Joppy 39-6-1 (30 KOs) verses Cummings 17-4 (13 KOs) 

Saturday night at the Patriot Center, ICE Promotions and Jimmy Lange Boxing held a boxing event featuring many local fighters. The Co-Main Event featured William Joppy, a boxer who fights out of Woodbridge VA, though originally from Silver Spring, MD. Joppy's affiliation is with LA Boxing in Woodbridge, right off the Prince William County Parkway. 

Joppy is a very accomplished fighter having worn the World Boxing Association middleweight title on two occasions, once in 1996 and again in 1998. Joppy has fought such boxing stars as Bernard Hopkins, Felix Trinidad, Jermain Taylor and Roberto Duran. Although 40-years-old now, Joppy proved that he can still pack a punch as he won four of his last six fights prior to Saturday night. 

His competition on Saturday was Cory "Black Ice" Cummings, a warrior from Baltimore, MD and nine years younger than Joppy. Cummings has gone toe-to-toe with the likes of up-and-coming boxers Keith Holmes and Montell Griffin. Cummings has failed to capitalize on his early career success. After starting 15-0, he has just two wins to show for his last six contests.

For Saturday's contest versus Joppy, Cummings had to lose a considerable amount of weight to get into the middleweight class as he is ususally fighting boxers 10-20 pounds heavier than Joppy.  

Both fighters came out strong but it was clear that this would be a fight between two radically different fighters. Joppy was a technically sound boxer with quick strikes, while Cummings was a bruiser with strong and heavy punches loooking for the knockout. Joppy showed some rare mistakes getting caught up against the ropes a number of times while Cummings connected on some big hooks to the right side of the body and face. Most of the ten-round contest was even.

Both fighters won their share of the rounds and landing some big punches. Cummings landed the stronger punches, but less of them, as Joppy put on a technical clinic connected a staggering amount of punches.

In the end, the fight went to a decision, and the judges agree that it was even and it was ruled a draw. One judge called it 96-94 in favor of Joppy, meanwhile the other two agreed on a 95-95 draw. The fans at Patriot Center showed their displeasure with the call as they booed mercilessly. However, the majority decision was that it was a draw though both fighters seemed ready for a rematch.