Ursuline’s Nick Armeni wins K.O. Drugs title bout

June 18, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

Ursuline fighter takes cruiserweight

title at K.O. Drugs Tournament

NORTH LIMA

Since he was eight years old, Ursuline High’s Nick Armeni has used the movie “Rocky” and its theme song “Gonna Fly Now” as inspiration for his many sporting competitions.

The past several years, however, when he asked his father, Rob (a former Boardman High and Youngstown State baseball star) if he could enter the annual K.O. Drugs High School Boxing Tournament, the answer was always a firm, “Let’s just wait until next year.”

After relenting to his son’s wishes this year, Rob now has a big smile on his face after Nick scored a unanimous decision over Joseph Morris of Southington to capture Wednesday’s upperclass cruiserweight title and main event at the Old School Marketplace.

The night also included 11 underclass and four upperclass semifinal bouts.

Armeni forced a standing eight-count of Morris in each of the first two rounds of their fight to set the tone.

“‘Rocky’ is my film and my song and I even watched the movie before I came here tonight so that I would be ready,” Armeni said. “I don’t get into the ring trying to be the best or most skilled. I just want to go toe-to-toe with my opponent, taking his best shot while giving him mine.”

Ursuline’s Anthony Morgione moved to 2-0 with a unanimous decision over Braydon Scott of Campbell Memorial in a super middleweight semifinal.

“After the first round I honestly felt like I could lose this fight, so I had to dig down and also draw from the movie ‘Rocky’ to find the desire to finish it off,” Morgione said. “My body was saying no, but my body and soul were saying go and that’s exactly what I did.”

Maplewood’s Michael Haskett moved to 2-0 by scoring a unanimous decision over Canfield’s Alex George in a junior middleweight bout.

“I felt that by not fighting last week was a disadvantage because the others had a chance to already get into the ring.” Haskett said. “Having taken martial arts since I was 14 years old helped me out. I knew I’d get to the championships because none of these boxers are on my level. The belt is mine.”

In underclass action, Ricky “Little Tyson” Cobbin made it a successful debut as he scored a unanimous decision over Greenville’s Sean Perseghetti in a heavyweight pairing.

“I did much better than I thought I would — all I wanted to do was survive and advance,” Cobbin said. “The second round was my biggest challenge, but I was able to regroup in the third round.”

Poland’s Chad Svatosky got the night started by scoring a third-round TKO over Maplewood’s Ian Fry in a super lightweight bout.

He forced a standing eight-count in the first round and two more in the second round, when he also drew blood from Fry’s nose.

“I tried to work his face the entire fight and at the same time, didn’t feel like he could get anything on me,” Svatosky said.

Maplewood’s Paul Crupi forced five eight-counts on Brian Shina of Austintown Fitch as he scored a unanimous decision in the first of two welterweight pairings.

Howland’s Clinton Ewing earned a unanimous decision over Darren Jordonek of Mineral Ridge in the other welterweight fight.

“Last week my strategy was to box, but this week I just wanted to hit him. I was trying to be technical to the best of my ability,” Crupi said.

Added Ewing: “It was much more challenging for me this week. I had a lot of endurance and didn’t slow down until the second round. I was able to catch his uppercut at the end of the second round and then used it against him.”

Anthony Kirksey of Warren Harding was a split decision winner over Nicholas Petro of Ursuline in a cruiserweight bout.

“My strategy was to bob-and-weave, use my jab and keep moving my feet,” Kirksey said. “I’ll continue to train hard next week in preparation of the championships next Wednesday. I won’t let up.”

Twenty championships and four consolation bouts set for June 24 beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Call Chuck Nelson at 330-423-2203 or son, Pat at 330-727-0932 for more information.