First-time Ursuline fighters begin with K.O. Drugs wins

June 11, 2015 at 12:09a.m.

NORTH LIMA

The 28th annual K.O. Drugs High School Boxing Tournament began Wednesday with 23 bouts at the Old School Marketplace.

Five Ursuline High School entries won their initial fights, some first-timers looked like seasoned veterans and some seasoned veterans looked as if they could use another week in order to be at peak shape.

In short, there was plenty of action on opening night.

“We had some of the most competitive, evenly matched fights in recent memory. Knockouts were scarce and everyone showed up in shape ready to go the distance,” said K.O. Drugs founder and director Chuck Nelson. “Next Wednesday will determine who will fight for the championship on June 24 and we look forward to some very heated action.”

Isaiah Padilla of Struthers got the night started by scoring a unanimous decision over Bradley Beebe of Lakeview in an underclass featherweight clash.

Padilla forced two mandatory eight-counts on Beebe in the first round and another in the third.

“I’m very interested in boxing and want to see if this works out for me,” he said. “I studied [Beebe] before the fight and wanted to catch him with my hook or jab when he let his hands down. I just took advantage of what he gave me tonight.”

In one of two underclass welterweight pairings, Darren Jordonek of Mineral Ridge scored a unanimous decision over Spencer Hoops of West Branch.

“I saw the flyer in school and while I never boxed before, I sparred with my father in order to get ready,” Jordonek stated. “My jab caught him off-guard in the first round and that was big. My friends say that I am crazy, so I entered the competition. Tonight was a great experience and something I’d like to do it all four years while in high school.”

Howland’s Clinton Ewing scored a unanimous decision over Brian Shina of Austintown Fitch in the other underclass welterweight bout.

Ewing has excelled in martial arts for the past seven years and is a black belt in taekwondo.

He’ll earn his second degree in taekwondo on Saturday.

“This is my first time boxing, but I’ve done martial arts for seven years and that has really prepared me for tonight’s competition,” Ewing said. “This competition focuses on your upper body — strictly hands — and I absolutely love it.”

Ursuline’s Mario Fusillo scored a unanimous decision over Howland’s Xavier Calhoun in an underclass super middleweight fight.

“All five of us — Nick Armeni, Jeremy Ray, Anthony Morgione and Nicholas Petro — decided to do this together and I’m really happy that I was a part of this experience,” Fusillo said. “It was a lot of fun.”

Morgione scored a second-round TKO (35 seconds) over LaBrae’s Conner Wilson in an upperclass light heavyweight bout.

“I wanted to end it in the first round, but I’m not complaining,” Morgione said. “I was going to use my jab and follow it with my right, but it was my right that ended it.”

Canfield’s Alex George barely broke a sweat as he scored a first-round TKO (44 seconds) over Howland’s Brock Garretson in an upperclass, junior middleweight scrap.

“[Garretson] came out throwing wild punches. I just remembered my training, saw an opening on his stomach and was able to connect,” George said.

Colby Tryon, a student of ECOT, is a two-time K.O. Drugs champion and also a runner-up. He defeated Brian Frye of Garretsville Garfield by unanimous decision in an upperclass lightweight fight.

“When you step in the middle of the ring your mind just goes away. Those who get their mind back are the ones who succeed in the ring,” Tryon said. “I run three miles a day after work in order to stay in shape and that has paid off for me.”

Semifinal action will take place on June 17.

Those still interested in taking part in the tournament can call Nelson at 330-423-2203 or his son Pat at 330-727-0932.