Salinas brothers earn Roth victories

By Greg Gulas

Ten bouts were fought at the second tournament honoring Bob Roth.

YOUNGSTOWN — Not all boxers from the Second annual Bob Roth Memorial Boxing Tournament will leave their mark in the ring.

After Saturday’s 10-card bout at the Saxon Club, the Southside Boxing Club’s Juan and Popo Salinas, one-half of Youngstown’s fighting Salinas brothers, are two local pugilists destined to go from under the radar to a promoter’s upcoming feature bout.

In a 165-pound scrap, Juan Salinas defeated Connor Young of Youngstown’s Downtown Athletic Club by decision while brother Popo, in a 106-pound tussle, earned a hard-fought decision over Damere Boddie of Akron.

For Juan Salinas, the third-round was the key round in which he took control over Young, noting that the first two rounds were very close with each boxer getting in their share of punches.

“Connor [Young] was strong and he kept coming forward,” Juan Salinas said. “I felt like I had more control in the final round since we went at each other bell-to-bell the first two rounds.

“I was extremely proud of this fight because we are both from Youngstown and both worked very hard coming into the fight.

“I would love to have a re-match down the road,” he said.

Popo, decisioned Boddie and while both fights were arguably the best two on the card when gauging the crowd’s intensity and enthusiasm, the younger Salinas used a more methodical approach in order to secure victory.

“I just tried the best that I could and kept going at him [Boddie} with all that I had; all three rounds,” Popo Salinas said.

“We just want to make Youngstown happy and proud and I think we did that tonight,” he said.

Jack Loew, tournament director and Southside trainer, was pleased with the fighters and the community’s overall support.

“We put last year’s tournament tourney together in eight days and this year we had seven weeks to pull everything together,” Loew said.

“We sold 23 tables as compared to just 16 last year and with over 450 boxing fans in attendance, up from last year, it just shows you the support for boxing in the area,” he said.

“We will use the monies to buy equipment for the gym and its upkeep, pay the utilities and then send six boxers to the Ohio State Fair next week, and at least two boxers to the PAL [Police Athletic League] Tournament in San Antonio, Texas, in October.

“We already look forward to a third tournament next year and as long as we have the Roth Family’s blessing, I hope to have this tournament for years to come,” Loew said.

In other action, Kentrell Stovall of Akron defeated Youngstown’s Pedro Salinas by decision in a 70-pound bout while Anthony Walls of Akron won by third-round RSC (referee stopped contest) over Youngstown’s Lucian Clinkscale.

“My hook is what I relied on,” Stovall said. “I said I was going to box in the first-round and then go to my Joe Frazier in the final two rounds.

“I’ve been studying Joe Frazier quite a bit and he becomes a slugger as opposed to a boxer as the fight goes on.

“I’m still learning how to become a good boxer, but tonight was definitely a step in the right direction for me,” Walls said.

In their first amateur fights, Lorenzo Cunningham of Cleveland won by RSC just 40 seconds into round one over Mansfield’s Everette Woods while Youngstown’s Brian Pegues won by decision over Neno Walker of Warren.

“I was focused and just felt like I wanted it more,” Cunningham said.

“It was a little harder than I expected the first time out, but I need to thank God, my trainer, Frank West and everyone else at the Buckeye Elks because they played a huge part in my success tonight,” Pegues said.