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Zarbaugh, Sullivan win first-round KO Drugs bouts
By Greg Gulas
NORTH LIMA
It was an easy decision for McDonald’s Mike Zarbaugh when it came time to commit to this year’s K.O. Drugs High School Boxing Tournament.
For Mike Sullivan of Struthers, last year’s upperclass “Most Promising Boxer” honoree, the thought of remaining undefeated was all the motivation he needed when it came time to affix his name to this year’s registration card.
Both fighters were victorious Thursday in opening-round action of the 27th annual event at Shops at the North Lima Business Complex and advance to next week’s semifinal round.
Zarbaugh, a freshman who also runs track for the Blue Devils, never boxed before Thursday night but watched in awe as his brother, Donnie, earned three tournament titles while also finishing runner-up during a stellar four-year tournament career.
The younger Zarbaugh picked right up where his older brother left off as he scored a unanimous decision over Joe Vitko of Leetonia in underclass middleweight action.
“My strategy was to just get in the ring and throw whatever I could at him [Vitko],” Zarbaugh said. “I run track so I felt like I was in pretty good shape, but once you’re in the ring it sure feels a lot longer than 45 seconds for a round.
“I really enjoyed watching my brother when he boxed and my whole family had an influence on my decision to enter this year’s competition. I’ll try to stay in shape for my next match by continuing to run track.”
Sullivan moved to 4-0 the past two tournaments by scoring a second-round TKO over Jonny Sprague of West Branch in an upperclass super middleweight pairing.
“I’ve spent the last two months training so I felt like I was ready to go when the bell finally did ring,” Sullivan said. “I wanted to start with my jab and just work the entire body area.
“He [Sprague] was a tough opponent and gave it his all. It just feels good to remain undefeated.”
The opening night featured 33 bouts — 18 underclass pairings and 15 upperclass matchups.
In an upperclass middleweight scrap, Rashan Bell of Youngstown Christian scored a split decision over Champion’s John Prebonik as he knocked his opponent down in the first round and then drew blood with a shot to the nose in the second round.
“I underestimated his skill as he snuck up on me several times during the fight,” Bell said. “He had a lot of heart as well. I’ve never boxed before but this was so much fun, I feel like I can go a few more rounds again tonight.”
Also in upperclass action, Lisbon’s Chase Johnson barely broke a sweat as he posted a first-round TKO over Cody Powell of Champion.
“I hit him with one body shot and then concentrated on the face area, never thinking the fight would end so fast,” Johnson said. “I ran to keep in shape and will continue to do that until my next fight. This was a lot of fun and everything that I thought it would be when I entered.”
In underclass action, Jonathan Swoboda of South Range scored a unanimous decision over Alex Burson of Western Reserve in a lightweight bout and Canfield’s Kyle West won by unanimous decision over Lee’shon Pinkins of Farrell in a junior welterweight pairing.
“My corner had to keep reminding me to jeep my hands up because I have a tendency to drop them,” Swoboda said.
West also wrestles for the Cardinals.
“While wrestling helped my endurance, I still need to be a little more conditioned and that is what I will concentrate on for next Thursday’s semifinals,” West said.
Leetonia’s David Scyoc, a freshman who was fighting in his first tournament, scored a second-round TKO over Canfield’s Mike Syphord in a welterweight clash.
“My strategy was to be the first hitter and draw blood,” Scyoc said. “When he started to bleed in the first round, I felt like I had him so I just continued to throw face shots.”
The semifinals are slated for April 3 with championship action scheduled for April 10.
The all-Thursday event remains open to high school boys and girls in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in Ohio, and Lawrence and Mercer counties in Pennsylvania.