MOUNTAINEER Koval, Lyell win in bouts at resort

By BOB ROTH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CHESTER, W. Va. -- Mahoning Valley boxers Chris Koval and Billy Lyell both remained unbeaten with victories as part of a seven-card bout at the Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort's Grande Hotel ballroom Thursday night.
Koval, 21, from Austintown, used a devastating right to the body for the first of three knockdowns, as he stopped Paul Eakle from Steubenville at 1 minute, 58 seconds of the first round. Koval improved to 10-0 with nine knockouts, while Eakle's record fell to 1-3.
Body shots
Eakle forced the action early, but at the one minute mark, Koval ripped a solid shot to the body that sent the 205-pounder down. Koval, at 221 pounds, sensed the kill and, with two short rights, sent Eakle down two more times with the third knockdown forcing the referee stop the fight.
"This guy pressed the attack early, but in coming at me the side of his body was wide open and I knew I could land punches there," said Koval. "After I caught him there and he went down I knew it was only a matter of time for him to be around."
Koval's next scheduled fight is Aug. 8 at Canal Park in Akron, against James Porter (3-2) of Lexington, Ky., in a six-rounder.
Lyell, a super welterweight from Niles, stopped Gonzalee Jones of Akron at 2:21 of the third round, improving his record to 2-0. Lyell made his pro debut July 1 as part of the Kelly Pavlik undercard at Cafaro Field.
After several good exchanges in the first round, Lyell who had a cut over his eye, caught Jones with a long left hook. In the second round, Lyell used a short left hook and a right cross to send Jones down for an eight count. Lyell finished the round landing a series of lefts and rights and sustained his two-fisted attack from the opening bell of round three. A barrage at the ropes had the referee stop the bout.
"I was sluggish in the early going and then I was able to get to this guy with countering left hooks," said Lyell. "This was a tougher fight than my first bout only because I made it a tougher fight.
"A good thing about boxing is that you learn something new every time you step in the ring."
Instructions
Jack Loew, from the Southside Boxing Club who manages and trains Lyell, added, "Billy was told to work to the body and if he did he would have had an easier time of it, but he is a throwback to the '50s who just wants to keep coming in and throwing punches. & quot;
The main event of the night was a coming out party for Verquan Kimbrough, the national amateur featherweight champion from Aliquippa, Pa. who made his pro debut against Eric Burke (0-2) from Columbus. Kimbrough had his hands full, winning by unanimous decision.
The only other decision of the night had Monty Clay, a Pittsburgh lightweight, getting a unanimous nod over Toledo's James Merriweather