AB.com Fight Night

I know I pop a lot of sh*t here about how boxing ain't like it used to be, and how PPV ruined the whole thing, and how the lack of marketable heavyweights probably means things won't get better anytime soon. But there's one thing that's beyond debate: boxing is one heckuva sport when seen live, in person.

I've been to a half dozen or so fight nights in and around the DC area, including that infamous Tyson fight that essentially signaled the end of his career. TV does the sport no justice. When you're there in person, you can feel (and hear) the punches. You can pick fun at how folks wear the tackiest, most over the top (seriously, furs in the Summertime?!?) mess just to be seen. You can gawk at the girls who carry those oversized cards between rounds.[1] You can smell the odd mixture of Hennessy, Newports, and Old Spice in the air. And of course, there's always the chance that someone gets knocked out really bad, which is so much more awesome in person.



If you've never experienced boxing live, you have no idea what you're missing out on.

The AverageBros and I will catch a local card here this weekend, as boxing returns to The Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA.

Local fan favorite Jimmy Lange of Great Falls, VA headlines his eighth professional boxing show at the Patriot Center this Saturday, September 26, in his first World Boxing Council (WBC) U.S. National Boxing Council (USNBC) title defense by facing Jonathan Reid, a former teammate from The Contender boxing show, in a 12-Round contest. Tickets for “Saturday Night Fights,” an eight-bout card by Ice Promotions presented by Valcourt Building Services, start at only $30 and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations or at the door.

In addition to Lange, the rest of the lineup is arguably the best Beltway boxing card of 2009, showcasing the region’s top talent highlighted by the return of former WBO world champion and Washington, D.C. native DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley in his first area appearance since December 2004.

Four local products will put their undefeated records on the line including much-talked about, rising national lightweight prospect Bayan “The Mongolian Mongoose” Jargal of Arlington, VA. Another Arlington fighter, Tracy Brewer, challenges Columbia, MD’s Barry Trotter, while light heavyweight up-and-comer Alexander “The Great” Johnson (6-0, 3 KOs) of Oxon Hill, MD seeks his seventh straight victory without a loss. Popular featherweight Jennifer “The Bolivian Queen” Salinas of Manassas, VA makes her second appearance at the Patriot Center as does D.C.’s Kendrick Walker. Middleweight rivals, Tony “Mo Better” Jeter of Columbia and Keith Gross of Prince Fredrick will clash for Maryland bragging rights.

Ticketmaster - www.ticketmaster.com, 703-573-SEAT, 202-397-SEAT or 410-547-SEAT, Ticketmaster outlets, Patriot Center box office. Tickets available at the door.

Hope to see ya'll there.

For more info on the card, see IP Boxing.com.

Question: Have you ever seen boxing in person?!?

[1] Uh, there's an official name for this, right?