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KO Drugs boxing tourney set to begin
By Greg Gulas
NORTH LIMA
The 28th annual K.O. Drugs High School Boxing Tournament gets underway tonight with 23 bouts on tap at the Old School Marketplace, 11836 South Ave.
The former South Range High School gymnasium will play host to 23 opening round bouts beginning at 7 p.m. with 13 underclass and 10 upperclass winners looking to advance.
The all-Wednesday event is open to high school boys and girls in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in Ohio, and Lawrence and Mercer counties in Pennsylvania with semifinal action slated for June 17 and championship titles set for June 24.
The double-elimination tournament consists of three divisions with 10 weight classes comprising each division.
Its underclass division includes ninth and 10th grade hopefuls while upperclass matchups feature 11th and 12th grade entries.
There is also a female division.
“Short rounds, extra-padded headgear and 18-ounce gloves help to ensure the safety of each participant,” tournament founder and director Chuck Nelson said. “Competent referees and corner men, as well as a physician and paramedics are also on site and remain an integral part of the competition with so many fights scheduled each night.”
Preliminary bouts have three 45-second rounds with a one-minute break between rounds.
Championship bouts are extended to one-minute frames.
Opening night action features participants from 26 area high schools with Ursuline in Mahoning County; Howland in Trumbull County and Greenville in Mercer County each sending five boxers to the bell.
Two upperclass heavyweight bouts feature Jackson-Milton’s Colten Nitzsky against LaBrae’s Jacob Sullivan and Andrew Cree, also of LaBrae, who goes up against Neshannock’s Dominic Martucci.
Nick Armeni of Ursuline will meet Jacob Morgan of Greenville in a cruiserweight pairing while in light heavyweight action, Ursuline’s Anthony Morgione and Garrett Oberle, also of Greenville square off.
In an all-Trumbull County scrap, Joseph Morris of Southington goes up against Conner Wilson of LaBrae, also at light heavyweight; junior middleweights Victor Arnoto of Canfield and Michael Haskett of Maplewood meet and in another junior middleweight scrap, Alex Gorge, also of Canfield takes on Brock Garretson of Howland.
Bouts highlighting the underclass division include Columbiana’s Chris Kosonovich, who tangles with Howland’s Charles Schneider in a heavyweight matchup; Ursuline’s Nicholas Petro, who meets Issac Wylie of Lisbon in a cruiserweight scrap and Austintown Fitch’s Brian Shina, who will meet Darren Jordonek of Mineral Ridge in a welterweight matchup.
Also, Mario Fusillo of Ursuline faces Xavier Calhoun of Howland in a super middleweight pairing while Jeremy Ray, also of Ursuline, goes up against Boone Beabout of Austintown Fitch at light heavyweight.
“Since the tournament began, K.O. Drugs Boxing has provided an opportunity for many young men and women to build confidence while committing to a meaningful program,” Nelson added. “Every participant agrees in writing to refrain from drug or alcohol use during the three-week competition and that is something of which we remain most proud. The young men and women who enter gain confidence, self-esteem and mutual respect while competing as beginners in the ring.”