Once a fighter commits to a professional career in boxing, they are advised to trust the process, and on Saturday night, September 14, several fighters from the DMV area will have the early stages of the process in the Brawl At The Hall -event continued.
The stacked boxing card filled with young, ambitious fighters was presented by Skyy Myles, BadGurl and GTD Promotions. The event took place at Hook Hall in Washington DC, and it streamed live, and is available for replay on BXNG TV.
About two thousand miles away from DC, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Edgar Berlanga tried to realize his dream. On the same night Canelo defeated Berlanga and added to his legacy, the Brawl At The Hall contestants were laying the foundation for their careers.
The fighters who made the short trip from Baltimore to Washington DC train at the Upton Boxing Center under the direction of Calvin Ford and Kenny Ellis. If the Upton Boxing Center sounds familiar, it is because it is the place that produced current WBA lightweight world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis.
On the night of September 14, two of the five boxers from the Upton Boxing Center made their pro debut. 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 ended the bout abruptly.
Featherweight Cuttino Oliver (4-0, 2 KOs) earned a unanimous decision over Mason Wickett. The Baltimore boxers were hitting on all cylinders with one fight to go.
The final member of Upton’s team, super featherweight Mia “Killer Bee” Ellis (8-3, 7 KOs) is the daughter of trainer Kenny Ellis. Once Mia stepped into the ring, she made it 4 out of 5 KOs for the Baltimore boxers when she stopped Wendellin Cruz.
Washington DC native welterweight Maximus Garland (6-0, 6 KOs) scored an impressive first round knockout victory over Marklin Bailey. Landover, Maryland’s Larry “The Cuban Assassin” Recio (8-0, 5 KOs) scored a decision win over Jonatan Godoy.
Another Washington DC product, Stephaun Hopps (4-0, 4 KOs) scored a second round knockout victory 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 victory over Juan Centeno.
