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K.O. Drugs: Scarnecchia, Smith among top fighters
Photo
Referee Jack Loew watches as East Palestine’s Hailey Hall knocks down Nicole Rodriguez of Youngstown Christian during their flyweight bout in the K.O. Drugs High School Boxing Tournament championship Thursday in North Lima. Hall won by unanimous decision.
By Greg Gulas
North Lima
Armed with the motto “I Need It,” Howland’s Amy Scarnecchia walked off with Most Promising Female Boxer honors at this year’s K.O. Drugs High School Boxing Tournament.
Farrell’s Portez Smith said he was humbled to be named this year’s underclass most promising boxer after defeating his cousin, Re’yan Hammonds for the division’s bantamweight title.
Mike Sullivan of Struthers, who defeated Rashan Bell of Youngstown Christian for his second consecutive belt, simply punched his way to the upperclass division’s honor and will retire with a perfect 6-0 overall mark.
The 27th annual K.O. Drugs High School Boxing Tournament came to a close Thursday night with 27 champions crowned at the former South Range High School, now known as the Shops at North Lima Business Complex.
Smith and Hammonds got the night started, yet were equally pleased when the bell ended the fight.
Smith (3-0) scored a unanimous decision over Hammonds, who suffered his first loss of the tourney.
“I relied on my jabs, one-two and also body shots,” Smith said. “I didn’t want to go too hard and I’m glad it’s now over. To win the most promising boxer award is really very special in your first tournament.”
Hammonds said he’ll return next year while hoping for a better outcome.
“I thought I fought well, but Portez was clearly the winner,” Hammonds said. “This was a great experience and I want to return again next year hoping to do even better.”
Leeetonia’s David Scyoc captured the underclass welterweight title with a unanimous decision over classmate Joe Vitko.
It was the only time in the tournament that he was extended past the second round.
“I slipped in the first round and Joe was definitely the best of the three fighters I had to face,” Scyoc said. “He was the best conditioned and my strategy was to back him into the corner and not let him out.
“This was my first time in the tournament, it was a lot of fun and I will definitely be back next year to defend my title.”
Sullivan will retire as a two-time middleweight champion, but not before being put to the test by Bell.
“He was definitely my toughest opponent in two years of competition,” Sullivan said. “We came tonight to fight, laid it all on the line and gave it our all. I’m glad I entered the tournament and even happier to be named the upperclass most promising boxer.”
Bell said he had fun, despite the fact that basketball remains his sport of choice.
“I’m going to Columbus State in the fall to play basketball, but they have a boxing team and I plan on joining it to keep in shape,” he said.
“My strategy was to avoid his jab, but when he follows with his right hand and finishes with his left he’s pretty tough to beat. He deserved to win.”
In female division action, Scarnecchia scored a unanimous decision over Boardman’s Alisa Hutter for the welterweight belt while East Palestine natives, Haley Hall (flyweight) and Tori Ward (featherweight), and Emily Schneider (junior lightweight) of Leetonia also won belts.
“I am ecstatic right now,” Scarnecchia said. “To win the welterweight belt is one thing but to be named the most promising female boxer is very special. She threw jabs but had no angIe game. I just depended on my jab crosses.”
Hall and Ward both trained at the East Palestine Fight Club in order to prepare for this year’s tournament.
“I saw a flyer on the wall at school and really wanted to try this,” Hall said. “I went to the E.P. Fight Club to train, enjoyed getting ready and now that it is over thought it would be more difficult.
“The only thing was that I got a little tired at the end.”
Ward simply wanted to follow her father into the ring.
“My father, Nathan, used to box, so when our local fight club opened I wanted to train to see if would be fun,” she said. “It really was and I’m glad now that I entered. Next year I hope to come back to defend my title.”
Twelve underclass, 11 upperclass and four female championship belts were decided. The three-week competition attracted more than 100 boxers and represented 40 area schools from Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in Ohio and Lawrence and Mercer counties in Pennsylvania.
“This was the best and most competitive championship round in several years,” said tournament founder and director Chuck Nelson. “We are proud to crown so many young boys and girls as champions in the Mahoning Valley and equally as proud that a single injury didn’t occur.
“Congratulations to every student who competed in this year’s event.”