Not even headgear or a size differential could stop Jessie “The Beast” Nicklow and “Hurricane” Henry Mayes from putting on a great fight Friday night at Du Burns Arena in Canton.
The 161-pound Nicklow and the 172-pound Mayes traded jabs and hooks as they produced the best bout of the six-fight card ? and it was only a three-round exhibition.
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But Nicklow?s unanimous decision victory was never supposed to happen. When Nicklow?s scheduled bout against fellow light middleweight Vance Garvey of Indianapolis fell through hours before the opening bell, he decided to face a familiar opponent: Mayes, his sparring partner at the Baltimore Boxing Club.
“It means a lot for me to go in the ring with bigger guys when I can,” Nicklow said. “That way when I get in the ring with guys my own size, it feels like nothing. It can only help me get better.”
However, Jake “The Snake” Smith, who manages Nicklow and Mayes, said Nicklow?s victory over a larger opponent ? even under amateur rules requiring boxers to wear headgear–is impressive. Nicklow, who Smith envisions eventually contending for a world title, is just 20-years-old and is 12-0-1 with five knockouts in 18 months as a professional. The Severn native trained for four years as an amateur before his first professional fight.
“Jessie is very focused,” said Smith. “He did his job [Friday]. He is a quality person and there is a great story to tell with him and all of my fighters.”
Nicklow said he was disappointed when his original fight was canceled, but it wasn?t going to stop him from stepping into the ring against Mayes (6-3, 4 KOs).
For Nicklow, leaving Du Burns without fighting was never an option. He has not gone more than three months without fighting and went into Friday?s exhibition following a unanimous decision over North Carolina light middleweight Martinus Clay June 22. Nicklow has agreed to fight on Aug. 25 at the Ocean City Convention Center despite not knowing who he will fight.
That?s because Nicklow?s life revolves around the sport. He balances his training regimen with working full-time as a maintenance worker atReliable Contracting in Anne Arundel County. After working from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nicklow heads to the gym for a two-hour training session before concluding his night with an hour run.
“I just wanted to go out there and do what I get paid to do,” Nicklow said. “I?m here because I love to fight. Even if don?t get paid anything, I?d go out there and fight. I?d fight every day of the week if I had to. Whether it?s getting out there once a month or every two months, I?ll do it because I need it.”
