Semifinal round will have 27 bouts

All winners Wednesday are guaranteed a spot in the final round.

By GREG GULAS

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

YOUNGSTOWN — As the K.O. Drugs H.S. Boxing Tournament prepares for its semifinal round, the underlying theme for all fighters this week might just be “Win, and You’re in!”

Twenty-seven bouts are on tap Wednesday night at the ITAM. Banquet Center, including 10 in the underclass division and 12 in the upperclass ranks.

Five female division bouts will also be featured with all winning fighters advancing to the title round next Wednesday.

“It’s plain and simple; if you win, you’re in. At this stage of the tournament, that is the one thing that holds true come Wednesday night,” founder Chuck Nelson said.

"All winners are guaranteed to advance to the title round, each having now earned a shot at one of the 32 titles which are at stake,” he added.

In semifinal action, 11 fighters have already won twice with 18 fighters still sporting unblemished marks.

Defending female champ

The female division will welcome the return to the ring of last year’s lightweight champion, Miranda “Boom Boom” Spottleson of Cardinal Mooney. Spottleson will meet Chaney’s Clenisha Pless in welterweight action in the female division’s feature event.

In the only battle of the night featuring undefeated boxers with two wins, Canfield’s Al Cutrona will meet Julius Thomas of Chaney in upperclass welterweight action, a bout Nelson said will be worth the price of admission.

“Both Cutrona and Thomas are skillful fighters that know their way around the ropes. Each fighter is strong and packs a heavy punch so look for them to go all out when it comes time for them to fight each other,” Nelson said.

Depending on other outcomes, both fighters could still meet in the finals next week.

Underclass unbeatens

The underclass division will feature five fighters with 2-0 marks. They are Chris Lorimer of Boardman in the junior lightweight class, Conner Young, who is home schooled, in the lightweight class, junior welterweight Billy Fisher of Canfield, Keymonnie Harris of Campbell Memorial in the welterweight class and Andrew Irwin of Niles McKinley in light heavyweight action.

Lorimer will take on Joe Guylitto of Mooney in the first bout of the evening while Young will meet Sergio Cabrera of Sharon.

Fisher will meet Mel’Quan Patton of Campbell Memorial, Harris will face Chaney’s Dwaylon Gibbs with Irwin rounding out those in the underclass division with a 2-0 record when he takes on Quincy Harris of Liberty.

Other boxers in upperclass action with two wins include Donny Zarbaugh of McDonald in the super lightweight class, junior middleweights Nick Schiavoni of Boardman and Life Skills’ Lyndon Nelson, middleweight John McGarry of Columbiana, super middleweight Jeremee Davis of Chaney and cruiserweight Eric Ocheltree of Mathews.

Zarbaugh will meet Chaney’s Akeem Miller, Schiavoni takes on Tom Bean of Mercer, Nelson meets DeAndre Brooks of Chaney, McGarry will try to push his record to 3-0 when he takes on Mike Peters of Mercer while Davis and Ocheltree will meet Brookfield’s Mike Bender and Canfield’s Vince El Hayek respectively.

Twelve Cowboys still alive

Of all entrants this year, Chaney remains the school with the most fighters eyeing a title. They have 12 fighters still alive with a shot at a title next Wednesday.

Action gets underway at 7 p.m. Tickets are $7 for students and $10 for adults.

For more information call (330) 757-7273 or (330) 727-0932.