Live USA Amateur Boxing Hosts SMOKE 21; Upton Boxing Snags Most Victories, Hilton Best In Show

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Saturday’s live amateur action was “worth the drive down,” as one fan said, from the peewee division on up to the elite class.

Truth Bible Church, located in Prince Frederick, held Southern Maryland SMOKE 21, a sanctioned USA Boxing card for the South Atlantic Association.

SMOKE 22 is already scheduled for June 13, 2026, and will be held at The Rex in Leonardtown. Tickets are on sale starting Monday, May 11.

Head coach and co-director of the 2026 Golden Gloves Tournament Daryl Hinmon said he’s elated to have hosted yet another great day of amateur boxing for the Southern Maryland community.

The Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions will be taking place this week, May 11-16, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the Arvest Convention Center. Knowledge Boxing Center has two novice champions who have received Golden Gloves honors. Potomac Valley Association is the sanction holder for the event.

“Every year we work to get better and build new community partnerships to grow,” Hinmon said. “I wish every human being could be a part of an amazing team of like-minded people all working together towards a common goal.”

Hinmon stated they [the boxers] come from all over the county; “and yet God has brought us all here to Southern Maryland to find our purpose and make a positive impact,” he said. “As long as we have health and strength in our bodies, that’s what we’re going to continue to strive for [purpose].”

Hinmon especially wanted to thank the fans for coming out and filling the seats.

“Including our newfound Latino fans who came out to support our TikTokers.”

The match-up between Luis Hernandez (165 pounds) of Knowledge and Erick Mendoza of Ohio definitely had fans on their feet. From struggling with confidence issues as a child, Jaylen “PG” Williams of Knowledge Boxing said his coaches, his family and professionals are working with him to combat that.

Williams defeated Devon Mosley Jr. (unattached) at SMOKE 21; he said he’s improved rapidly since his debut last year in SMOKE 15. Williams’ showmanship was evident as he gave two standing-eight counts to Mosley.

“The reason for that [improvement] is because I have phenomenal coaches that keep me in check,” Williams said, “and are always pushing me to be better. My family, friends and my past keep me focused on my craft and those reasons are my ‘why’ for chasing success.”

“The pro in my gym, Teddy P. Fuller, challenges me the most because he’s really supportive and is always giving me new ways to be better. I’m learning how to adapt to different situations in the ring from him alone.”

Tremaine Fuller’s next professional fight will be in August with Davis Boxing Promotions. His last fight was his first six-rounder, and he performed very well. This is fight No. 7 for him as he continues to move up in the ranks.

Williams said the turning point during a contest is called a “killer instinct.”

“Once I see that moment arise, it’s time to finish the job. That separates the greats. In the fight game, you have to be a finisher. It’s something I’m aware of and working on.”

“I’ve told myself since I’ve been on this journey, whatever you want to do in life you have to dedicate yourself to it,” Williams said. “Find the ‘why’ and use that as motivation. My motivation was having confidence issues when I was younger; it affected how I approached things growing up. Since I’ve started boxing those issues are gone and the constant support from my family in and outside the gym is what’s going to keep me going strong into the future.”

Local rising freshman at Great Mills High School, Cristofer Barrera represented Knowledge Boxing very well in the 176-plus junior match-up against Adan Lara of Annapolis Gym. Barrera began boxing when he was just 10 years old.

“I liked boxing because it kept me in good shape,” he said, “and disciplined and there are people in the gym I enjoy talking to.”

Barrera, in his quest to get in shape, lost 30 pounds after he started.

“For this match in particular, I was working on my technique to make sure my punches were close to perfect, as well as my footwork,” he said. “It was important to control my head movement so I didn’t get hit as much and also keep my endurance in the ring.”

Barrera said he’s learning that the body can keep working as long as you control your mind.

“I’m also learning to keep going no matter what,” he said. “Going forward my goals are to keep training to get more bouts and keep getting more fit.”

Tremaine “Teddy P.” Fuller’s next professional fight will be in August with Davis Boxing Promotions. His last fight was his first six-rounder and he performed very well. This is fight No. 7 for him as he continues to move up in the ranks.

Hilton Brings The Heat, First Fight In 15 Years

One of the most explosive match-ups of the night came from Ryan S. Hilton of Dream Team, who defeated Moe Payne (Diamonds in the Ruff) in a 187-pound elite bout. Hilton, currently serving in the United States Air Force, started his boxing dream at the age of 9 with Old School Boxing and the late Buddy Harrison.

“That’s where I found my coach, Buck,” Hilton said. “And he eventually started his own gym, Dream Team. We started traveling around the country to participate in tournaments. We’ve been to Florida, Kansas City, Missouri, and Augusta, Georgia.”

Now with nearly 40 amateur matches in the ring, Hilton brings experience and a winning record. His attention turned to the sport of football in high school.

“After I graduated, I resumed the sport of boxing again,” Hilton said. “I went back to Harrison at Old School. I was training for a while and then actually joined the Air Force. I shipped out to Hawaii and found a gym out there and continued to train working with some pretty good fighters. Every base that I’ve been to, I found a gym to train at to keep my skills sharp and over the years, so boxing has always been with me throughout my travels.”

“When the fight started [SMOKE 21], I honestly believe that my boxing IQ was really on display from the first round. I was using the jab,” Hilton said. “The guy [Payne] was taller than me, so once I figured out the reach and the distance, I just started to jab to the body. I was using my jab a lot to get inside. I was countering with the right hand. I just think that my boxing IQ was just higher than his and I was displaying that all the way through until maybe the middle of the second round where I got caught with my hands down coming out of an exchange.”

Hilton said Payne landed a good punch and caught him off balance.

“I got that eight count and thought that took a turn for the worse in a sense, but I was able to close it out and pull the win, but I think I made that fight unnecessarily hard.”

“Although I wasn’t completely satisfied with my performance, I think the large gap in activity from me not being active all those years, getting in the ring and being able to put up a performance such as that.”

Hilton said he would definitely participate on another Knowledge Boxing card.

“I think the event was very professional, definitely,” Hilton commented. “Not what I’m used to from an amateur card. They have VIP tables, announcers, commentators. They had the whole thing. It pretty much was a professional event outside of us wearing headgear, so to me I was pretty blown away when I saw all of the production.”

Hilton’s working on toning down and getting into the shape he wants to be in to compete again.

Results

South Atlantic Association; USA Boxing

May 2, 2026; Truth Bible Church, Prince Frederick, MD

1. Cyan Boone (PG County PAL) def. Evan Nelson (Triple Threat); PW
2. Amon Stewart (Upton Boxing) def. Jayden Gonzales (Alexandria Boxing Club); 65 pounds BTM
3. Coby Davis (PG County PAL) def. Kareem Stewart (Upton Boxing); 105 pounds intermediate
4. Arjan Chopra (Unattached) def. Ivan Pace (O’Connor Boxing); 120 pounds INT
5. Ahmedou Mssadou (Kaizen MMA) def. Ronald Ramos (Annapolis Boxing); 132 pounds elite
6. Donald Frances (Dream Team) def. Eduardo Canales Martinez (Champions); 143 pounds youth
7. Daaem Bradshaw (Upton Boxing) def. Ahmad Ahmadi (Kaizen MMA); 121 pounds elite
8. Cristofer Mendez Barrera (Knowledge Boxing) def. Adan Lara (Annapolis Boxing); 176 JR
9. Colton Deshong (Champions Boxing) def. Bryce Blye (Diamonds in the Ruff); 132 pounds elite
10. Jaylen Williams (Knowledge Boxing) def. Devon Mosley Jr. (Unattached); 143 pounds elite
11. Darian Cooper (Upton Boxing) def. Tyree Carroll (Diamonds in the Ruff); 201-plus elite
12. Erick Mendoza (Ohio) def. Luis Hernandez Jr. (Knowledge Boxing); 165 pounds elite
13. Stacy Hilton (Dream Team) def. Moe Payne (Diamonds in the Ruff); 187 pounds elite
14. Steve Carabali (Upton Boxing) def. Isaiah Buck (Knowledge Boxing); 143 pounds elite

USA Boxing Southern Maryland SMOKE 21

Special Thanks To:

• USA Boxing Staff
• Sanction Holder: Knowledge Boxing
• Ring Doctor: Dr. John Wills
• Chief of Officials: Jamaal Brown
• Weight Master: James Richardson
• Photos: Blue Corner: Daniel Cork
• National Anthem: Jay Attys
• Media: KA Sports Boxing
• Assistance into ring: Steve Remetz (KBC)
• Announcer: LCDR Patrick Glynn
• SoMD Beauties: Ringcard ladies
• The Jamaican Grill
• Many sponsors: Garage Doors & More, Cheseldine Tire & Auto, Dillons Power Washing and Key Bail Bonding

---