Gary Antonio Russell, David Grayton Shine at Washington Golden Gloves
David Grayton after winning the 2012 Washington Golden Gloves
by Gautham Nagesh
WALDORF, Md.–Washington-area fight fans were treated to another night of scintillating stoppages here on March 24, during the finals of the 2012 Washington Golden Gloves Finals at Waldorf Jaycees Community Center.
Former national champions Michael Reed and David Grayton defended their titles at 141 and 152 lbs. respectively, but the night’s brightest star was undoubtedly Gary Antonio Russell in the 132-lb division. The younger brother of featherweight contender Gary Russell Jr. and 2010 national 141-champ Gary Allen Russell caught gym-mate Joel Young with a vicious straight-left-right-hook combination just 20 seconds into the opening round. Young tipped over and fell to the ground like a log. He eventually rose and gamely attempted to fight on, but the ref wisely said no.[[MORE]]
I covered last year’s regional finals, where Antonio won a tough fight over Steven Zadien at 123 lbs., but the amount of growth he’s shown in just one year is staggering. Antonio is not just taller and stronger, but somehow also faster. Young was known for giving last year’s 132-lb champ Kevin Rivers a tough fight, but against Russell he was simply out of his league. Both of his older brothers have gone on to great success, but Antonio showed he deserves to be in the discussion as the most promising in the family after his sensational showing.
Grayton also didn’t disappoint, scoring a knockdown on Jonathan Burrs, II in the second round with a right hook. Burrs came to fight, but the ref was forced to wave it off shortly after, following a few more shots from the powerful lefty. Headbangers trainer Barry Hunter told me the plan is for “Day Day” to turn professional in the near future, possibly right after the regional finals on April 13. A spot on the undercard of gym-mate Lamont Peterson’s May 19 rematch against Amir Khan in Las Vegas could give Grayton a chance to impress much of the boxing world and start burnishing his credentials as a prospect.
Reed also registered a stoppage in the third, but not before enduring a tougher challenge than expected from Cornell Hines of Sugar Ray Leonard Community Center. The local favorite scored a pair of counts in the third before the referee finally stopped the fight. Reed is a promising amateu,r but very short to fight at junior welterweight as a pro, meaning he will likely have to drop down to lightweight.
The 123-lb division matched Gervonta Davis of Upton Gym against Romello Webster, who I have met from sparring at NOMIS. Webster is a great athlete with excellent speed, but David showed real class as a counter-puncher. He began landing his straight left early in the fight and by the third had gained control, on his way to winning the decision. Webster’s gym-mate Gregory Clark put up a similarly spirited effort, but also fell short in losing to Joe Jones of No Excuse in the 178-lb novice division.
Back in the open division, as usual the 165-pounders offered the best show, with last year’s champ D'Mitrius Ballard of No Excuse and Demond Nicholson of Cherry Lane Gym trading leather non-stop for the entire fight. Ballard took the decision, as did 2011 national runner-up Jerry Odom in the 178-lb weight class. But not before Antwan Ward of Sugar Ray’s gave Odom everything he could handle for three rounds.
The final fight of the evening paired heavyweights Sean Elam of RPH Academy and Danny Kelly of Headbangers, who Barry Hunter has been touting as the next big thing at heavyweight. Kelly is big and he can clearly hit; he knocked out Elam in the second round with a devastating left hook. But he was also a tad slow and seemed overly focused on scoring a knockout instead of putting in work.
Kelly’s skills are decent for a young heavyweight and the physical tools are there. But if he wants to make it as a pro he’s going to have to get busier and box more, instead of stalking his opponent around the ring and looking to take his head off with one punch. That may work at this level, but Kelly seems like he could be much more, especially with Hunter guiding his career. Hopefully he takes a lesson from the Peterson brothers and maximizes his potential.
Barry Hunter gives Danny Kelly some final advice
