Columbiana High School to host fight show

COLUMBIANA

A 12-bout amateur boxing card, presented by Sam Calderon of Downtown Boxing Club and co-promoted by Rocky’s Personalized Training and Fitness Center, is scheduled for Saturday and will be held at Columbiana High School.

Boxers from Youngstown, Akron, Butler, Cleveland, Columbus and Pittsburgh will highlight the “Columbiana County Boxing Show” with a female pairing between Torrie Ward of East Palestine and Pittsburgh’s Paige Ott-Holmes also on the card.

It will mark the amateur debut of Ward, a 2015 K.O. Drugs High School Boxing Tournament champion.

“We have assembled an excellent card with some hard-hitting amateur boxers ready to show what they can do in the ring,” Calderon said. “We’re hoping to help raise some funds as Rocky continues to furnish his new Columbiana facility, also hoping to assist some of the fighter’s with their licensing fees.”

Local fighters representing the Downtown Boxing Club include Clement Franklin (178 pounds), Chris Young (189 pounds), Colby Clayton (185 pounds) and Andre Ballinger (168 pounds).

Franklin is 16-4 overall while Young looks to improve on his 8-3 slate.

“Clement [Franklin] is one of the hardest working boxers I have ever been around. He’s a hard puncher, has ring savvy and just knows how to box,” Calderon added. “Chris [Young] on the other hand is a boxer who is determined to get better every time he hits the gym. He, too, is a hard worker with plenty of desire for the game.”

Clayton is a Boardman native also set to make his debut while Ballinger (1-1) looks to climb above the .500 mark.

“Colby [Clayton] is trained by Larry Filer and can flat out hit. We’re all excited to see how he will do his first time out while Andre [Ballinger] is a gifted athlete, a natural who picks up things very quickly. He’s become a real student of the game,” Calderon stated.

Ward is the hometown favorite, fighting out of the Columbiana Boxing Club and will go up against Ott-Holmes, who is trained by Jose Caraballo.

Caraballo most recently played the role of Eli Frost in last year’s boxing movie “Southpaw,” which starred Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams and Forest Whitaker.

“Jose Caraballo is an excellent trainer and someone highly-respected in the business,” Calderon noted. “You can bet that he will have his fighters ready.”

Akron is represented by Jose Rodriguez (175 pounds) and Jabrill Hawkins (125 pounds); Charlie Clouston (132) of Butler is set; Cleveland will send Devin Young (132) and Khamar Abdulla (110); Columbus showcases brothers Shavell (132 pounds) and Ronell Johnson (125) with Deonte Irving (175) and C.C. Clark (160) joining Ott-Holmes as Pittsburgh representatives.

“This is an all-amateur event with some very interesting pairings, some which will be finalized early next week,” Tom Kordell, event matchmaker said. “Some fighters are seasoned amateurs, others just starting out with a couple making their amateur debuts. You can bet that each group is set and ready to go.”

Tickets are $15 at the door, $200 for a table of eight and $10 for those that are 12 or younger.

Doors open at 6 p.m., the first fight hits the bell at 7 p.m. and further information can be obtained by calling 330-951-6333.

Greg Gulas is a Vindicator correspondent. He covers boxing and other combat sports. Email him at sports@vindy.com.