2009 DC Area Silver Gloves Unopposed Champions and Day 1 Bout Sheet

Unopposed Champions

8 & 9-year old divisions
50 lb Kali Edwards (Kenilworth Courts)
65 lb Kyron Curry (Kenilworth Courts)
75 lb Jaharee Mack (Old School)
85 lb Lorenzo Simpson (Upton)
85 lb female Zoria Curry (Umar)
90 lb Umar Ali (Old School)

10 & 11-year old division
90 lb Gregory Ross, Jr. (NoXcuse)
95 lb Keegan Grove (Old School)
105 lb Kashif Brown (Sugar Ray Leonard)
150 lb Dominic McKnight (Upton)

12 & 13-year-old division
70 lb Devonte Jefferson (Headbangers)
80 lb Zimmie Dickinson (Dream Team)
90 lb Gary Russell (Keystone)
95 lb Ronnell Jackson (NoXcuse)
106 lb James Tyler (Old School)
112 lb Tommy Avelar (Sugar Ray Leonard)
125 lb James Scott (Charm City)
201+ lb Calvin Countess (Charm City)
201+ lb female Deja Johnson (Books & Boxing)

14 & 15-year-old division
90 lb Brady Sensibaugh
125 lb Lamont Roach (NoXcuse)
132 lb female Talanee Tillery (Keystone)
147 lb Kyrone Davis (WHACC Warriors)
156 lb Da' Quan Johnson
178 lb Joey McConnell (Old School)

Bout Sheet for Dec. 5th.

8 & 9-year old division
55lbs. De'Jon Corley (Kenilworth Courts) vs. Mekeel Lowery (Kenilworth Courts)
60lbs. Sean Veazey (Baltimore Boxing) vs. Jarmani Scott (Charm City)
60lbs. Joshua Donzell Hill (D-Block) vs. Salvador Bravo Escamilla (Langdon Rec)
70lbs. Mike Cabellero (Dream Team) vs. George Jones (Dunlap Boxing)

10 & 11-year old division
60lbs. Byron Hill (D-Block) vs. Djabril Burton (Books & Boxing)
70lbs. Chris Normile (Young Titans) vs. Gregory Burton (Langdon Rec.)
75lbs. Jabar Henson (Headbangers) vs. Ameer Brown (Sugar Ray Leonard)
85lbs. Joseph Veazey (Baltimore Boxing) vs. Denardo Johnson (NoXcuse)

12 & 13-year old division
75lbs. Keeshawn Williams (Headbangers) vs. Demetrius Young (Sugar Ray Leonard)
75lbs. Francois Scarboro (Sugar Ray Leonard) vs. Jordan White (LB 4 LB)

14 & 15-year old division

106lbs. Jalonte Cole (NoXcuse) vs. Marquell Tyler (Headbangers)
112lbs. Jonathan Parker (Tony's Boxing Gym) vs. Patrick Harris (Headbangers)
112lbs. Christopher Forbes (Sugar Ray Leonard) vs. Zachary E (Umar)
119lbs. Gervonta Davis (Upton) vs. Jarell Harris (Langdon Rec)
119lbs Devonta Tolbert (Tony's Boxing Gym) vs. Roemello Webster (Headbangers)
132lbs. Rashard Board (Keystone) vs. Paul Johnson (Books & Boxing)
132lbs. Eric Hernandez (Old School) vs. Parris Chisholm (Headbangers)

Greatest Amateur Boxing Tournament in Washington DC History?

Ok, now that I've gotten your attention, the subject line is saying a lot, I know. However, back in 2001 and 2002, two tournaments were held in Washington, D.C. that produced some of the most exciting amateur boxing that I've ever seen in a night (or two in this case). I wasn't there, but to quote from one of my all-time favorite movies "I've seen the tape!". Organized by DC-based clothing company, H.O.B.O., the DC Platinum Gloves attracted the top amateurs from all of the country--many of which would come into the national spotlight over the next few years at the Olympics and on HBO, Showtime and ESPN. Many of the boxers featured in this playlist have carried the talent they showcased at the Platinum Gloves into their professional careers. Here are just some of amateur titles in the resumes of the featured boxers along with their age and weight division from the Platinum Gloves. My favorite bouts are the two 2008 US Olympic team members, Russell and Ali facing off and Dominic Wade's rematch of his Natl Silver Gloves Championship with Dante Moore of New Jersey. There were more than two dozen bouts, so this is just a partial list.

2001 Platinum Gloves

• 12/13-year-old 80lbs. Gary Russell Jr. (DC) - 2008 Olympian, Natl. Golden Gloves, Natl. Jr. Olympics , US Nationals, 2005 World Champion bronze medalist
• 12/13-year-old 80lbs. Sadaam Ali (Brooklyn, NY) - 2008 Olympian, Natl. Golden Gloves, Natl. PAL, Natl. Jr. Olympics
• 13/14-year-old 132lbs. Keon Davis - 2001 Natl. Silver Gloves, Natl. PAL, Natl. Jr. Golden Gloves
• 15/16-year-old 112lbs. Jonathan Brown (Norfolk, VA) - 2001 Natl.Junior Olympics, Pan-Am Jr. Cadet bronze medalist
• 13/14-year-old 132lbs. Alan Lawrence (Newark, NJ) - Natl. Silver Gloves and 2-time Under 19 Nationals
• 13/14-year-old 132lbs. Harold Parker (DC) - 3-time Natl. Silver Gloves
• 14/15-year-old 95lbs. Mark Davis (Cleveland, OH) - 2-time Jr. Olympics
• 14/15-year-old95lbs. Teon Kennedy (Philadelphia, PA ) - Natl. Golden Gloves
• 14/15-year-old90lbs. Dominique Lee (DC) - Natl. PAL, Natl. Jr. Golden Gloves, National Silver Gloves and Natl. Jr. Olympics
• 12/13-year-old 106lbs. Bear Richardson (Philadelphia, PA) Natl. Jr. Olympics
• 11/12-year-old 95lbs. Dominic Wade (DC) - 4-time Natl. Silver Gloves and 4-time Jr. Olympics
• 178lbs. Curtis Stevens (Brooklyn, NY) - 4-time Natl. Silver Gloves, 2-time Natl. PAL
• 132lbs. Anthony Peterson (DC) - 2-time Natl. Silver Gloves, Natl. Junior Olympics, Natl. PAL Champion, Natl. Golden Gloves

Pro records from just some the boxers featured in the playlist is 127-7 (81 KOs).

Curtis Stevens: 21-3 (15 KOs)
Anthony Peterson: 30-0 (20 KOs)

Kevin Cagle: 16-2 (12 KOs)
Mark Davis: 13-1 (8 KOs)
Teon Kennedy: 15-0 (6 KOs)
Dominic Wade: 8-0 (6 KOs)

Gary Russell Jr: 11-0 (8KOs)

Hajro Sujak: 5-1 (2 KOs)

Sadaam Ali: 8-0 (4 KOs)

One To Watch #4 Ray Ximenez

Our next featured boxer in One To Watch comes from the Lone Star state and home of the team I love to hate, those Dallas Cowboys (had to do it, it’s Redskins-Dallas Week). However, I do love to watch this boxer in action. I’ve only been able to see 16-year-old Ray Ximenez live just recently, but I have started to make sure that I add his bouts to my collection. He has a promising future in front of him. I first saw Ray two years ago as a 14-year-old sparring future 2008 Olympian and fellow Texan Luis Yanez and I didn't forget the name. You can do the math on their ages, but like I said, I didn't forget the name. Ray is now the 2007 National Silver Gloves Champion, 2007 National PAL Champion, 2009 National PAL Champion, 2009 National Silver Gloves Champion, 2009 National JO Champion and most recently lost a rubber match to 2009 National PAL Champion to the inaugural One To Watch featured boxer Tramaine Williams.

Ray is a monster in the ring with a very methodical and deliberate boxing style—workmanlike. Boxing out of the Dallas PAL under the watchful eye of Ray Ximenez Sr., Ray has been in the ring with great boxers and received much needed international experience in this past May at the AIBA World Junior Championship in Yerevan, Armenia. He faced the best 21 Junior boxers in the World. Ximenez won 2 bouts before losing in the semifinals—but gained invaluable international experience, which is a must for Olympic hopefuls. My collection isn’t that big on Ray, but I’m sure I’ll see plenty of him over the next few years as he gets gets closer to earning a spot on the 2012 US Olympic Team and the XXX Olympiad.

One To Watch #3 - Kevin Rivers

The DMV’s (DC/Maryland/Virginia area, for those outside the area) own Kevin Rivers, who trains out of the Headbangers gym in Southeast DC, is featured today in the third installment of One To Watch. Kevin may have just started to come into his own on the national and international scene, but in the DC area we’ve known about him for years. He has won the Ringside World Championship, National PAL Tournament and Jr. Golden Gloves—being named Outstanding Boxer of the tournament.

Kevin has competed and won in virtually every major amateur boxing tournament there is: National Silver Gloves, National Golden Gloves, US Future Stars, Under 19 National Championships, AIBA Youth World Championship, World Championships, US Nationals and even most recently competing in Italy against the Italian National Team, where he boxed to a draw.

Currently, Kevin is the #1 125lbs boxer in the United States after winning the US National Championships in Denver, Colorado this past June. With his hopes set on the 2012 Olympics, you will hear this name a lot of the next few years on the amateur boxing scene. Enjoy these 15 bouts going back to 2001 when Kevin was 11 years old.

One To Watch #2 - Zeddie Adams

In this installment of One To Watch, we feature Zeddie Adams from Cleveland, Ohio. Training out of the Salvation Army Boxing Academy (S.A.B.A.), the same gym that produced 2009 US Olympian Raynell Williams, the 17-year-old Adams has a long list of accomplishments since entering the sport in 2001. He won the National Silver Gloves Tournament in 2006 and 2008 as well as the 2006 Junior Golden Gloves. In 2007 and 2008 Adams was the #1 ranked 138lbs. JO boxer in the United States (15 and 16-year-olds) after winning consecutive National Junior Olympic titles. In 2007 as part of the US Team he traveled to Baku, Azerbaijan and lost a close decision, but gained his first international experience.

2009 marked Adams entry into the Open Class Division (ages 17 – 34 years old) as he advanced through local and regional brackets all the way to the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions . There, Adams advanced to the quarterfinals before losing. Adams also advanced through three rounds at the 2009 US Nationals before losing in the fourth round to Jose Benavidez, who was one month removed from winning the 2009 National Golden Gloves Championship. Not bad company at all. Below are some of the bouts that I’ve recorded and collected featuring this 2012 Olympic hopeful. Be sure to check out the bouts vs. Strayhorn and NYC’s Golden Glove Champion Pedro Sosa in the playlist.

One To Watch #1 Tramaine "Midget" Williams

This is the first of a series that I plan on doing regularly on this blog site and my first attempt at editorial content, but that’s what blogs are for, right? In the first installment of One To Watch, I have some videos featuring New Haven, Connecticut’s own Tramaine “Midget” Williams, the 16-year-old recently-crowned 2009 National PAL 114lbs. division champion. He boxes out of Ring One Boxing under Brian Clark.

I think I first met Midget at the Ringside World Championships about 5 years ago. He was pointed out to me by my son’s boxing coach, who talked him up as one of the best around. It was only seconds into his first bout that I understood what the buzz was about. A slick and graceful boxer at such a young age is great to watch and after that first tournament, I made sure that if Midget was boxing, I was watching and more importantly recording—and eventually collecting. So, here are some of the bouts that I have on this 9-time national champion, which include 4 from the National Silver Gloves.

For those that don’t know, the National Silver Gloves is the largest and most prestigious amateur tournament for boxers 10 to 15-years old. I say this because you have to win to get in, and stay in. The country is divided into 8 regions (see chart below in red) which all have local Silver Gloves Tournaments to determine the local champions who compete in the first leg. Champions from the local tournaments advance to the Regional Tournament and compete against other local champions to see who advances to the National Tournament to represent the region. At the National Tournament, held in Independence, Missouri at the beginning of February, all the Regional Champions for their age bracket and weight division meet to compete for the belt and title of National Silver Gloves Champion—and the #1 ranking in the US. There have been too many of these champions to name but I can tell you that 6 of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Team members were former Silver Gloves Champions. However, winning multiple years puts you in elite company and Tramaine not only won multiple National Silver Gloves titles, but he won 4 consecutive years and was in the finals during the year he didn't win! If I remember correctly, there was one year that he qualified, but didn't attend. Below is a video playlist of some of the videos that I have collected and recorded of my first featured One To Watch Boxer, Tramaine “Midget” Williams.

(Click on the rectangular icon to the right of the play button on the bottom menue to select on of the 12 videos)





Region 1- Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Conneticut, New York, New Jersey (8 states)
Region 2-Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky (5 states)
Region 3-West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland/D.C./Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama (10 states)
Region 4-Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (4 states)
Region 5-Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas (5 states)
Region 6-Oklahama, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee (6 states)
Region 7-Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, Washington (5 states)
Region 8-California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico (6 states)

2009 National PAL Tramaine Wiliams vs. Ray Ximenez

From San Antonio, TX. 2009 National PAL quaterfinals in the 114 ILB. 15-16 senior JO division Williams wins 6-4. Williams is in the red corner

2009 National PAL Tramaine Williams vs Yovvan Nava

2009 National Pal semifinals bout between Tramaine Williams vs Yovan Nava in the 114 ILB. senior Jo division. Williams wins 7-1. williams is in the blue corner.

2009 National PAL Finals Tramaine Williams vs Keevan Evans

From San Antonio, TX. 2009 National Pal Finals in the 114 ILB. senior Jo division between Tramaine Williams vs Keevan Evans. Williams wins 9-1.

1984 US Olympic Trials Mark Breland vs. Luis Howard Part 2

1984 US Olympic Trial semifinal in the 147lbs. division between Mark Breland and Luis Howard.

1984 US Olympic Trials Mark Breland vs. Luis Howard Part 1

1984 US Olympic Trial semifinal in the 147lbs. division between Mark Breland and Luis Howard.