Hazimihalis wins in three

Staff report

MORGANTOWN, W. Va.

Professional fighter Chris Hazimihalis of Campbell improved to 8-0 when he stopped Toledo’s Eric Ricker (3-10) in the third round of a scheduled six-round lightweight bout on Wednesday at the Morgantown Civic Center.

Ricker was a fill-in after Hazimihalis’s original opponent, Miguel Rodriguez, pulled out due to a family medical issue.

“He was awkward and I saw that he couldn’t take many [body] shots,” Hazimihalis said of Ricker in the first round. “After I saw what he was about, I knew I needed to pressure him to get him out. “That’s when I focused on that and found openings. Once he slowed down, I went after him more.”

“I’d like to thank Emanuel Steward and the Kronk Gym for getting me ready,” Hazimihalis said of his new affiliation with the Hall of Fame trainer in Detroit, where the he has been prepping since after Labor Day.

“I’d like to thank those who prayed for me and my family in the last month or so,” Hazimihalis said. “Now, I’d like to sit back and see what my options are.”

Hazimihalis last fought on July 15 in Detroit, where he scored a fifth-round knock out of Greg Coverson. He has six KOs.