it all in and excited to be in Atlanta. I’m just excited to go out there on Saturday and give everybody a great fight."

“No doubt about it, Tank is by far the toughest test for another title defense, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to be successful on Saturday. There’s going to be fireworks on Saturday."

“This is a huge opportunity, and I’m very excited for this chance. This is a very winnable fight for me, regardless of what everyone has been saying. I’m just excited to be back in the ring and in Atlanta."

“I think it’s not going to be until we both get in the ring that people realize how much size I really have for 140 pounds. Somehow, he’s still the favorite, although he’s the challenger in this fight. I just take that as more motivation for me."

“Height-wise, reach. Those are the major advantages. I’m just as dangerous as he is. And just as explosive and just as fast. And I will show that on fight night."

“When they came to me, I said let’s do it, but I was like, ‘I’m not going down to 135,’ and they said, ‘Nah, he’s going to come up.’ And I said, ‘Even better.’"

“I’ve seen him fight plenty of times. He’s a great fighter, and he’s been very successful at the lower weight divisions against the smaller opponents. But this is a different fight for him."

“I didn’t take too much from the Leo Santa Cruz fight. I felt [Gervonta] fought him the way he did because he didn’t respect Santa Cruz’s power. But with our fight, he’s going to have no choice, and he’s not going to fight me the way he fought Santa Cruz. Whatever he does fight night, I’m going to have to adapt."

“I’ve been boxing just as long as he has, and I have an excellent boxing IQ, just as he has. It only takes one punch to change a fight, and he definitely has that one punch. But I’ll find out if that power carries over to 140 pounds.”

Local Female Amateur Boxer Successful In Atlanta Classic Tournament!

On June 4 - 6, 2021 the 3rd Annual Atlanta Classic, Females Only Amateur Boxing Tournament took place in Atlanta, GA at the Marriott Century Center. The tournament was hosted by Sweet Science Boxing Club. Up to 100 female athletes had the opportunity to compete exclusively in this USA boxing sanctioned tournament. The youngest female athlete to compete was 10 years in age and the most mature was 62. 

Clinton, MD's Raziyah Brown started boxing at the age of 14. After spending two years in the gym training, Brown, now 16 started competing in March of 2021. Her record of 0-2 didn't tell the true story of how hard she worked in the gym. For the next two months Raziyah's coaches, Daryl Brown and Wynton "Dog" Johnson continued to train her harder and work on the things she needed to improve on.

The two months of extra gym time paid off. Raziyah went to Atlanta, GA to enter the Atlanta Class Tournament in June. She captured the 132 lb. weight class championship title to give herself a new start to her amateur boxing career. Raziyah Brown is now 2-2 with her first championship title. 

Q&A with Raziyah Brown 

PAFT: What made you choose boxing? 

RB: I had just stopped cheering a year before and I was looking for a sport to do and I was starting to look into boxing and became really interested. The gym Sugar Ray Leonard wasn't to far from where I lived and I signed up not to long after. 

PAFT: Were you discouraged after working hard for two years and losing your first two fights? 

RB: After my two losses I wasn't discouraged. I just knew I needed to take a different approach with my training so when I got back into the gym I started training harder and doing things differently. 

PAFT: How did you feel entering the Atlanta Classic Tournament? 

RB: Going into the Atlanta Classic I felt good, I felt as though I was prepared and had established a nice game-plan for the fight(s) and I knew I just had to do what we practiced and what I knew. 

PAFT: How motivated are you now after winning the tournament and what's next for you? 

RB: From winning my next tournament I feel very motivated knowing that I won and can win and my training is working. Next I have a tournament in Texas the beginning of July and I feel very confident going into it. 

PAFT: How did you get the opportunity to do a photoshoot with the boxing appeal company TITLE? 

RB: TITLE was coming into town for the photoshoot. They wanted a female boxer due to my coach Daryl Brown I was able to do the photo shoot. It was a such a nice experience and I actually have a photo on titles website and a couple on their Instagram page.

2021 Washington, D.C. Golden Gloves Regional Championships

The purpose of this letter is to make you aware of the recent developments pertaining to the Washington, D.C. Golden Gloves Regional Tournament. 

Due to constraints and various issues related to the pandemic, it was determined that the best move forward is to hold our Regional Tournament in the Fall/October (dates TBA). 

While every effort was made to organize this Tournament under very challenging circumstances, we regret having to make this decision. 

We wish boxers, coaches and officials good luck. Stay safe and stay strong! 

 Thank you, 

 Washington, D.C. Golden Gloves

Hard Work Pays Off For The Debuting Washington, D.C. Born Fighter, Jalil Hackett!

Jalil Hackett of Washington, DC scored a first-round knockout of his opponent Angelo Diaz only 61 seconds of their scheduled four round welterweight fight. He landed a left jab followed by a hard straight right hand to send Diaz to the canvas to end the fight. Hackett made his professional debut on the Mayweather vs. Logan Paul undercard that took place Sunday night, June 6. 

Jalil Hackett:

"It’s great, I’ve been working hard for this since I was 8 years old. So for the hard work to pay off, is good.”

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience fighting on the same card as Floyd Mayweather," Hackett said. "To fight on his card and to win, how I won is just great."

"I come home tomorrow, I'm right back in the gym Tuesday, I'm still working and I'll stay ready so I don't have to get ready," he said. 

Luis Arias Gives "Swift" Jarrett Hurd His Second Defeat!

On Sunday night, June 6, Jarrett Hurd lost by split decision in a 10-round middleweight contest to Luis Arias on the Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul undercard at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.

Arias landed hard right hands throughout the early rounds of their bout to establish a lead on the judges scorecards. Hurd spent a lot of time trying to do some inside work where he land a few of his famous uppercut that normally would end fights for him. That strategy worked in favor for Arias because most of Hurd's shot were smothered and not as effective. When Hurd kept his distance he was able to land some good jabs that backed up Arias. Unfortunately for Arias a slip was scored as a knockdown for Hurd midway through the bout. As the tenth round drew near Hurd and Arias had some good exchanges. Both fighters battled until the final bell sounded. 

Judge John Rupert scored their fight 95-93 for Hurd, but he was overruled by judges Mark Streisand (97-93) and Toby Tamarkin (96-93) giving Arias the split decision win.

Hurd suffers the second defeat of his career and now is 24-2, (16 KO's) while Arias improves to 19-2-1, (9 KO's). 

Beltway Boxers Get Two Out Of Four Wins In Philly!

It was an up and down night for local Beltway area fighters that participated on a Kings Promotions day-night doubleheader at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on Saturday, June 5.

(Photos by Daniel Cork)

In the main event of the second Kings Promotions card Hagerstown, MD's Genc Pllana stopped Brandon Robinson of Upper Darby, PA by KO at 33 seconds of the eighth round.

Pllana is know for his awkward boxing style and Saturday night he made it work to his advantage by using his jab finally get the distance he needed to land a hard right hand in the corner that put Robinson down to end the fight.

Pllana improves his record to 9-3-1, (5 KO's) and Robinson is now 15-3, (10KO's).

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Frederick, Md's Devar Ferhadi won by eight-round unanimous decision over Blake Mansfield of Burlington, NC in another super middleweight contest that took place Saturday night on that Kings Promotions action packed card. 

(Report from photographer Daniel Cork), Devar impressive throughout. Mansfield got in several tough exchanges but Devar rolled with them very well. Judges scored the the bout 80-72 and 79-73 twice for Ferhardi. 

Devar Ferhardi keeps a undefeated record of 9-0, (7 KO's) while Mansfield falls to 7-4-1, 4 KO's).

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Bowie, MD's Greg Outlaw suffers his first defeat to Andrew Rodgers of Elkhart, IN. (Report from photographer Daniel Cork), Outlaw was really sharp early on but faded in the middle rounds. Outlaw was knocked down in round 5. Rodgers won by unanimous decision with scores of 57-56 and 58-55 twice.

Outlaw now has a record of 8-1, (3 KO's) while Rodgers adds a win to his record of 5-9-2, (2 KO's).

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Edgar Torres of Woodbridge, VA gets stopped at 46 seconds into round one of a scheduled six-round welterweight bout by Kashan Hutchinson of Reading, PA. Hutchinson landed a number of head shots and then added more power to send Torres into the ropes that caused the fight to be stopped. Hutchinson is now 8-5, (2 KO's) while Torres has a disappointing return and falls to 8-8-1, (4 KO's).

Edgar Torres, not much to add beyond that which I posted. Hutchinson came on strong from the start and troubled Edgar early, getting the stoppage at 0:46 of 1 on what would’ve been the first knockdown, Torres held up by the ropes