Prep boxing returns Friday

By Greg Gulas

Thirty fights are scheduled at the ITAM Banquet Center on Meridian Road.

YOUNGS-TOWN — The K.O. Drugs High School Boxing Tournament returns Friday with 13 underclass bouts, 13 upperclass frays and four female events on tap at the at the ITAM Banquet Center on Meridian Road.

Friday’s card will feature 52 hopefuls representing 27 schools.

“After a one week break, everyone is ready to get back into the ring with the hopes of advancing to the next round of action,” said tournament founder Chuck Nelson. “We had some excellent fights opening night and all indications are that the fans will see the same Friday night.

“We continue to provide the stage for the area’s young men and women as they build their confidence, all the while committing to a meaningful program,” Nelson added.

Friday’s action will feature four female division bouts, one in the underclass division and three in the upperclass.

The lone underclass fray will feature Juliana Currier-Queen of Warren Harding against Megan Baird of Badger in a lightweight clash.

The three upperclass girls bouts will showcase Nicci Beatty of Brookfield, who takes on Ashley Dunmise (who is home schooled) in a lightweight match-up; Champion’s Angell Lipps and Shayla DeMar of Fitch in a super lightweight feature, and Alexandria McFarland of Badger, who will take on Struthers’ Arianna Perez in a cruiserweight clash.

In underclass action, it will be Ian Stores of Boardman against Nick Welsch of Western Reserve in a welterweight bout; freshman Dan Garman of Boardman taking on Struthers’ Dave Kostik in junior middleweight event and Fitch’s Chris Ruffner, also a freshman, who will meet Brandon Higibothom of Champion in a middleweight tussle.

Other underclass boxers expected to make some noise include United’s Paul Stokes, who will meet Daitzel Moore of Girard in super middleweight action; Travis Damron of Champion who will meet Caleb Biehl of Lakeview in a light heavyweight affair, and Gaetano Cicero of Fitch, who will meet Tyler Stokes of United a heavyweight clash.

In the upperclass division Boardman’s Chris Ferenchak, who sports a 4.0 grade point average meets Howland’s Chris Lamonge in a lightweight match, and Andrew Steele of Warren JFK will face Pete Gorantis of Trumbull County Training Center.

Cruiserweight Ben Moody of Lakeview, who fell in the first week of action to Darius Hill of Warren Harding, is hoping to rebound in his second appearance as he takes on Columbiana’s Kevin Blinsky, while Jesse Bradley of Lakeview and Ryan Caron of Columbiana will mix it up at , cruiserweight in the final bout of the night.

“We have boxers that represent a great cross-section of others sports in which they compete,” said Nelson. “That is what makes the outcomes so very interesting and as action heats up, the competition becomes more fierce.”

Austintown Fitch, Columbiana and Champion each have five boxers scheduled for Friday.

Tickets for the event are $10 each and are available at the door. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with the first bout hitting the bell at 7.

Further information can be obtained by calling Chuck Nelson at (330) 423-2203 or Pat Nelson at (330) 727-0932.