The Next Wave Of DMV Boxing Begins

WASHINGTON–D.C. is hungry for boxing.

How else to explain the crowds of people that descended on the Renaissance Hotel here on Saturday night, an hour before the fights were even scheduled to begin? Had they all undertaken mutual New Year’s resolutions to stop observing CPT?

They certainly weren’t there to enjoy the unorganized concessions. No, the fans assembling downtown were clearly (and loudly) there to see a troop of promising young local boxers make their professional debuts, and Babie Girl Productions delivered.

David “Day Day” Grayton (below), Danny “Smooth” Kelly, Jerry Forrest (above), and Tyriesha “Baby Girl” Douglas all made smashing entrances to the professional ranks, each winning by first-round knockout. Stiff Jab favorite Terron “Kid” Grant also won with a quick stoppage, while heavyweight Donnell “The Real Touch of Sleep” Holmes won a workmanlike six-round decision over Maurice Winslow in the main event.

A solid selection of Go-Go music blared in the ballroom as fight fans greeted each other and took their seats; from the music to the fight card, the theme of the evening seemed to be love for the DMV. Cassandra White, the proprietress of Babie Girl Productions is a native Washingtonian and a graduate of Springarn High School (home of NOMIS Boxing). White’s website states that it gives her “great joy to just simply watch all the younger boys and girls being entertained” and that she’d like to “leave them with the desire to join a gym or any facility which can build their confidence and self-esteem”.

Mission accomplished: this fight card attracted several young families; I don’t recall seeing as many children at other local boxing events. White’s desire to “give back” and her hope that local youngsters see boxing as a worthwhile hobby was echoed by ring announcer Henry “Discombobulating” Jones (below), who commenced the festivities by declaring that “we need boxing instead of bullets” in D.C.

The night’s first fight ended in sensational fashion just 41 seconds in, as heavyweight Jerry “Slug” Forrest blasted Keon Graham of Ohio with right hands. The first-round knock-out thrilled Forrest so much, he punctuated his pro debut by doing a series of backflips in the ring, as the crowd screamed their approval.

If Forrest’s agility and gymnastic prowess reminded any of us of Olympic gold-medalist Gabby Douglas, we had good reason—both hail from Newport News, Va. No clue if they were serious when they said she taught him his moves. The 235-lb Forrest won the regional Golden Gloves title over Danny Kelly in 2010 and has ties to heavyweight Seth Mitchell. He should be one to watch going forward.

Lightweight prospect and fellow Team Mitchell member Terron Grant (above) also put on an explosive show that ended quickly. According to the estimable Gary “Digital” Williams, Grant stopped Deiverious Sanders of Georgia with body shots within a minute of the opening bell. The easy win delighted his several rows of rowdy fans.

Capitalizing (see what I did there?) on the crowd’s elation, Jones then loudly announced that “Headbangers are in the house,” and the volume escalated as heavyweight Danny Kelly (above) entered the ring to face Orion Bolds of Ohio. A towering young heavyweight and the defending regional Golden Gloves champion, Kelly needed just two minutes before stopping Bolds with a devastating body shot.

The other Headbangers fighter, Day Day Grayton (above), made the best entrance of the night, his entourage radiating swagger. The crowd loved it, and they love Day Day. As he finished off his outmatched opponent, there was something in the air, an extra dimension of excitement, as if something significant has just occurred. Like Forrest, Day Day has that intangible “X” factor, a measure of charisma that draws a fan in— even though we weren’t treated to an impromptu gymnastics routine.

As the evening’s host, Jones made a point of shouting out important audience members, but no call out inspired more respect than former flyweight champ Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson, who amiably stood, waved, hugged, and schmoozed the front row. Johnson was inducted to the International Boxing Hall of Fame earlier this year, long-overdue recognition of his formidable ring career.

There were also a pair of fights between female boxers. The DJ displayed quite a sense of humor when he started playing a Go-Go joint with the chorus “Big Girls Back it Up” right before the lady heavyweights. While they announced it as a “grudge rematch”, Team Mitchell manager Sharif Salim shook his head, leaned over and said, “Grudge match? I heard them earlier, they said they liked each other.” Well, it wouldn’t be boxing without some unnecessary hype, so I wasn’t mad at it.

This was just an appetizer to the main course: Tyriesha “Baby Girl” Douglas (above), who strutted in to Drake’s “HYFR”. One striking member of her entourage held up a mic and started performing spoken word as the group approached the ring. The audience enjoyed the live poetry, which centered around the refrain, “Recognize me for who I am, alone with my striking hands.”

Once the fight began, Tyriesha’s striking hands quickly produced in a severe laceration in the mouth of her opponent. TKO, first round, and it took all of one minute and 46 seconds. Seated in the crowd, Stiff Jab expert ring analyst Rodriguez Jackson was impressed.

“She’s going to do big things in boxing,” Jackson said of the 112-lb Douglas, calling her the best female fighter he’s seen in quite some time.

At that point, Jones spotted Mitchell (below) and exhorted him to come to the ring for some appreciation. He asked the heavyweight how he manages the enormous expectations many people have for him.

“I have big shoulders so I can handle the pressure. I represent the DMV every time I’m in the ring. Every time,“ Mitchell insisted. "I tell people, don’t pray for victory, pray for my health. On October 6th, I’m going to be in Atlantic City for HBO. Tune in if you can’t be there.”

By the time the evening’s main event occurred, the dynamic had changed considerably. Some people started leaving for the after party, and the ring girls filed out. All the fights featuring local boxers were over, and the crowd was less enthusiastic for 233-lb heavyweight Donnell Holmes. Holmes helped Mitchell prepare for his last fight against Chazz Witherspoon, and the North Carolinan is as gentlemanly as anyone you’re likely to meet. If only he had been from D.C., more people would have watched his anti-climactic journey to a victory by unanimous decision against Maurice "The South Soldier” Winslow.

But this was a night focused on the future, and many had already had their fill. Saturday felt like the beginning of something special; rest assured, we’ll be ringside for the entire journey.