By Gary “Digital” Williams
Undefeated Washington, DC welterweight Dusty Harrison will headline his fourth straight card in his hometown when he faces veteran Shane Gierke of Youngstown, OH in a six-round contest on the Keystone Boxing Promotions card at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
The 18-year-old Harrison (8-0, four KOs) is making his sixth appearance at the Convention Center. The last time out on August 25, Harrison survived a sixth-round knockdown to win a unanimous decision over Marqus Jackson. Gierke (5-26-2, four KOs) has lost his last four bouts including a four-round unanimous decision to Bruce Runkle on June 2 in Wheeling, WVA.
The six-round co-feature bout marks the return of local fan favorite “King” James McAllister of Landover, MD. McAllister (11-6-1, three KOs) has not fought since losing a 10-round majority decision to Jason Naugler in April of 2006 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. McAllister will face James Denson of Akron, OH (5-10, two KOs) in a six-round light heavyweight tussle. Denson will be looking to break a three-bout losing streak.
In four-round contests, DC welterweight Harold “Sweet Lee” Parker will be looking to bounce back from losing a four-round split decision to Richard Andrews on the August 25 card. Parker (2-1, two KOs) will take on David Tomlin of Wilson, NC (0-4). Parker will also try to put some recent legal troubles behind him. On September 19, the 25-year-old Parker, along with his father, Daniel, was arrested for selling fake iPhone4’s in Lanham, MD. Both were released on their own recognizance.
DC welterweight David “Day-Day” Grayton also will be in action facing Anthony Jones of Jackson, TN. Grayton (1-0, one KO) made his pro debut a successful one on August 4 at the Renaissance Hotel in DC stopping Gregory Joyner in the first round. Jones (0-4) was stopped in the third round by Bailey Bobbit on March 6 in Opelousas, LA.
DC heavyweight Danny “Smooth” Kelly (1-0, one KO) also made a successful pro debut on the August 4 DC card and Kelly will face Ryan Shay of Fort Mills, SC (5-15, four KOs) in another four-round contest. Shay last fought at the Convention Center on July 14 and lost by first-round knockout to Duane Mobley.
Richmond, VA super middleweight Immanuwel Aleem also returns to action after making his successful pro debut on June 23 in Arlington, VA. Aleem (1-0, one KO) will face Marcus Clay of Baton Rouge, LA (0-2).
Two local amateur standouts will make their pro debuts on this card. Palmer Park, MD super featherweight Kevin Rivers, Jr. will face David Warren Huffman of Milwaukee, WI (1-7) while Hillcrest Heights, MD middleweight Jarrett Hurd will battle Mike Arnold of Akron, OH (0-8). Rivers and Hurd are both former regional Golden Gloves champions. Rivers was named the DC-area Amateur Boxer of the Year by the DC Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009.
Huffman won his first pro bout on the August 25 card in DC taking a four-round majority decision over Renaldo Gaines.
