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FIGHTING IRISH
Ursuline’s Fusillo, Morgione earn top honors at K.O. Drugs boxing finale
NORTH LIMA
Mario Fusillo and Jeremy Ray are classmates at Ursuline High School and training partners in the boxing ring.
For three minutes Wednesday night, the two squared off with more than just bragging rights on the line. The undefeated boxers fought for the underclass division light heavyweight title in the K.O. Drugs High School Boxing Tournament at The Old South Marketplace in North Lima.
“It hurts,” Fusillo said. “But you gotta do it.
“It’s fun; nothing personal.”
The match went the distance — three one-minute rounds — with Fusillo getting the better of Ray by unanimous decision.
“It felt good,” said Fusillo, who was also awarded with the most promising boxer award for the underclass division.
“I got a little tired out there in the third round. I tried to avoid it, but it’s different once you’re out there in the ring.”
Fusillo, who will be a sophomore at Ursuline in the fall, said he and Ray avoided any trash talk leading up to the fight.
“Nah, we’re good friends and great teammates,” Fusillo said. “We just wanted to have a good time.”
They both enjoyed watching the upperclass division light heavyweight title fight, as Ursuline senior Anthony Morgione defeated Joseph Morris of Southington High school by unanimous decision to claim another title belt for the Irish — and the other most promising boxer award in the upperclass division.
Fusillo, who was offering encouragement from Morgione’s corner with his title belt wrapped around his waist, had a big smile and hug waiting for his teammate as Ursuline swept the major awards for the night.
The lone knockout of the evening came in the heavyweight title fight in the underclass division. Ricky Cobbin of Struthers High School sent Chris Kosonovich of Columbiana to the mat 59 seconds into the first round.
Referee Jake “The Bull” Giuriceo, a professional boxer who grew up in Campbell and went 17-0 in the K.O. Boxing tournament as a high school fighter, called the match after Kosonovich fell to his face and remained on the mat for a few seconds.
“I was actually scared, because I didn’t know what he was capable of,” Cobbin said of his feeling before the fight.
It was only his second career fight — his first coming in last week’s K.O. Drugs qualifier. Cobbin also said he’s never had any formal boxing training, but that he’s “just been running a lot.”
That’s about to change. Keith Burnside, a local trainer who was ringside in one of the corners during the tournament, recruited Cobbin to start training with him at his gym, Burnside Boxing Club.
A football and basketball player for the Wildcats, Cobbin admitted he may have found a new sport in boxing.
“I really like watching fights,” he said. “And it keeps me out of trouble, too.”
Tori Ward of East Palestine earned the most promising female fighter award for her unanimous decision victory over Katie Bender of Brookfield in the lightweight title bout.