Undefeated boxers highlight area talent

Sporting an 11-0 record with a pair of knockouts, the welterweight has had a difficult time getting a fair match. Because of his success and obvious talent, mediocre fighters are wary to step into the ring with the up-and-coming local boxer. As a result, Coleman had to pull out of a fight card he was on several weeks ago when he was scheduled against a much heavier opponent.

But Friday night at Du Burns Arena in Baltimore, he not only entered the ring against a left-handed fighter, but one that was 9 pounds heavier than him. Six rounds and a two-bloodied eyes later, Coleman got plenty out of the fight.

“It makes you better and it makes you tougher,” Coleman, 22 said of his unanimous decision victory.

Aside from Coleman, there are numerous other undefeated local fighters. Some of the notable ones include Pasadena?s Jessie “The Beast” Nicklow (12-0-1, 5 KOs), Dundalk?s Mike “The American Dream” Dietrich (9-0, 4 KOs), Reisterstown?s Elais “The Golden Greek” Bouloubassis (1-0-3, 1 KO) and Baltimore?s Mike “The Persecutor Paschall (11-0-1, 2 KOs).

For Dietrich, his comeback from a near-fatal stabbing in 2005 has been well documented ? just as well as his 34-1 amateur record. For the up-and-coming 23-year old southpaw heavyweight, his two fights back have resulted in wins by unanimous decisions and technical knockout, but Dietrich realizes there is still work to do.

“My goal next time is a first round KO,” Dietrich said. “I need to keep working and training.”

Nicklow, meanwhile, is probably the most technically sound of the entire group. In a tense match also held at Du Burns Friday night, the light middleweight maintained excellent form throughout the entire fight, keeping his gloves high the entire match and showing off his lighting quick hook.

In the end, Nicklow walked away with a 6-round unanimous decision over Martinus Clay (12-16-2, 4 KOs), who has already requested an 8-round rematch.

“I still have to work on my jab and my head movement,” he said.