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Salem-based fighters to compete in Golden Gloves
By Greg Gulas
SALEM
The 87th annual Cleveland Area Golden Gloves competition will feature five area fighters from the Salem Boxing Club with preliminary action set to begin today at Brook Park Recreation Center, 17400 Holland Rd.
Quarterfinal action is slated for Saturday at 6 p.m. with semifinal matchups on tap April 17 at 7 p.m. and all finals pairings slated for April 18 beginning at 6 p.m.
The local fighters, each of whom is trained and schooled by club co-owners Ron Jackson and Bobby Plegge, include Mardell Halas (160 pounds), Bryce Reiter (165), Jordan Troy (122), Shawn Muldowney (super heavyweight) and Kara Socciarelli (141), the only area female scheduled to take part.
Other than Halas (5-3) and Troy (0-1), who are novices, the other three hopefuls are sub-novices and looking to make a splash their first time in the ring.
By luck of the draw, both Socciarelli and Muldowney have already advanced to the championship round on April 18.
“Each fighter is unique in their own, simple way. Kara is all business the minute she gets to the gym while with Bryce, school always comes first,” Jackson said. “Shawn has unlimited potential and is a diamond in the rough while Jordan is a southpaw who simply perseveres — a fighter who will spar with anyone and doesn’t waste a minute at the gym or when in the ring. Mardell on the other hand is our most-seasoned fighter and someone who gives his all every time he puts on his gloves.”
Founded in 1923 by Arch Ward, the late sports editor of the Chicago Tribune, Ward’s idea was to stage a city-wide amateur boxing tournament, sponsored by the paper with each champion awarded a miniature golden glove for his efforts.
The concept grew into a national phenomenon and at one time, the Youngstown Golden Gloves drew overflow crowds at its host site — historic Struthers Field House.
The list of notable former Golden Gloves amateur champions that went on to outstanding professional careers include, but is not limited to Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler, Michael Spinks, Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, Johnny Tapia, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Oscar De la Hoya and Jermain Taylor.
All five local participants believe that the Cleveland Golden Gloves tournament can serve as a kick-start to their ring careers.
“This is my first experience and while I’m not good at any other sports, boxing just clicked with me,” Socciarelli said. “I came to Salem B.C. last August, witnessed my first nose bleed and after they put me in the ring with the boxer who caused the bloody nose, I was hooked. They told me that I could hit him and he wouldn’t be allowed to retaliate, but I felt like I might hurt him. I’ve been training ever since and now, seven months later I’m ready for my first fight.”
Reiter, who started training late last summer, said his love for contact sports is what drew him to the ring.
“I like sports that are physically challenging and while you train as a team, it’s still an individual sport once you hop into the ring.”
Muldowney said his father, also Shawn, lost a controversial split decision during his Golden Gloves appearance in 1986 and has been his inspiration as he moves forward with his ring career.
“We watch a lot of fights together, either on television or YouTube and the goal is to analyze and then emulate the boxers that we are watching,” Muldowney added. “I love watching both Gerry Cooney and George Foreman’s fights.”
Troy juggles a job and training and is looking to even his record while Halas hopes to use the Golden Gloves in order to advance his career.
Halas’ mother, who passed away last May after battling lung cancer, serves as his inspiration.
“I’m in the best shape since my senior year in high school,” noted the former K.O. Drugs High School Boxing Tournament champion.
“Every time I train or fight there’s a little pin that I wear on my sock that says Mom, which was given to me by Ron’s wife, Shirley, so my mother is with me all the time.”
Plegge said all five fighters are ready to take the next step in their boxing careers.
“Our five fighters are ready to go and really looking forward to this weekend. The key for everyone is to relax, fight their own fight and don’t freeze just because there are people in the crowd,” he stated.
Friday’s 15-bout preliminary round gets underway at 7 p.m.