Baltimore boxing promoter Jake “The Snake” Smith promises a knockout event each time out for fans of his professional fight cards, and he believes his latest installment ? tonight (6:30) at the Du Burns Arena ? is no exception.
Smith expects to have six fights on the card, including at least four featuring boxers with local roots. Among those is heavyweight Mike Dietrich (8-0, 3 KOs), who is set to take on Florida native Gary Campbell (7-8-2, 2 KOs) in a four-round bout.
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Other scheduled Baltimore fighters include light-middleweight Jessie Nicklow (11-0-1, 5 KOs), who will fight North Carolina?s Martinus Clay (12-15-2, 4 KOs), light-middleweight Matt Hill (8-30-2, 4 KOs), who will face Indiana native Jerome Elders (12-34-2, 2 KOs), and middleweight Tim Coleman (10-0, 2 KOs), who is scheduled to fight Carlos Pena of Massachusetts.
Dietrich, Nicklow and Hill train at Smith?s Baltimore Boxing Club.
“Every time out we try to put together a card better than the last one, and I don?t think we?ve failed yet,” Smith said. “Each event gets bigger, as more fans find out what we?re all about.”
When he sets up his cards, Smith says he usually ignores a boxer?s overall record and looks for what he believes will be the best matchup. He said he provides more weight to the quality of a fighter?s opponents than his overall win-loss record.
He cited tonight?s Nicklow-Clay fight as a prime example. Even though Clay has a losing record, Nicklow should have his work cut out for him in this scheduled eight-round bout.
“Records don?t mean anything here,” Smith said. “Jessie is a great fighter, but Clay is no pushover. Jessie is going to be in for the fight of his life when he steps into the ring [tonight].”
Du Burns Arena is located at 1301 S. Ellwood Ave. For ticket information, call 410-375-9175.
