WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 7) – Some of New York City’s most promising prospects are heading down the highway from the Big Apple to the nation’s capital to be showcased at the DC Armory on Saturday, April 19 in undercard bouts leading up to the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® tripleheader. The event is headlined by Bernard Hopkins’ history-making title unification bout against Beibut Shumenov for the IBF, WBA and IBA Light Heavyweight World Championship. In the televised action on SHOWTIME EXTREME, beginning at 7 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), 2008 U.S. Olympian Sadam “World Kid” Ali of Brooklyn, N.Y. puts his unbeaten record on the line against another former amateur standout in New Jerseys’ Jeremy Bryan of Paterson, New Jersey. Plus, another undefeated Brooklynite Zachary Ochoa, takes on Puerto Rico’s Hector Marengo. Opening the SHOWTIME EXTREME broadcast will be 2012 U.S. Olympian “Sir” Marcus Browne of Staten Island against an opponent to be announced.
Also in non-televised bouts will be local standouts D’Mitrius Ballard, Dominic Wade and David Grayton.
Brooklyn’s Sadam “World Kid” Ali (18-0, 11 KOs) has been considered a top candidate for world title honors ever since turning pro after the 2008 U.S. Olympics. Yet it wasn’t until 2013 that he truly got his chance to shine when he defeated Jay Krupp via decision followed by a knockout of Jesus Selig. On April 19, the 25-year-old steps up to the plate once again to square off with Paterson, New Jersey’s Jeremy Bryan (17-3, 7 KOs) in a 10-round welterweight bout. Bryan, winner of three of his last four fights, is a two-time National Golden Gloves winner who owns an amateur win over current 140-pound world champion Danny Garcia.
In a six-round junior welterweight bout, popular Zachary “Zungry” Ochoa (6-0, 3 KOs) hopes to keep his perfect record intact when he meets Arecibo, Puerto Rico’s Hector Marengo (6-7-4, 4 KOs). The 21-year-old Ochoa has built a strong local following thanks to three fights in his hometown, but he’s excited to take his show on the road for his fight against Marengo at the DC Armory.
Hailing from Staten Island, New York, “Sir” Marcus Browne (9-0, 7 KOs) has long been his borough’s favorite son. After making the 2012 U.S. Olympic team and notching wins in each of his nine professional bouts, that’s no surprise. Fresh off of a shutout win over Kentrell Clairborne in January, the 23-year-old light heavyweight will be back in action on April 19 in an eight-round bout against an opponent to be named.
Another 23-year-old phenom, Largo, Maryland’s Dominic Wade (14-0, 10 KOs) is making plenty of noise on the local scene, showing more and more skill with each fight. In January, Wade displayed his heart as he rose from a first round knockdown to defeat veteran Dashon Johnson. On April 19, he faces Jacksonville’s Marcus Upshaw (15-11-2, 7 KOs) in an eight-round middleweight match.
Unbeaten in four professional bouts, D.C.’s own D’Mitrius Ballard (4-0, 3 KOs) has electrified the city’s boxing scene with his phenomenal skills and power in the ring. Returning to the DC Armory after his third-round technical knockout of Marlon Farr there in January, the 21-year-old super middleweight prospect will meet Kansas City’s Quincy Miner (3-4) in a four-round matchup.
Also on the card will be two D.C. boxers, welterweight David Grayton (6-0, 5 KOs) and debuting lightweight Chrisshawn Alexander. Both will face opponents to be named in four round bouts.
