BOXING Trainer Hobart picked to state hall of fame

The former boxer and long-time trainer made the Ohio State Former Boxers and Associates Inc. Hall of Fame.
CANFIELD -- Long time boxing trainer John Hobart recently was inducted into the Ohio State Former Boxers and Associates Inc. Hall of Fame.
Hobart, 70, has been involved in boxing since age 14. He lived on a farm on Trumbull Hill in Girard and trained at the Police Athletic Club in Niles under trainer Matt McGowan. He began fighting as a 112-pound amateur.
He lost his first fight, but in 1947 at age 15 he was the novice 118-pound champion in the Youngstown Golden Gloves. Hobart was an Open Division fighter by 16, being trained by Carmen Chicklo in Youngstown and later by Frankie Muche in Niles.
In 1948 and 1949 John lost in the semifinals of the Youngstown Golden Gloves as a 147-pound performer and then at 160 pounds. In 1950 he won the Youngstown Open 160-pound title only to lose in the Cleveland finals, but he still went to the AAU Nationals in Boston, where he lost in the semifinals.
Hobart turned pro in 1950 and after four straight wins he enlisted in the Navy; while in the service he won 175-pound titles in the Pacific and All Services Championships.
His amateur record was 72-17 and after his military stint of four years his pro career resumed until he retired in 1960.
Fought Terrell
Hobart's final professional record was 32-8; his biggest pay-day was $10,000 for fighting Ernie Terrell, who went on to win a piece of the heavyweight championship. A bad cut in round one made Terrell a winner and had a lot to do with ending Hobart's career.
John began training fighters in Sharon, Pa., in 1960. He has trained more than 200 boxers with 25 of them becoming Youngstown Golden Glove champions. Seven went on to national competition and eight went into professional boxing, with the best known of that group being Farrell's John Giroski who was 42-4 as an amateur and 11-2 as a pro.
He still trains heavyweight Willie Phillips and was involved in the career of former IBF lightweight champion Harry Arroyo. He still trains several young amateurs at Buckeye Elks Youth Center.
Hobart and his wife Millie have two children and two grandchildren.