Split decisions rule at boxing benefit

March 9, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

Youngstown

Super heavyweight Luke Blumenshien improved to 2-0 as an amateur boxer when he scored a split decision over Xavier Arvelo of Ellwood City, Pa., during Saturday’s “Night of Champions” show at St. Mary’s Assumption Center.

The 14-bout event was a benefit for the No Stone Unturned Foundation sponsored by Youngstown State University football coach Eric Wolford and his wife, Melinda.

Akron’s Christian White earned a split decision win over Colton Enderby of Dover in a 169-pound pairing.

“The environment and adrenaline rush zapped me of all my strength barely a minute into the first-round,” White said. “I go harder for 12 rounds when I am sparring.

“I felt good at the outset but didn’t finish as strong as I had hoped,” White said. “I need more fights and then I will learn to pace myself.”

There were five split decisions in the first nine bouts.

Manny Johnson of Columbus improved to 16-17 when he scored a unanimous decision over Jabrell Hawkins (8-11) of Akron. Ronnell Johnson (16-7) of Columbus earned a second-round TKO over Rodrick Wilson of Cleveland.

Both fights were 115-pound pairings.

In a 125-pound scrap, Charlie Clouston scored a unanimous decision over Austin Martin of Columbus to improve to 5-4. Martin was making his ring debut.

Clouston forced a standing eight-count in the third-round when he caught Martin with a straight right.

“I really didn’t know much about Martin but that didn’t worry me,” Clouston said. “I just wanted to stay on the inside and work the body.”

The only female match-up pitted Shianne Gist of East Liverpool, who scored a split decision win over Dover’s Tiffany Walker in 141-pound action.

“I sparred with Tiffany before so we weren’t exactly strangers when we entered the ring,” Gist said. “She’s a lefty and that’s everything backwards for me.

“If I was to win then I had to beat her to the punch, which I thought I was able to do tonight.”

Ellwood City’s Rosalindo Morales scored a split decision over Nyck Price of Columbus in a 143-pound match-up while Dwayne Roseberry of Cleveland was a unanimous decision winner over Brian McElrath of Akron at 155 pounds.

Cleveland’s Martell Adams scored a unanimous decision over Youngstown’s Chris Miller at 138 pounds.