34 bouts are on tap in K.O. Drugs meet

There will be 29 high schools represented at Struthers Fieldhouse.
STRUTHERS -- The K.O. Drugs Boxing tournament resumes Thursday at the Struthers Fieldhouse with the first of 34 bouts hitting the bell at 7 p.m.
Sixty-eight students representing 29 high schools will compete. Ten bouts are scheduled in the underclass division (9th and 10th graders), while 22 matches are slated in the upper-class division (10th and 11th graders). The female division will also have two battles take place.
The tournament continues for each Thursday in May with the championships June 1-2.
"With our biggest turnout to date, K.O. Drugs Boxing is excited having this year's tournament at the mecca of boxing in the Mahoning Valley, the Struthers Fieldhouse," said tournament founder Chuck Nelson.
Champs will return
Former champs return to Thursday's card.
Last year's underclass junior welterweight champ, Chaney's Bryan Chaidez, clashes with Champion's Leo Rouan in an upper-class super welterweight match.
Underclass heavyweight champion from last year, Bill Bowden of South Range battles East Liverpool's Callen Owens in an upper-class cruiserweight fight.
Also, 2005 underclass super heavyweight champ, Liberty's 230-pound Jarrod Reynolds, returns as a junior competing in the upper-class heavyweight division against Dan Anness, a 235-pound senior at Struthers.
Defending his upper-class super middleweight crown, Ursuline's Bryan Pegues begins his quest in this year's tournament against Andy Adkins of East Liverpool.
Including the Reynolds-Anness fight, eight bouts will take place between boxers over 200 pounds. There will be two bouts in the underclass heavyweight division. Crestview's Lenny Kiehl (210) meets Sharon's Philip Bennett (215), and Poland's Ian Burley (218) battles with Tony Melia (234) of Boardman.
More husky match-ups
In two upper-class super cruiserweight match-ups, Salem's Travis Smith (204) meets United's Dustin Berresford (210), while Niles' Robbie Porter (219) tangles with East Palestine's Brad Crist (215).
In a series of three upper-class super heavyweight fights, Lisbon's Caleb Croul (280) takes on Nate Yarwood (291) of Crestview, Girard's Robert Randall (250) scraps with Anthony Tosca (280) of Poland and Mike Cole (325) of Girard tangles with Lisbon's Andrew Ketchum (300).
Tickets are $6 for students and $10 for adults and are available at the door Thursday at 6 p.m.
To sponsor a championship belt or trophy, call Chuck Nelson at (330) 757-7273 or 727-0932.