Good boxing show on Friday

By Greg Gulas

Chuck Nelson’s amateur show at McMenamy’s has several solid matchups.

NILES — Local boxing promoter Chuck Nelson has never been at a loss for words when talking about one of his upcoming shows.

Like most promoters, he’s the first to rattle off the records and titles won of the boxers that he will be featuring on an upcoming fight card.

Up until three days ago, he admittedly struggled trying to fill Friday’s “After Work Boxing Bash” at McMenamy’s Banquet Center, Niles, with what he believed to be quality pairings for Friday’s 15-round amateur card.

However, when it was all said and done, he put the finishing touches on what he believes will be one of the most competitive and creative fight cards the area has ever seen.

“This is definitely a star-studded card; one evenly divided between seasoned veterans and up-and-comers that the fans will thoroughly enjoy,” said Nelson.

“I hate to brag, but this card is as good as any and better than most that either the area or region has ever seen.

“Friday’s card includes an excellent cross-section of previous champions; a group of hopefuls just waiting to break out and ready to make a name for themselves,” added Nelson.

“The card features several winners from last Saturday’s Bob Roth Memorial Tournament, a couple of champions from the recent K.O. Drugs Boxing Tourney, a Pennsylvania state wrestling champion, a six-time Columbus State Fair champion, a Pennsylvania state boxing cChampion and a couple of Ringside champions as well,” he added.

The tourney will feature boxers from Columbus, Pittsburgh, Akron, Cleveland, Warren, Ashtabula and Youngstown with both Youngstown and Pittsburgh each sending a contingent of eight boxers to the competition.

Getting the program underway will be Pittsburgh’s Matt Conway (105 pounds), who will be taking on Dameer Boddie of Akron.

Luke Klecko of Pittsburgh (112), a rising star from Pennsylvania, will then meet Youngstown’s Popo Salinas (108) in the second bout, one that many are calling one of the features of the evening.

Salinas, one of four brothers representing the area boxing community, won a title at the Roth tournament.

The third bout will feature Youngstown’s Julius Thomas (140) who will take on Levi Patterson (138) of Cleveland.

In a Master Bout (older fighters using 16 oz. gloves during three one-minute rounds), 42-year old Frankie Donnadio of Youngstown will meet 36 year-old Johnny Lowandowski of Pittsburgh in a 185-pound scrap.

Youngstown’s Brian Pegues (2-0) will take on Cleveland’s Draquel Jones (3-0) in a 165-pound scrap as both fighters, relatively new to the amateur ranks, are a combined 5-0.

Other fighters to watch include Pat Brown and Tyler Smith of Youngstown. Both are 128-pounders and past K.O. Drugs champions, ready to square off in a rematch of a controversial bout several months ago won by Smith in Warren.

Anthony “Joe Frazier” Walls of Akron, also a Roth winner, is someone to keep an eye on as is 18-year old Antuan Slaughter of Columbus.

Slaughter has over 200 fights to his credit, is the six-time Columbus State Fair Champion and two-time Ringside champion and a boxer who has been barred from competing at the fair because of his control on the title.

Three-time state fair titlist Dominick Falls will meet Pittsburgh’s Jaqua Lutz in a 178-pound scrap while Jeremiah Karpensky, a state heavyweight wrestling champion from Pittsburgh, will take on Youngtown’s Westley Tripplett in the final event of the evening.

Tripplett is a Ringside national champion.

Doors will open at 4 p.m. with the first bout scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 each.