As some of you may know, I've added a feather to my boxing cap. In the past, I've done numerous pencil drawings of famous fighters, made some nice pocket change from selling fight tapes / DVD’s and of course written articles. On July 25th of 2009, I officially dipped my toe into the seedy, shady, underhanded "pond" known as combative sports matchmaking, and by July 17th 2010's Black Gloves Promotions - "Rock the Box" card, I found myself fully drenched by the good, the bad and the ugly that's part and parcel of this profession.

In the last year, I can honestly say that I've never at once felt more fulfilled, proud, excited, defeated, and heartbroken, as I have in my brief stint as a licensed matchmaker. It takes you on a roller coaster of emotions, to put it mildly.

The phone bills have gone haywire, Mrs. Reed isn't necessarily fond of me going out "networking”, and there's absolutely, positively no worse feeling than having opponent cancellations and no-shows. On the flipside, there is no greater thrill than hanging around fighters, trainers, etc., being immersed in their atmosphere and literally matching two boxers together and witnessing the meshing of their fistic talents, first in my head and then on fight night.

I've had the time of my life but it was also quite an adjustment period. During that initial stretch, spare time was hard to come by and as a consequence, my writing suffered. But I think I've finally learned how to juggle the two. 

August 21st, 2010

The Mid-Cities Links is a high-society, upscale organization for women of color and they held their 18th annual evening of black-tie boxing at the Fairmount Hotel, in downtown Dallas.

The same event from the preceding year represents my low point as a matchmaker, to this stage. Black Gloves Promotions expected 2004 & 2008 United States Olympic alternate, Charles "The Future" Hatley, Taronze "T-Reezy" Washington, Larry "Slomoshun" Smith, and James "Grasshoppa" Grant to fill the card. Grant's fight came thru as planned but none of the others did. If not for the rescue tactics of the caped crusader, the "Latin Legend" Luis Yanez, the show would've been a complete disaster. I took this year's show as a personal challenge to illustrate my growth as a matchmaker and was given the task of matching Hatley, Smith, 2004 U.S. Olympic alternate, Mark "Too Sharp" Davis and Greg "The Technician" Hatley, Jr. Mission accomplished!

Hatley vs. Welliver

Charles "The Future" Hatley is a certified bad-ass. He carries the aura of a man that was born to fight and he's had that way about him since he was a child. Hatley likes hurting people and seems almost offended by those who dare to sign a contract and step thru the ropes to fight him. Matchmakers are blessed to run across a fighter of Hatley's ilk once in their lifetime; a man who will literally fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. Hatley never asks whom he's fighting, but merely what weight he needs to make. And having left a trail from 147 to 160, Charlie is not only the best fighter in North Texas, but the best in the entire Lone Star State, in my opinion.

Hatley's opponent on the evening was the tough, durable Dumont "Dewey" Welliver (18-22-1, 6 KO's), from Spokane, Washington. Welliver has a win over former lightweight champion, Livingstone Bramble and went the distance with the likes of Yori Boy Campas, Epifanio Mendoza, Danny Perez, and "The Contender" alum, David Banks. Welliver's also extended former world champions "Bad" Chad Dawson and "Cool" Vince Phillips to the 8th round. In short, he was a legitimate measuring stick for Hatley to gauge his talents against.

Hatley began the 1st round with some peppering shots but it wasn't long before he started opening up. The seasoned Welliver maintained a high guard and dug into his bag of tricks, firing a grazing shot that was intentionally low and then lacing Hatley as he caught him along the ropes. Undeterred, Hatley maintained focus until he was met with a counter right hand which pissed him off. Though unfazed by the shot, Hatley reverted to "kill-mode" and blitzed Welliver. A head-body left hook combo did most of the damage, but a straight right officially brought Welliver to a knee.

Hatley smelled blood to begin round 2 and wasted little time. Welliver was game but overmatched and was deposited to the canvas a second time, courtesy of a right hand to the forehead, which prompted the referee to stop the fight at the 47 second mark. Afterwards, Welliver credited Hatley (13-0, 11 KO's) with being the hardest body puncher he's ever faced and predicted he'd "become a world champion 'in the Future'."

Other Bouts

Greg "The Technician" Hatley, Jr., (1-1) got the first win of his professional career with an impressive 2nd round KO of Willie Bryant (0-1). One powerful left hook and it was all she wrote.

Mark "Too Sharp" Davis (14-0, 4 KO's) used speed, skill and mobility to score a unanimous decision over Justo Vallecillo (6-12-1, 3 KO's). The scores were 80-72 (twice) and 78-74. 

Larry "Slomoshun" Smith (9-2, 6 KO's) got back to his winning ways with a unanimous decision over Forrest Curry (2-6), 40-35 (twice) and 39-36.