Top DC Boxing Stars On Sept 26 Patriot Center Show

Some of the best boxing talent from around the Beltway will be showcased in an eight-bout card, “Saturday Night Fights,” promoted by Ice Promotions and presented by Valcourt Building Services.

Headlining the Patriot Center event is Northern Virginia fan favorite Jimmy Lange (30-3-2, 21 KOs) who will defend his World Boxing Council (WBC) U.S. National Boxing Championship (USNBC) 154-pound title against his former teammate from “The Contender” series, Jonathan Reid (34-11, 19 KOs) of Nashville , TN in a 12-round contest.

Former WBO lightweight world champion and D.C. native DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley (35-11-1, 21 KOs) will battle Detroit ’s Damian Fuller (30-6-1, 14 KOs ) in the eight-round co-Main Event.

After making a successful local debut last May, top regional female fighter Jennifer “The Bolivian Queen” Salinas (10-1, 4 KOs) of Manassas, VA returns to the Patriot Center for a six-round ‘royal’ rumble with Louisville, KY’s Caitlin Dance (2-5, 1 KO).

Salinas, an instructor at LA Boxing gyms in Chantilly and Herndon/Reston, recently returned to the sport after taking some time off to give birth to her daughter in 2008.

Last May at the Patriot Center, she scored a third-round knock out over Christina Leadbeater in her first fight in the DC area before a loud and enthusiastic group of supporters.

Formerly trained by Floyd Mayweather, Sr. and now working with local boxer Daniel Attah, Salinas showed little signs of ring rust and is looking to secure a spot among the elite featherweights in the world.

Dance, a University of Louisville academic advisor, should not be overlooked. Her record is deceptive considering the stiff level of competition she has faced, often in her opponent’s backyard as will be the case in Fairfax.

She lost a majority decision last year to Crystal Delgado, the Women’s International Boxing Association’s number 16-ranked super featherweight. Prior to that, Dance lost to Merced Nunez, who was rated 13th by the WIBA. She also lost to Vanessa Juarez, ranked 18th in the WBC’s super-bantamweight division, in June 2008 in Juarez’s hometown of Fort Worth, TX.

Her last fight came in April at the University of South Florida ‘s Sun Dome when she lost a unanimous decision to Adawirky Lopez, who is the WBC’s 7th ranked featherweight.

Two Maryland middleweights will square off in a six-round contest when Columbia ’s Tony “Mo Better” Jeter (7-2, 6 KOs ) and Keith Gross (3-1) of Prince Frederick meet.

Jeter (rhymes with ‘better’), who started boxing in the summer of 1992, amassed an 86-14 amateur record and was named a six-time South Atlantic champion and two-time region 5 silver medalist. A 1999 and 2000 MD/VA/DC Golden Glove champion, Jeter won the SAA Golden Gloves and the Maryland State Championship in 2000, attaining a national ranking of ninth in the process.

Later that year, he turned professional and signed an exclusive promotional contract with Sugar Ray Leonard Promotions. Jeter has won three in a row since taking a three-year break from the sport from 2005 to 2008.

In his last fight, he held the unique distinction of serving as the card’s match maker, promoter and Main Event fighter – a first in the history of Maryland. Jeter trains out of Severna Park ’s Club One Fitness, where his wife, Christen Jeter, serves as co-owner and general manager.

Gross stepped into the ring late in the game as 21-year old amateur in 1999 and spent four years honing his skills before ultimately taking a break from the sport. He has since returned and put the amateur gloves back on before making his pro debut in June 2006.

He won his first three professional fights before suffering his first setback at the hands of undefeated Cuban Erislandy Santoya last July in Florida. Jeter and Gross have shared the same gym in the past, which has helped create the competitive rivalry between the two.

In a battle of undefeated middleweights, Tracy Brewer (3-0, 1 KO) fighting out of Arlington, VA will face Columbia, MD’s Barry Trotter (1-0) of Old School Boxing in a four-round contest.

Both fighters are trained by well-regarded members of the local boxing community. Brewer is led by Coach Willie Taylor, while Trotter’s camp consists of former heavyweight fighter now manager/trainer Jerry Jones and Old School gym owner and coach Buddy Harrison, whose son, Dusty, is a highly-ranked amateur fighter.

Oxon Hill, MD’s Alexander “The Great” Johnson (6-0, 3 KOs) looks to keep his unbeaten streak alive when he takes on Francois Ambang (2-3) of Mechanicsville, VA for the second time.

Fighting out of Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Center in Palmer Park, MD, Johnson defeated Ambang in their first meeting — Ambang’s pro debut — by four-round decision in May 2008. Both cruiserweights return with more experience for their four-round rematch.

Johnson scored a six-round decision over Ariel Espinal last month in his last fight, while Ambang recently lost by split decision to Otgonbayer Daivii at the May Patriot Center show.

In another bout, DC’s Kendrick Walker (2-2) will battle Dwayne Shelton of Richmond , VA (2-1) in an evenly matched, four-round junior middleweight affair.

Walker earned his second victory at last May’s Patriot Center show. Shelton , who also is a mixed martial arts fighter, is looking to rebound after suffering his first professional loss at the hands of undefeated James Stevenson earlier this year.

Rising national lightweight prospect Bayan “Mongolian Mongoose” Jargal (13-0-1, 9 KOs) of Arlington is scheduled to fight on the card with an opponent to be named later.

Doors open at 6:30pm with the first fight set for 7:30pm. Tickets, priced at $30, $60, $85, $100, $125, $200, $300 and $500 (plus applicable service charges), can be purchased through Ticketmaster by logging onto www.ticketmaster.com, calling 703-573-SEAT, 202-397-SEAT or 410-547-SEAT or by visiting any Ticketmaster outlet, including the Patriot Center box office.

Discount tickets are available at LA Boxing gyms in Chantilly, Herndon/Reston and Woodbridge ; call 703-263-7629 for details. Visit www.ipboxing.com for event updates and news.