Boxing News Boxing News
On July 10 at the Patriot Center, popular junior middleweight contender, Jimmy Lange (31-4-2, 22 KOs) of Great Falls, VA looks to get back on the winning track when he goes head-to-head against ring veteran Jimmy LeBlanc (12-16-4, 4 KOs) of Weymouth, MA in the Main Event.
The show will take place at the George Mason University campus facility which will be Lange’s tenth straight bout on his home turf. The 10-round headliner is part of “No Excuses,” an Ice Promotions event presented by Valcourt Building Services featuring top professional boxing.
Lange, a former star on the first season of The Contender reality TV boxing show, has held the WBC Continental Americas and USNB belts. After losing a 12-round decision to Chase Shields back in March, he is seeking a victory over LeBlanc, who has consistently faced tough opponents during his 12-year career; including former WBA super welterweight champion Yuri Foreman.
In fact, the combined record of LeBlanc’s opponents over the past five years is 91-21-6. Two years ago, LeBlanc stunned the Patriot Center crowd by knocking out former local contender Luther Smith in the first round. The Boston-based boxer lost his last fight to undefeated Irish prospect Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan via a fourth-round disqualification in March 2009.
Middleweight Jonathan Reid (34-12, 19 KOs), Lange’s teammate from The Contender, and undefeated welterweight prospect Todd “White Lighting” Wilson (7-0, 1 KO) of Falls Church, VA have been added to the already action-packed lineup. Opponents for both fighters are to be determined.
Reid and Lange waged a war when they faced off last September at the Patriot Center. Both fighters earned praise and respect for the exciting fight with Lange emerging victorious by way of a nine-round TKO. Fighting out of Nashville, TN, Reid has faced world-class talents such as Pawel Wolak, Maxim Vlasov, Paul Smith and former D.C. world champion William Joppy during his career.
Fighting out of Annandale (VA) Boxing Club, Wilson has developed a strong local following since turning pro in 2007. He pulled out a tough win over Dontre King in his last bout held four months ago in Baltimore. As an amateur competing for Virginia Military Institute, the tough southpaw captured the 139-pound national championship in 2004.
Hard-punching Zain “The Tiger” Shah (2-0, 2 KOs) of Chantilly, VA will take on Washington, DC’s Antonio Walls (2-3, 1 KO) in a four-round middleweight contest. Shah cut his teeth at Finley’s Gym in DC, but now calls Annandale Boys Club home. He earned 25 wins as an amateur and was the Potomac Valley, MD, VA & DC open class and novice Golden Glove Champion. Standing in his way will be Walls, who trains out of Tony Bell’s gym in the District, looking to end a three-fight losing streak.
In other action, “The Bolivian Queen” Jennifer Salinas (11-1, 4 KOs) of Manassas, VA is set to face Montreal, Quebec’s Nathalie Forget (2-1) in a six-round featherweight contest. The popular Salinas, who serves as an instructor and trains out of LA Boxing, won her last two fights in 2009, both staged at the Patriot Center. She looks to continue working her way up the ranks towards title contention against Forget, a former top amateur competitor.
The eight-round co-main event features a welterweight showdown between Baltimore’s Tim “The Pitbull” Coleman (17-1-1, 4 KOs) and tough Detroit southpaw Damian Fuller (30-7-1, 14 KOs). Other bouts previously announced are Juan “The Savior” Rodriguez (4-0, 4 KOs) of Haymarket, VA vs. Dontre King (2-7-1, 1 KOs) of Cambridge, MD (six-round welterweight); Tony “Mo Better” Jeter (9-2, 8 KOs) of Columbia, MD vs. Lawrence Jones (3-2-1, 1 KO) of Reston, VA (six-round middleweight); Brandon Quarles (pro debut) of Alexandria, VA vs. Vince “The Beast” Batteast (1-2-1) of Annapolis, MD (four-round middleweight). Bouts are subject to change.
Doors open at 6:30 pm with the first fight set for 7:30 pm. Tickets cost $35, $50, $75, $125, $200, $300 and $500 (plus applicable service charge) and can be purchased through Ticketmaster by logging onto www.ticketmaster.com, calling phone charge at 703-573-SEAT, 202-397-SEAT or 410-547-SEAT or by visiting any Ticketmaster outlet, including the Patriot Center box office (703-993-3000).
