PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — The USA Amateur Boxing Association has brought 20 live boxing events to Southern Maryland, and SMOKE 14 was held Saturday at Truth Bible Church in Prince Frederick with some of the most challenging matchups yet.
“We love Southern Maryland and are thankful that Southern Maryland loves us back,” head coach for Knowledge Boxing and now Golden Gloves co-tournament director Daryl Hinmon said.
“We are always grateful for the support we get from the Southern Maryland community, year in and year out. We try our best to represent the hardworking, fighting spirit of Southern Marylanders,” Hinmon added.
Hinmon said they are privileged to give the boxers the opportunity to live out their dreams and to release aggression, manage fears, lose weight, gain confidence, and get stronger through the sport of boxing.
“In each show, we try to get better and better,” Hinmon said.
The next live amateur show, Southern Maryland SMOKE 15, will take place on April 12, 2025, at The Rex in Leonardtown.
The live action has a new ring announcer, whom Hinmon said is doing a great job. Michelle “Sugar-Shell” is professional and keeps the crowd involved, as do the Knowledge Boxing “Sexies,” the ring-card ladies. DJ Keys, a cousin of Hinmon, is always supportive with the classics as well as today’s most popular music. The boxers enjoy hearing “their” jam when entering the ring, and DJ Keys makes that happen.
With many thrilling battles in the ring, as well as a stunning female matchup, the final bout of the evening put the crowd on its feet in the 165-pound class, with a 29-28 unanimous decision for Maurice Payne (Diamonds in the Ruff) over D’lante Briscoe of Knowledge Boxing Center (KBC).
Briscoe started the first round with intense body shots to Payne. Payne made a comeback in the second round, but Briscoe owned the third round. The crowd responded intensely in support of the local boxer.
“I felt like I was in control the whole way,” Briscoe said with his family at his side. “He had some reach, but I don’t see what they [judges] saw. I’m going to work more on my strength and come down in weight a little.”
Hinmon said if a rematch presents itself, they welcome it.
“It was a classic and entertaining bout of pressure versus movement,” Hinmon said. “We thought D’lante’s pressure and power punching was enough to earn him the victory in a close fight, but it went the other way. We do appreciate the work.”
Amber Moore of Knowledge Boxing made her debut in a 143-pound decision over Davonn Vong of Z’s Boxing Gym. Vong was a strong contender and is well-coached, showing great showmanship in the ring.
Hinmon said Moore has been dedicated and shows up to the gym day in and day out.
“Amber did a great job against a very tough Marine opponent,” he said. “She actually started out as a fitness boxer, but I eventually noticed she had the work ethic, dedication, and intelligent interpretation of instruction required to be a great fighter.
“One day, I just walked up to her and told her, ‘You’re going to compete,’ and after her eyes stretched out a bit, she said, ‘Yes, Coach,’ and we were off to the races.”
Some gyms don’t embrace women who desire to learn the sweet science of boxing, but KBC has and will always open its doors to women.
“We at the Knowledge Boxing Center not only welcome females, we make sure they have a place at the table when it comes to boxing,” Hinmon said. “We look forward to being right there beside Amber as she progresses in the sport.”
Moore admitted she was nervous throughout the week.
“It was a battle between mind and body,” she said. “No one trains like the coaches at KBC. We have tough boxers in the gym to spar with. I double up by attending both the youth competitive classes as well as adults, so it’s a good variety of sparring partners.
“I have to shout out my girl, Fink, who has volunteered as my designated spar partner, mentor, and friend.”
Moore said Vong had clean shots and at one point seemed calm.
“That threw me off,” she said. “I feel like some fighters have a way of fighting both inside and out; I feel we had a good bit of both. I felt challenged most all of that fight. She was a great competitor, and I’m sure she was just as hungry for it as I was.”
Moore said she hopes to be an inspiration to upcoming female boxers who desire to push themselves beyond the limits of what they think they can do.
Another up-and-coming boxer for KBC is Jacob “Double Dribble” Dibble, who took charge in a 154-pound matchup against Mateo Benavides of Champions Boxing.
Dibble also presented well at SMOKE 13, which took place at The Rex last month.
“Myself and Coach John thought Dibble had a good performance and did enough to win, but the judges didn’t see it that way, which sometimes happens in boxing,” Hinmon said. “Boxing scoring is subjective to the interpretation of the person watching it, which is why you sometimes get varying opinions on the same fight.
“Overall, we felt our boy ‘Double’ had a good performance against a very tough opponent in Mateo Benavides. He used his jab and let his hands go, which is what we work on in the gym.
“That was only his second fight, so we obviously have some things to work on for his continued improvement, but he is certainly on his way. We are very proud of him.”
As always, Coach Hinmon thanked all sponsors that have been a big support to the past 20 live shows, vendors, world championship fighter Demarcus “Chop Chop” Corley, and others who have encouraged the boxers to continue with their passions.
Teddy P. Fuller also won his last professional bout and is making Hinmon and the KBC family very proud.
For tickets to the April 12 live amateur show at The Rex in Leonardtown, visit www.knowledgeboxingcenter.com.
Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com
