YOUNGSTOWN — The downtown crowd for the Pavlik-Rubio fight reminded Dan O’Nesti, 69, of
YOUNGSTOWN — The downtown crowd for the Pavlik-Rubio fight reminded Dan O’Nesti, 69, of Hubbard of the olden days.
“I’m older, and this young crowd is reminiscent of what you would see on the streets of Youngstown,” said O’Nesti as he surveyed the massive crowd at Buffalo Wild Wings, Central Square, downtown Saturday.
“This city used to have people elbow to elbow,” he said.
O’Nesti and his wife, Kathy O’Nesti, 62, made the restaurant their first stop of the Pavlik fight night. They were with 13 others, including grandsons, Jamie, 8, and Jordan, 13, Thomson, both of Hubbard. For some, such as the O’Nestis, it was a family event, but for others, it was a night out with friends.
It was a high school reunion for J.T. Thomas, 24, of Columbus, originally from Liberty, Doug Foster, 25, of Girard, and Terry Swadener, 24, of Liberty.
“We saw him win the belt in Atlantic City, so we had to come to our hometown to support him,” Thomas said.
The three weighed in on how many rounds they thought the fight would go and it was two to one.
“It will be a Pavlik knockout in round four,” said Thomas, with Swadener agreeing.
“I think it will go to six,” Foster said.
Nick Johnson, 24, of Boardman was wary of giving his prediction for the fight, because the Pavlik-Rubio fight was his first live boxing match, he said. “I kind of want it to last,” Johnson said.
Johnson and friend, Ethan Painter, 24, of Canfield also were killing time at Buffalo Wild Wings before walking to the Chevrolet Centre.
“I think [the event] is pretty solid and creates a lot of positivity for the Valley,” Johnson said.
“BW’s always throws the best events,” said Painter, who noted Saturday night reminded him of Party on the Plaza, the downtown entertainment nights scheduled in the summer.
Down the street, at the Youngstown CLub, “Go Kelly” signs lined the windows, and people inside couldn’t have been more enthusiastic about the night’s events.
Kenny Crewz and Gary Leppla drove from Dayton to cheer on “The Ghost.”
“This is the first time in a long time I’ve seen a fight of this magnitude in Ohio,” Crewz said.
Crewz, who said he was a Golden Gloves champion in the late 1980s in Dayton, said he has a lot of respect for Pavlik.
Neither Crewz nor Leppla said say they come to Youngstown often, but both were impressed and surprised with the city’s vibrancy.
“I’ve been through Youngstown on the freeway and I’ve never been downtown,” Leppla said. “I think downtown looks great.”
“We’re excited about this, it’s going to be a great night,” Crewz said.
Jesse McClain III, 54, and son, Jesse McClain IV, 28, of Boardman do frequent Youngstown, especially events at the center.
“It’s nice staying at home; nice to spend money at home,” McClain III said.
The father and son duo headed downtown for the festivities at about 4:30 p.m. and hung out at the Youngstown Club until making their way to the center.
“I predict a knockout in round two,” McClain IV said.
“No way,” replied his dad.
Although the two were in a disagreement on how long the match would last, both said they were happy to support Kelly.
“Anything to help Youngstown,” McClain IV said.
kseminara@vindy.com