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Local boxers are in action
Jake Giuriceo vs. Henri White
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Chris Hazimihalis vs. Norman Allen
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Campbell High graduate Christos Hazimihalis wins his pro debut at YSU's Beeghly Center Dec. 19, 2009 as part of the undercard for the Kelly Pavlik title fight.
By JOE SCALZO
YOUNGSTOWN
After a couple promising fights didn’t materialize, welterweight boxer Jake Giuriceo could have used his four-month layoff as a chance to get frustrated.
Instead, he used it as a chance to get better.
“I’ve been working on bettering my boxing skills, getting more technically sound instead of just going out there and punching,” said Giuriceo, a Campbell High graduate who now lives in Struthers. “Working on punching from different angles, improving my footwork ... there’s always something to improve.
“I’m still going to have a good work rate but now I’ll be more technically sound.”
Giuriceo (6-0-1, 2 KOs), whose nickname “The Bull” offers a pretty good description of his fighting style, will climb back in the ring on Wednesday when he fights Indiana native Sam Gibson (2-4-2) on the undercard of the “Summer Brawl” at the Heinz Field VIP tent in Pittsburgh.
“I’m definitely excited about going down there,” said Giuriceo, who fought in Pittsburgh a few years ago as an amateur. “I’ve always liked the crowd there and it’s close enough for my fans to travel.”
Giuriceo hasn’t fought since winning a unanimous decision over James Ventry at Cleveland State’s Wolstein Center on Feb. 19.
Gibson has a pretty decent resume and, although he’s not a very active fighter, he’s got a big right hand, Giuriceo said.
“You have do more running around the ring, chasing him down,” said Giuriceo, who paints cars for a living with his brother at J&J Painting in Youngstown. “I definitely will.”
Campbell native Chris Hazimihalis (2-0, 2 KOs) will also fight on the undercard, meeting Oswaldo Lopez Escobedo (2-5), a Mexican fighter who lives in La Porte, Ind.
Escobedo started his career with two wins but has since lost five straight, four by unanimous decision.
“I know he likes to come forward and mix it up and throw a lot of punches, so I’ve got to be ready for that,” Hazimihalis said.
Hazimihalis’ first two pro fights were both on the undercard of Kelly Pavlik fights. He’s coming off a first-round knockout of fellow lightweight Ramon Ellis on April 17 in Atlantic City. His pro debut was at Beeghly Center in December.
“Getting to fight on Kelly’s undercards, that was a lot of fun,” said Hazimihalis. “And it was great fighting in Atlantic City. That city has had a lot of big fights over the years.”
Since neither Giuriceo nor Hazimihalis has a promoter, they can sometimes get frustrated trying to find good fights to further their careers. Both stressed the need for patience.
“We’re looking for somebody to get interested,” said Hazimihalis, who often spars with Giuriceo while training for fights. “That’s the goal, to get a promoter.
“Right now, we’re just focusing on this fight and seeing where it takes us.”