LEONARDTOWN, Md. – Calvert County native, Isaiah Buck, who boxes out of Knowledge Boxing Center in Lexington Park, put all rumors to rest Saturday evening at The Rex in Leonardtown in a 147-pound South Atlantic Association boxing rematch against Damion Williams from #11 Overcomers Gym.
Sitting ringside was boxing promoter Bobby Magruder.
Magruder finished his amateur career with 85 bouts, three against retired professional fighter Sugar Ray Leonard (36-3-1). Magruder earned his spot in the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1968 and 1972.
He was inducted into the Washington D.C. Boxing Hall of Fame in 1985, and the Maryland Boxing Hall of Fame, and on May 5, 2019, he was inducted into the National Golden Gloves Hall of Fame.
Magruder intently watched the final match-up of the evening. Buck had defeated Williams just a couple of months ago in Calvert County at Southern Maryland Smoke 9.
Prior to that match, Williams had just come off a victory at the Washington D.C. Regional Golden Gloves that was held on April 20 at Rosecroft Raceway which earned him a spot on the National Golden Gloves team that fought at Huntington Place in Detroit, Michigan.
Knowledge Boxing Center’s owner and coach Daryl Hinmon said that this boxing card represented the power of the human spirit.
“Myself and coach John [Richardson] constantly challenge our athletes to get better,” he said. “We challenge them in the gym and we challenge them with our matchmaking because you don’t really know who you are until you’ve faced a challenge. It’s like a doctor that only gets patients with runny noses; they really don’t know how good of a doctor they really are, but if a patient comes in hemorrhaging then that doctor will have the opportunity to discover just how good of a doctor they are.”
[Same with boxing]; “Are you going to panic and fold under the pressure of the challenge or are you going to keep calm, use the skills you’ve worked hard to acquire, and figure out a solution to the problem? That’s why the sport of boxing is such a powerful tool for human development.”
Hinmon and Richardson put together the rematch between Buck and Williams after it presented itself.
“The message really is don’t be afraid to try and more importantly, don’t be afraid to fail. It’s how we all grow,” Hinmon stated. “I was really excited for Buck’s fight with Damion, Damion just got back from the Golden Glove Nationals, so we obviously wanted to prove a point by beating the man who beat the man as Ric Flair used to say. Buck’s a very explosive fighter.”
“Buck didn’t know it, but his opponent had 20-plus more fights than he did, but at the end of the day, it didn’t matter because myself and coach John get to see Buck’s abilities in the gym every day. More importantly, he gets to spar with our pro boxers Tremaine ‘Teddy P’ Fuller and Devante ‘Quiet Storm’ Alexander in the gym, which is like going to boxing graduate school for an amateur. We know as long as Buck performs and uses his skills in the bout, that he can compete with any 147-pound amateur in the country.”
Buck said he felt great going into the matchup and that all of the hard work in the gym paid off.
“I stayed calm, I wasn’t tired or even winded,” Buck said. “I was determined to hold out to the end. I felt good about my dominant start and was ready go back to my corner to get my information from my coaches so I could go back to work in round two with more adjustments to help me inflict violence on my opponent”
Buck stated that it did come down to heart in round three, but staying smart was key.
“I was determined to prove a point,” Buck said. “My coaches told me to stay off the ropes, so I started using more footwork so my opponent couldn’t get me on the ropes.”
A raised arm sealed the victory as well as a belt for the icing on top.
No rest for the weary as the team was back in the gym. Buck said he’s gearing up for the Golden Gloves next year. The National Tournament will begin May 11 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Details for the Washington D.C. Regionals will be printed out prior.
Tyrell Frederick (KBC) defeated Donnell Burrows, Jr. (Sugar Ray Leonard) in another 147-pound fight.
“Tyrell has definitely been getting better in the gym,” Hinmon said. “As you can see, physically he is a powerhouse and physicality obviously plays a part in the sport but the most important part of boxing is the mental ability to execute your skills regardless of the opponent or environment. That is our main area of growth.”
Frederick said he will continue to follow the blueprint that his coaches lay out for him to one day become a professional boxer.
“Preparation in the gym was good and consistent,” Frederick said. “We did a lot of sparring, drills, bag work, and conditioning to get ready. As far as preparations that day, after making weight, and then eating, I listened to music and visualized a great performance in my mind. I also listen to some affirmations, then I’ll take the headphones off and be present in the moment with my teammates. I talk, be relaxed, and get ready to have fun in the ring.”
Frederick said he thought the fight went well but was closer than it should have been.
“In the future, I’m looking to stop my opponents to eliminate all doubt,” Frederick said. “I’m always working on improving myself and doing even better next time.”
Hinmon stated he was also thrilled for his only female in the ring Saturday night.
“I was also very excited for Shanta [Choc] Jones’ first official fight,” Hinmon said. “She is a 42-year-old mother of five but she comes to the gym and puts in the work, so we were happy to provide her the opportunity to perform here at home.
“Many don’t know it, but she started at 197 pounds and weighed in Saturday at 156 pounds which is a feat all on its own. Again, it just shows the power of the human spirit to accomplish goals set in the mind and the heart.”
Hinmon also has announced that Southern Maryland SMOKE 11 will take place on August 10, more details will be released at a later date. Click here to follow Knowledge Boxing Center on Facebook.
Results for June 8, 2024:
Instructional Bout Brandon Stockton (KBC) vs. Christian Lucas (O’Connor)
Gianni Grande (Lions Den) def. Messiah Smith (Thumpyard)
Xavier Ruiz (O’Connor) def. Dylan Castillo (Strike Studio)
Oleg Matthew Johnson (Kaizen MMA) def. Angelo Lange (Sugar Ray Leonard)
Shanta Jones (Knowledge Boxing) def. Christine Wilkinson (Lion’s Den)
Mason McCullough (Victory Boxing) def. Gold Gogha (Champions Boxing)
Nathaniel Brown (Sugar Ray) def. Edward Lee (Mack Lewis Boxing)
Dana McAnallen (Level Up Boxing) def. Franchesca Hillary (Kaizen MMA)
Tyrell Frederick (Knowledge Boxing) def. Donnell Burrows, Jr. (Sugar Ray Leonard)
Nadir Naimi (Kaizen MMA) def. Carlos Saturne (Knowledge Boxing)
Isaiah Buck (Knowledge Boxing) def. Damion Williams (#11 Overcomers)
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