Boxing meet finale nears

By Greg Gulas

Four girls finals and 26 boys semifinals bouts are set for Wednesday.

YOUNGSTOWN — The final week of competition in the 20th K.O. Drugs High School Boxing Tournament will feature four girls championship fights and 26 boys semifinal bouts Wednesday at the ITAM Banquet Center.

“Just win and you are in, it’s that simple,” said Chuck Nelson, tournament founder and director. “Now is when the cream rises to the top so expect to see some excellent match-ups on both sides of the ledger.

“There is no such thing as an easy opponent from here on out,” Nelson said. “First, we’ll decide the four champions in the girls division while all winners in both boys divisions advance as well; earning a shot at a title in their respective weight classes.”

Boys finals will take place Friday at 7 p.m.

Among the girls, returning champion Nikki Bashlor of Brookfield is set to defend her lightweight title when she goes up against newcomer Angie Kountz of Fitch.

Cardinal Mooney’s Jessica Willmitch, who has been training at Youngstown’s Downtown Athletic Club, eyes the middleweight belt when she takes on Blasina Martinez of Chaney.

Mandy Bender of Brookfield and Maria Leonelli of Ursuline will decide who carries the flyweight belt out of the ring.

The other title bout, in the featherweight class, features Maria Marchese of Niles against Lauren Mohler of Liberty.

In underclass action, six fighters will put unblemished 2-0 marks on the line while 13 fighters enter action without a loss in the tournament.

Tom Dziedzic of LaBrae and Tyler Smith of Fitch hope to add to their two wins in the flyweight class when they meet Jaleel Lewis of Hayes and Ben Strickland of Jackson-Milton respectively.

Lightweight Mike Swonger of LaBrae hopes to advance to a title fray when he takes on Fitch’s Ian Stores.

Lewis, Strickland and Stores have split their two bouts in the tournament.

Girard’s Nate Parillo and Darian Rivera of Campbell, both 2-0 in the tournament and hopeful of advancing to title night, put their unblemished marks on the line against Alex Sanchez of Chaney and Duante’ Anderson of Fitch in junior welterweight and heavyweight action, respectively.

In upperclass action, seven of the 13 bouts slated will feature boxers who are undefeated through their first two tournament bouts.

In super featherweight action, Shane Middendorf of Sharpsville puts his unbeaten mark on the line against Boardman’s Edwin Rodriguez, while in a lightweight feature, Fitch’s Jordon Johnson will meet Markus DeMain of Struthers.

Other two-win performers laying it on the line in upperclass action include Chaney’s Julius Thomas and J.J. Diefender of Keystone. Both welterweights, Thomas will take on Donny Zarbaugh of Boardman while Diefender meets Christian Riley of Girard.

The final four bouts of the night will all feature two-win fighters.

In light heavyweight action, Jamil Wilkins of East takes on Anthony Middendorf of Sharpsville while Dave Murphy of Sharon meets Clemate Franklin of Chaney.

Jake Hochendoner of Poland will meet Dennie Ours of East Liverpool in a heavyweight clash with the super heavyweight finale featuring Cain McGreggor of Life Skills and Bill Manypenny of South Range.

Tickets cost $7 for students and $11 for adults and may be obtained at the door.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with all of the action set to get under way at 7.