PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. – The South Atlantic Boxing Association held Southern Maryland SMOKE 11 at Truth Bible Church on Solomons Island Road. The head referee for the evening was Jamaal Brown and the doctor for the evening that’s always faithful to Southern Maryland was John Wills.
Knowledge Boxing Center and head coaches Daryl Hinmon and John Richardson held the sanction for the evening and hosted the live event.
Ray ‘Mercerless’ Mercer, the 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist in Boxing was ringside to show encouragement to the Amateurs; shake hands and take pictures.
Mercer said when he was contacted about coming to the live boxing match, he said he felt it was urgent to see just what was happening in southern Maryland.
“With it being the Olympic season, I think everybody’s hearts were warmed by watching those amateurs in there throwing their hearts out,” Mercer said. “I got to talk to a couple of them and teach them about losing; that’s what I like to do; to teach them about learning something in the loss. I’ve seen Daryl [Hinmon] around and now meeting him, we’ve developed a friendship. It was a great show. They worked hard in there”
A top fight of the evening was Delante Briscoe at a fit 175 pounds back in the ring after a 19-month hiatus. Both fighters had nice showmanship in the ring. Briscoe [Knowledge Boxing Center] defeated Mike Love of the Lion’s Den. .
Briscoe stated he’s just excited to be back in the ring.
“I hadn’t been in the ring in a year and a half,” Briscoe said. “I had just a couple of life changes going on with a new job; it took me a while to get back into it. I’m extremely glad to be back. Our next boxing card is October 5th. I plan to be on that card. Plan ahead. You can’t say I didn’t tell you. Let’s go.”
Briscoe continued to trust his jab throughout the three rounds. When asked what his corner was instructing him going into the final round, Briscoe said, “Coach was saying so far you’re doing good, but I need you to close out this round. He just didn’t want it to come down to a situation where the judges thought he had out-boxed me in the previous rounds. More so he told me to keep my constant pressure; keep breathing, keep popping my jab and we’d make it to the promised land.
The headliner of the night was Calvert’s Isaiah Buck [Knowledge Boxing] who came back to defeat Jacob Thomas of Ground Control. Thomas brought some fans to encourage him, but Buck took full advantage of the third round with a second standing 8 count to Thomas. Thomas was showing some exhaustion from connecting more in the first round. Referee Brent Bovell stopped the contest late in the final round.
“It was a good feeling to win another one in my home town of Calvert County,” Buck said. “I am Calvert County born and raised and I take pride in defending my home. I also felt successful because all the work I’ve been putting in at the gym leading up to this fight paid off.”
Buck stated that he spoke with Mercer after the fight.
“He congratulated me and told me I looked good out there and to keep working,” Buck said. “That motivated me to be even better coming from the champ.
Thomas’s team hasn’t contacted Buck’s team for a rematch but Buck said he would definitely be willing to fight him again.
“ It’s called Southern MD Smoke, so we’re here for it.”
Coach John Richardson stated that having a legend like Ray Mercer ringside was incredibly magnetic especially for the fighters and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
“His mere presence inspired everyone in the room, Richardson said. “The amateurs, in particular, gained so much from his encouragement and wisdom. Seeing a champion of his caliber at ringside reminded them of what is possible with hard work, dedication, and resilience. His words of advice and support provided a huge morale boost, and his presence added a layer of authenticity and gravity to the competition. We’re incredibly grateful to Ray Mercer for taking the time to be with us and for helping to nurture the next generation of champions.”
Richardson said it was great to have a boxing legend such as Mercer watching and cheering on.
“It’s one thing to hear words of encouragement from a coach or a peer, but when it comes from someone who has reached the pinnacle of the sport, it resonates on a much deeper level.”
Hinmon, owner of Knowledge Boxing center said, “We take great pride in presenting live boxing in southern Maryland. There is a lot of work that goes on in the background, but thankfully we have an awesome team.”
Hinmon said it was an honor to bring Ray Mercer to southern Maryland
“It was particularly special because the Olympics were going on and Mr. Ray Mercer is the last Heavyweight Gold Medalist to represent the United States. He appreciated all of our southern Maryland hospitality and is looking forward to coming back.”
Hinmon said the team appreciates the tremendous community support that they receive.
“We work very hard at the Knowledge Boxing Center to represent the hard working nature of everyday southern Marylanders.”
The next show will be October 5 at 2400 Solomons Island Road in Prince Frederick. Following that show the amateurs are back at The Rex in Leonardtown on November 23.
“Same great fights featuring our more well known boxers, Isaiah ‘Savage’ Buck and Kahleel ‘Moe’ Stone, but we also have a new crop of boxers chomping at the bit to put their skills and hearts on the line that you will see as well. Hinmon stated.
Southern MD SMOKE 11, Truth Bible Church, Calvert County
South Atlantic Association/Head Referee Jamaal Brown
Dr. John Wills
Results: August 10, 2024
Jerry O’Connor (O’Connor Boxing) def. Jhase Lake (Knuckles Up Boxing)
Shane Johnson (Corner Team) def. Dylan Castillo (Strike Studio)
Messiah Wilson (Knuckles Up) def. Jeremy Gurrera (O’Connor Boxing)
Mark Golobski (Ground Control) def. Kahlil Ugash (Upton Boxing)
Rashaun Richard (Sugar Ray Leonard) def. Donovan Quinn (Champion’s Boxing)
Darian Ferguson (Knuckles Up) def. Laim Medley (Corner Team)
Lauren Petrillo (Black Bear Boxing) def. Alexandra Brennan (Kaizen MMA)
Raycol Brewster (Old School) def. B. Chandmani-Erdene (Tyson’s Corner)
Alyson Makstein (Navy Yard) def. Keya Reed-Redmond
Philip Carpenter-Powell (Knowledge Boxing) def. Christian Vargas (O’Connor)
Truan Young (Unattached) vs. Dylan Tucker (Tyson’s City Boxing)
G. Byambador (Z’s Boxing Gym) def. Jonathan Guerra (O’Connor)
Dlante Briscoe (Knowledge Boxing) def. Mike Love (Lion’s Den)
Isaiah Buck (Knowledge Boxing) def. Jacob Thomas (Ground Control)
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