Once a fighter commits to pursuing a professional career in boxing, they are advised to trust the process, and on Saturday night, September 14, several fighters from the DMV area continued the first phase of the process in the event Brawl At The Hall.
The stacked boxing card full of young and ambitious fighters, was presented by Skyy Myles, BadGurl and GTD Promotions. The event took place at Hook Hall in Washington DC, and is broadcast live, and is available for playback on BXNG TV.
About two thousand miles away from DC, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Edgar Berlanga was trying to realize his dream. The same night, Canelo defeated Berlanga and added to his legacy, the participants of Brawl At The Hall laid the foundations of his career.
The fighters who took the short trip from Baltimore to Washington DC train at the Upton Boxing Center under the guidance of Calvin Ford and Kenny Ellis. If the Upton Boxing Center sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the place that produced current WBA world lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis.
On the night of September 14, two of the five boxers out of the Upton Boxing Center made their pro debuts. Super-welterweight Titus Ashe stopped Shaikim Barnes in the first round, and super-lightweight Malik Smalls stopped Denzel Bowlding late in the third.
The knockout of the night belonged to featherweight boxer Damari Philson (3-0, 3 KOs). Forty-five seconds into the opening round, Philson hit his opponent Shane Tyner with a devastating overhand right that abruptly ended the contest.
Featherweight Cuttino Oliver (4-0, 2 KOs) scored a unanimous decision victory over Mason Wickett. The Baltimore boxers were firing on all cylinders with a fight to go.
The latest member of Upton’s crew, super featherweight Mia “Killer Bee” Ellis (8-3, 7 KOs) is the daughter of trainer Kenny Ellis. Once Mia entered the ring, she scored 4 KOs out of 5 for Baltimore boxers when she stopped Wendelin Cruz.
Washington DC native welterweight Maximus Garland (6-0, 6 KOs) had an impressive first round knockout victory over Marklin Bailey. Landover, Maryland’s Larry “The Cuban Assassin” Recio (8-0, 5 KOs) posted a decision victory over Jonatan Godoy.
Another Washington DC product, Stephaun Hopps (4-0, 4 KOs) scored a second-round knockout win over Bryant McClain. In the main event, DC’s Dwayne “Sugar Wayne” Holmes Jr (9-0, 5 KOs) retained his ABF featherweight title with a unanimous decision win over Juan Centeno.
