MMA Fighter Makes the Switch: Can Shampaine Become Toast of Baltimore Boxing?

Since the rise of the UFC, and MMA in general, a common argument among fans of combat sports has been, “Who would win a fight between an MMA fighter and a boxer?”  To a knowledgeable fan, the debate is somewhat ridiculous, given the drastic differences between the two sports.  Comparison is almost akin to asking who’d win a contest between a golfer and a tennis player, seeing as they both swing instruments and all. 

But to many fans, the debate is fun and worth having, and we’ve seen parts of the argument play out in the professional world recently.  Former multi-division boxing world champion, James Toney, tried his luck against UFC legend Randy Couture and was summarily pummeled into submission via triangle-choke in a mere 3 minutes, 19 seconds. 

This result was not shocking given Toney’s advanced age, rapidly growing belly and declining skill set.  It didn’t help matters that Toney had never fought in the Octagon before and was going up against a Hall of Famer on his turf. 

So what would happen if an MMA fighter tried his hand at boxing, against a boxer, in the squared-circle?  This fall, fans will get their wish, as it was recently announced that current Strikeforce welterweight champion, Nick Diaz, will engage in a professional boxing match against the badly faded, former IBF super middleweight champ, Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy. 

Unfortunately, this will not answer any MMA vs. Boxing questions, as Lacy has long been considered a “shot” fighter, and has lost three of his last four bouts, including his most recent fight to a guy with 19 losses.  Lacy also hasn’t won a bout in over two years, while Diaz is in his prime and considered a top striker in MMA.


Baltimore Boxing Presents Fed Hill Fight Fest

Turn your attention to the amateur ranks in Baltimore, MD, and you will see this debate play out on a smaller scale, as a full night of amateur boxing takes place outside of Baltimore Ravens Stadium, with proceeds benefitting charity (more on this later).

This is the inaugural promotion by Chris Nissley of Baltimore Boxing, who plans to make the “Fed Hill Fight Fest” a bi-annual event.  His co-promoter for the event, Jake Smith, is a promotional veteran of over 250 fights, and they expect over 2000 fans to be in attendance, an astounding number by boxing standards. 

Case in point:  Current junior welterweight world champion Timothy Bradley, a mainstay of boxing’s upper echelon in recent years, only drew 2,442 fans to his hometown arena last July when he battled the undefeated Carlos Abregu. 

Baltimore Boxing should be commended for their promotional efforts for this card. Should this success continue, they hope to branch out even further to include MMA promotions, possibly by the end of this year.


Shampaine:  I’ll Drink to That

The card will feature local talent squaring off against one another, in what are best described as turf wars, with bragging rights on the line.  And among the many combatants on this day is one fighter in particular that is making the switch from MMA to boxing.

His name is Adam Shampaine, a local fighter with a large following in the Baltimore-metro area.  Well-versed in Muay Thai fighting and jiu-jitsu, with striking being his strength, Adam had long considered what it would be like to compete in boxing. 

As a self-proclaimed “huge fan” of boxing, with a desired future in promoting shows and a knack for supporting charity, Shampaine didn't hesitate when the opportunity to make the switch presented itself .  Although he’s only been training in boxing for a mere 10 weeks, he is very confident about the switch.

“I admit, I had some reservations because boxers are traditionally better and cleaner strikers than MMA fighters, and I had to re-train my brain not to kick and knee my opponent, but I figured this will be easy without having to worry about getting kicked,” Adam recently told Bleacher Report.

“I really don’t have a prediction, except that the ref will be raising my hand up at the end of the fight,” he continued.


Sweat Equity – Like Money in the Bank

For the past 10 weeks, Adam has been training six days a week, four hours per day, all boxing.  A member of Team Lloyd Irvin (MMA), the 6’5” Shampaine plans to weigh-in at about 210 pounds on fight night, which, in boxing, means the heavyweight division. 

So what does he know about his opponent, Brian Haneschlager, another popular local fighter with a sizeable following?

“All I know is he won his last fight by first-round knockout, and he’s heavier than me.  Other than that, I know he doesn’t train with a team as strong as mine, and I feel I’m prepared to give him a real good fight,” Adam stated. 

“Regardless, I’m winning this fight one way or another,” he proclaimed firmly while taking a break from sparring during a recent training session at the Crazy 88 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym in Elkridge, MD. 

During my recent trip to watch Adam train, which included a spirited sparring session on his last day of heavy preparation for the fight, I noticed a relaxed fighter that seems to be peaking at the right time.  His eagerness to fight is readily apparent, and the support of his team appears strong.  From coaches to training partners, the gym was lively and full of energy, and Adam can’t wait to display his skills in front of his friends and fans.

“This is so exciting for me.  After all this training, I plan on putting on a real good show for everyone coming out to support me.  I love fighting, it’s addictive.  Like any sport, you want to keep improving and perfecting your skills; and this is my chance to really put all my hard work to the test,” he concluded.


The Main Event of the Evening

Shampaine’s bout is not the main event of the card, which will instead be contested between Chase Carusso and Ryan Brown.  Carusso and Brown are friendly rivals, yet ultra-competitive.  They will be mixing it up for the Fed Hill Fight Fest Championship, a title belt signifying local bragging rights, if nothing else.  While neither man is very experienced, both men are evenly matched and highly motivated, which usually means an entertaining scrap.

Nissley stated, “Expect a lot of action.  The main event features two local fighters competing for the Fed Hill title.  Even though they are friends, they are very competitive rivals, which is why we named this card ‘Rivalry.’”


Beer, Babes, Beats, Boxing and Charity–What More Do You Need?

“Fed Hill Fight Fest,” presented by Baltimore Boxing, takes place Saturday, May 14, 2011 in the parking lot of M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens.  Doors open at 2:30 PM, with the fights starting at 4:00 PM.  Expect the 7-bout card to last until approximately 8:00 PM. 

All bouts are contested at the amateur level, with fighters wearing headgear and 10 or 12 ounce gloves, depending on weight class.  General admission tickets are $25, while $50 VIP tickets will get you a ringside table, complete with waitress service.  Also included with the VIP tickets are free food and half price alcohol for the first hour and a half of the event.

This is more than just boxing; it is an all-out party to help raise funds for two notable causes.

The event will include a bikini contest, vacation giveaway, food, alcohol and a DJ providing live musical entertainment.  Proceeds from the event will be used to help pay the soaring medical costs of Ronald “Dink” Wilburn, a friend of many that was diagnosed with Lymphoma Throat Cancer a few years ago.  Dink’s insurance does not come close to covering the enormous costs associated with his cancer treatments, and Chris and Jake have been actively holding fundraisers to help him out.

The second worthy cause being supported is a charity that Shampaine is involved with, known as the Neighbor to Neighbor program (www.neighbor-to-neighbor.net).  This program is an innovative approach in North Baltimore that strives to keep low-income, working families from becoming homeless.  The director of the program, Pastor Kristofer Lindh-Payne of Epiphany Church in Timonium, MD, is a tremendous gentleman that has dedicated his life to helping the less fortunate. 

Contact Info

For more info, go to www.BaltimoreBoxing.com.  The lead promoter, Chris Nissley, can be reached at [phone], or via email at [e-mail].  Please contact Chris with any questions pertaining to the event. 

Nissley concluded, “This event represents what people really want.  First of all, it’s a big party, and when you have local fighters fighting for neighborhood pride, it always makes for great entertainment.”

And one final thought–though it may seem counterintuitive to the notion of fighters and combat sports, I’ve found in my experience that outside of the ring, fighters are some of the most humble, caring and respectful people around.

This event, with its charitable nature and the participants involved, is further evidence of this belief.  Please come out and support a wonderful event that is sure to be entertaining for all in attendance.

Lee Harris co-hosts a weekly boxing podcast, In The Corner, that can be found at http://inthecorner.podbean.com.  Follow on Twitter -- @inthecornershow – and “like” the show at http://www.facebook.com/inthecornerboxingradio.  He can also be reached via email at [e-mail] with any questions and comments.