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Grieving Halas captures decision
By Greg Gulas
YOUNGSTOWN
They say you have to have plenty of heart to play sports.
No one ever said it had to be a heavy one.
Salem B.C.’s Mardell Halas was fighting in his first amateur fight, yet his thoughts were miles from the ring and focused on one very important matter; winning for his mother, Sherri, who passed away Wednesday from lung cancer. Her funeral was Saturday morning.
“I really didn’t need any extra motivation today and while I’d like to think I was focused on the fight, now that it’s over it was just like a blur. My mother was very good to me and I am going to miss her very much so this win was for her,” Halas said.
Halas, a three-time KO Drugs champion during his scholastic days at Columbiana High School, scored a unanimous decision over Campbell’s Anthony Alexander in a 152-pound pairing at Saturday’s 12-bout, Lights Out Productions “Knockout Hunger” amateur fight card at St. Mary’s Assumption Center.
“I was playing football at Thiel College but decided to come back home and I just couldn’t stay away from sports and the competition. I relied on my jab and used my right to get me through,” Halas said. “My eventual goal is to turn pro and this hopefully was a step for me in the right direction.”
In the opening bout of the night, Abdul Mason of Cleveland defeated Damajah Robinson of South Side Boxing Club by unanimous decision in a 60-pound bout. New Castle’s Vince Austin followed with a unanimous decision over Rafael DeJesus of Cleveland in an 80-pound pairing.
Mark Revere of Warren earned a split decision over Caden Weekly of Steubenville at 115 pounds to round out Junior Olympic bouts.
In 195-pound action, Ben Bechtol of Youngstown scored a unanimous decision over Chris Young, also of Youngstown. Salem’s Drew Smith registered a split decision over Campbell’s Mike Walters in the other 152-pound pairing.
Toledo’s Robert Mumford, fighting in his seventh amateur fight, was a unanimous decision winner over Darnell Pettis of Cleveland to remain undefeated in 140-pound action.
“[Pettis] came out aggressive and was wailing but I made him fight my fight. I’ve only been boxing for three months but I knew that I needed to stick with my game plan,” Mumford said. “I wanted to work the body, stick with my jab and hit with a quick hook and that worked the entire fight.”
Other winners included New Castle’s Niko Froce over Cameron Ekas of Steubenville at 135 pounds; Cleveland’s Terrell Ross over Lavell Sharpe of Youngstown at 165 pounds and Matt Orosz of Cleveland over Salem’s Wade Morrow in a heavyweight battle.
All were unanimous decision winners.
In the co-main event, Michael Fasline scored a third-round TKO over Cleveland’s Jermaine Hawkins in 125 pound action. In the main event,, Youngstown’s Tyler Smith scored a unanimous decision over Auriel Love of Cleveland.
The group honored local artist Aaron Chine with its “Lifetime Achievement Award;” local official and longtime referee John Mang as its “Man of the Year” while local statistician and media member Bob Gugliotti was honored with its “Spirit of the Valley” award.