CHESTER, W. VA. Koval suffers first loss as a pro boxer

The Austintown fighter was stopped in the first round by Thomas Hayes.
By BOB ROTH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CHESTER, W. Va. -- Chris Koval of Austintown suffered his first loss as a professional boxer Tuesday night, as the heavyweight was stopped in the first round of a scheduled eight-rounder against Thomas Hayes.
The fight was part of a card at Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort. In the main event, Tye "The Killing" Fields of Las Vegas won the USBA heavyweight championship with a 12-round decision over Sherman "Tank" Williams of Miami.
Hayes, who is from Chicago and is managed and trained by Kevin Rooney, opened the fight with a series of left jabs as he moved Koval into a corner. Just when Koval seemed to be fighting his way out and tagging Hayes with a solid right, Hayes caught Koval with a left hook-right cross combination that sent him to the canvas.
Hurt
Koval was apparently hurt by the two shots to the head, and after a standing eight count, beckoned Hayes to come at him. A right lead, followed by a left hook, sent Koval down and referee Dale Abraham stopped the contest at the 1 minute, 14 mark.
"I just got caught early," said Koval. "Many fighters do and even though I didn't think it could happen to me, I showed tonight I am no different, but I'll be back."
Koval's manager, Pat Nelson, added, "Chris came out and got caught cold, and in the heavyweight division the guy who gets tagged with the biggest shot first usually ends up on the losing end.
"Chris is a young man who is full of confidence, and I feel he will rebound from this and come back."
Hayes improved to 11-1 with his seventh TKO.
"We knew Koval was going to his jab early, so I thought I would be more aggressive with my jab and work to the body with rights," said Hayes. "When I went downstairs he dropped his hands and was wide open."
Lyell wins third
Another area fighter, Niles welterweight Billy Lyell, improved his record to 3-0 with a first-round TKO of Steve Whitehair, a Parkersburg, W. Va., native making his pro debut.
The 152-pound Lyell landed stinging body shots early and then moved out of range of a series of wild swings Whitehair, who was making his pro debut. A right cross sent Whitehair down for an eight count and seconds later a left hook finished him at 1:24.
"I didn't know what to expect early from this guy," Lyell said. "I wanted to be careful, but when he started to throw wild punches, the openings were there for me."