Dusty Harrison to Fight Four-Rounder After All, Not Six

Russ Young of Prize Fight promotions confirmed today that 1-0 DC welterweight prospect Dusty Harrison will be facing a 1-3 opponent in a four-round bout in July. Thus he will not face 5-4 Rohan Wilson in a six-round bout as previously reported.

It's good see that more reasonable heads prevailed in this case.

A Night In Baltimore: United Boxers Debuts with Baltimore Fighters Scoring Wins

The newly formed United Boxers promotional venture headed by veteran matchmaker Chris Middendorf held its inaugural event at the Maryland Sportsplex in Millersville, MD last Friday. The card featured a host of local talent led by undefeated welterweight prospects James Stevenson and Emmanuel Taylor, as well as fan favorites Jessie Nicklow and Russ Shiflett.

It was a night for the new promoters to evaluate where the local fighters stood in their progression as pros, and as expected, there were few surprises in the results.

Stevenson, 14-0-0 (10), easily out pointed Puerto Rican Jose Angel Roman of Florida by scores of 60-54 (twice) and 59-55. While Stevenson was clearly the more talented fighter, Roman provided a good test in Stevenson’s return after a yearlong layoff. Stevenson’s speed was too much for Roman to overcome and the Baltimore native scored with more and better punches throughout the fight. Roman, 11-30-5 (5), however stayed busy and appeared to be truly enjoying himself in the ring, and gave Stevenson some good work in his return.

Stevenson is tentatively scheduled to fight again in June in Atlantic City against an opponent TBA. He possesses solid boxing skills and remains one to watch, however increasing his power is a must if he is to compete at the higher levels.

Taylor, of nearby Edgewood, Maryland needed only two rounds to dispatch 5-8-3 (1) of Guadalupe Diaz as the bout was halted after the second round citing a cut over Diaz’ right eye. Diaz, who in this reporter’s opinion has no business being in a professional boxing ring, especially against a talented prospect such as Taylor, was completely outmatched from the opening bell. After being dropped by Taylor in round one, Diaz merely survived before referee Gary Camponeschi rightfully called a halt to the action as Diaz returned to his corner following the second stanza.

Local favorite cruiserweight Russ Shiflett earned a shutout six round victory over Florida’s Willie Chisolm, 6-10-0 (3). While Chisolm occasionally touched up Shiflett, but boxing fan Mike Katac observed that, “Chisolm seemed to be fighting with a sparring partner’s mentality.” Shiflett now 11-0-1 (5), won both the inside and outside battles, while Chisolm was unable to sustain any solid offense against the stronger Baltimore fighter.

Middleweight Jesse Nicklow easily pummeled Missouri’s Steve Walker earning a first round knockout at exactly the two-minute mark. The only thing surprising about the bout is that was approved in the first place. Walker, age 34, had suffered 22 knockouts entering the ring, and seven in the past two years. Maryland Commissioner Pat Panella has a good reputation for not allowing these types of mismatches to take place, yet from the opening bell it was all Nicklow. Walker tried to fight, and was throwing punches to no avail as Nicklow easily overpowered Walker and handing him his 23^rd knockout defeat.

The fight of the evening belonged to Tevin Farmer of Philadelphia and Angelo Ward of Baltimore, each in their second professional fight. Ward was returning after a two-year absence following his debut win, and Farmer was returning to the Baltimore area after suffering a debut loss there in February.

The southpaw Farmer was quicker on draw throughout the four rounds and in the third round exploited a flaw in Ward’s defense to score the fight’s only knockdown. Ward slightly dropped his right almost every time he threw his left jab; Farmer noticed this and timed a straight left just right to send Ward to the canvas. Although the rounds were all close, all three judges scored the contest 40-35 for Farmer who calls himself ‘Sugar Ray.’

This prompted the comment of the night from ring announcer Henry ‘Discombobulating’ Jones after the fight, “I’m not ready to call you Sugar Ray, but you got my attention.”

The card was rounded out with wins by cruiserweight Nick Kisner and middleweight Misha Christensen, and a draw between Jarell Mason-Jackson and Michael Rayner.

Kisner of Baltimore spent more time clowning around than really being serious as a fighter in a lopsided win over Montana’s Leo Bercier. Bercier drops to 8-15-1 (4) and has lost seven in a row. At this point he looks like a shot opponent just collecting a check, but not doing much to earn it.

Christensen from nearby Frederick, MD pounded out a shutout four-round decision over West Virginia’s woefully unprepared Stephen Franklin, 1-3-0 (1).

In the night’s opener, light-heavyweights Jackson and Rayner both tired early in the bout but gave a good show as they battled to a four round majority draw. Jackson, coming off a 2 ½ year layoff was unable to use his height advantage, as Rayner succeeded in getting inside to do damage. Jackson won the first and final round, while Rayner scored in the middle rounds.

Full Bout Sheet for Friday In Millersville, MD (with comment)

The full bout sheet for Friday night’s boxing card at the Maryland Sportsplex in Millersville by United Boxers was released today on Gary Williams' Boxing Along The Beltway website.

Given the opposition, don’t expect the upset bug to affect any local fighters on the card. The only bout I see the local guy having a real tussle is Kisner vs. Bercier.

Welterweight: James Stevenson 13-0-0 (10) vs. Jose Angel Roman 11-30-5 (5)

Stevenson should have no problem staying undefeated as Roman’s record since 2006 is a paltry 2-17-3. It is nice to see James back after more than a year layoff.

Welterweight: Emmanuel Taylor 10-0-0 (8) vs. Guadalupe Diaz 5-8-3 (1)

Unlikely to be much of a contest as Diaz comes in a loser of four straight, and has just one win in his last 10 outings.

Cruiserweight: Russ Shiflett 10-0-1 vs. Willie Chisholm 6-10-0 (3)

Chisholm carries an eight bout losing streak into the ring, and Shiflett should push him all over the place before scoring an early TKO.. How bad is Chisholm? He serves as an opponent on the Southern US boxing circuit.

Light Heavyweight: Dale Robeson-El 6-0-0 (4) vs. Tim Franklin 1-1-0 (1)

Franklin has fought twice in Hannibal, Missouri and both have been first round KOs, one for, one by. Good rule of thumb in boxing: If you have suffered a first round knockout in Hannibal, Missouri, don’t quit you’re day job. Robeson-El by easy early knockout.

Cruiserweight: Nick Kisner 7-0-0 (5) vs. Leo Bercier 8-15-1 (4)

This is the best opposition Kisner has faced by light years. Bercier scored a victory over Johnstown, PA project Andres Taylor, and is not an easy out. Bercier is winless, 0-6, since his June 2009 upset of Taylor, and the question is how much have those losses taken out of the Montana native. This looks on paper to be the most competitive contest of the evening.

Middleweight: Jessie Nicklow 20-2-3 (7) vs. Steve Walker 25-26-0 (17)

It’s hard to justify Walker being allowed to fight much longer; he has suffered 22 knockouts in his career and 12 since 2006. Despite Nicklow’s low KO ratio, this should end with Walker’s 23rd knockout loss, and hopefully a state commission will intervene to make it his last.

Light Middleweight: Mischa Christensen 2-1-0 (1) vs. Stephen Franklin 0-3-0

Christensen likely breezes to unanimous decision.

Super Featherweight: Angelo Ward 1-0-0 (0) vs. Tevin Farmer 0-1-0

Baltimore (Ward) vs, Philly (Farmer)…that’s about all I know about these guys.

Cruiserweight: Jarell Jackson 8-5-1 (4) vs. Michael Raymer 6-16-0 (5)

Jackson returns after 2 ½ year layoff, Raymer comes in losing six straight. Jackson shakes off the ring rust to win four round decision.

Danny Garcia, Nate Campbell, Sadam Ali and Friday's Upsets in Regional Report

This week the Maxboxing.com Eastern Regional Report takes a look at the upsets from last Friday's ShoBox telecast, as well as the Danny Garcia-Nate Campbell fight and Sadam Ali's third round knockout over Javier Perez.

Sadam Ali is a prospect worth watching, he's smart, talented and is the type of person that can attract a slew of fans to boxing. However the powers that be in boxing continue to have their greedy heads up their asses and fail to take the sport to the masses and bring the casual fan back to the sport.

Nate Campbell looked much better against Danny Garcia than he did last year vs. Victor Ortiz. Talking with Nate on Monday I can honestly he also sounds better than he has in a year.

After wins against Jeremy Bryan and now Willie Nelson, I think it's time to start keeping an eye on Vincent Arroyo welterweight.

Sometime on Wednesday I should have the full bout sheet for the card at the Maryland Sportsplex in Millersville.

Upset Watch on Broadway

Tonight's Boxing on Broadway show at BB Kings Blues Club features one bout that presents the real possibility of an upset. Undefeated Willie Monroe Jr., 10-0-0 (4) faces 17-17-3 (7) Darnell Boone, listed from Atlanta, GA, Boone has been back in his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio working with trainer Jack Loew. Loew tells Maxboxing that Boone is in better shape than he is for most fights, and believes his fighter can score the upset tonight.

Keep in mind that Boone has fought many top middle and super-middleweights, and scored a knockdown against Andre Ward in 2005, and scored the upset over then undefeated Adonis Stevenson last year.

The Boxing on Broadway shows by Lou DiBella are no stranger to upsets as their February show had two upsets of prospects.

Vernon Paris outpoints Augustus

Detroit's Vernon Paris scored a unanimous decision over veteran Emanuel Augustus by scores of 76-73, 77-72 (twice.

Stiverne KOs Manswell in Second

Bernane Stiverne used a left-right combo to put Kerston Manswell on his back midway through the second, then battered a hurt Manswell until the ref stopped the action at 1:52 of round 2.

Oliveira remains undefeated in snoozer

Marcus Oliveira outpointed Demetrius Jenkins in a very lackluster six-round affair.
Scores were: 60-54

Kendall Holt stops Arroyo in First

Kendall Holt landed a devastating left hook to the chin of Lenin Arroyo ending their contest early in round one

Conyers Defeats De La Rosa by Unanimous Decision

Allen Conyers handed James De La Rosa his first loss as a pro by the score of 95-92 on all three scorecards.