Charity event set to help family of dead boxer

An amateur boxing card to help raise funds for expenses incurred by the family of the Dearborn, Mich., boxer Hamzah Ajahmi, is scheduled for March 5 at St. Peter and Paul Ukranian Orthodox Banquet Center, 1025 North Belle Vista Avenue.

On Dec. 19, Ajahmi made his professional debut in Youngstown against Warren’s Anthony Taylor and was injured severely in the fourth round. The 19-year-old boxer died on Dec. 23.

Entitled “Tribute to a Boxer,” the event next month will be presented by Lights Out Management in conjunction with M&C Construction, California Palms Hotel and Detroit’s Hype Athletic Center, Ajahmi’s training facility.

“This will mark the seventh fight that we have promoted for various charities and to date have distributed over $40,000 that has been raised,” Mike Cefalde, Lights Out Management official, said. “We tell everybody up front that we earmark 80 percent of all monies raised for that designated charity.

“We are doing this with the blessings of both Hamzah’s family and trainer, Mo Hamood, who will be in attendance and is also scheduled to have two fighters on the card.”

Hamood said he harbors no ill will against Taylor.

“It was just bad timing as Anthony [Taylor] did nothing wrong,” Hamood said. “He has nothing to be remorseful about.

“Doctors have told us that this could have happened while [Ajahmi] was walking down the street or driving a car.”

Hamood said he’s satisfied with how Bernie Profato and the Ohio Athletic Commission handled the injury.

“They did everything the right way,” Hamood said.

Hamood will be staging a 20-bout amateur card at Hype Athletic Center on Feb. 27 to benefit Ajahmi. He called the Youngstown event a great idea with perfect timing.

“We were together the past five years and he [Hamzah] was just like a son to me,” Hamood said. “I’ve trained over 1,000 kids and Hamzah was the type of kid who never went out, swore and was religiously at the gym and on time.

“He had a great work ethic, was humble and liked everyone.”

Tom Cordell, area matchmaker who represents the Downtown Athletic Club, is hoping to out together 12-15 pairings for the card.

“We’re expecting a great event with excellent match-ups,” Cordell said. “Boxers from Youngstown, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Detroit will take part and all realize that the night is for one good cause.”

Hamood said Ajahmi wanted to be a professional from the minute he started boxing.

“All he ever talked about was going pro, but I told him to relax because there was plenty of time,” Hamood said. “When the fight with Anthony opened up, his dad said ‘let’s do it.’”

Hamood’s two fighters, both from Dearborn Heights, Mich., are Hussein Billal (152 pounds) and 11 year-old Keonte Johnson (80 pounds).

“‘Tribute to a Fighter’ is a bittersweet night for both Lights Out Management and the Ajahmi family,” Mike Cefalde, Jr. said. “We’ve always wanted to give back to boxing and the local community and this is the night that we can honor the legacy of a young man while also giving back to his family.”

Tickets cost $15 for general admission tickets and $30 for VIP. Tables are available for $300 and $400. Tickets are available at Patsy’s Bar and Grill, Bobby Clemens’ Wine Cellar, One-Stop Beverage and Jensen Lock and Alarm.

Further information may be obtained by calling Cordell at 330-717-4201 or Mike Cefalde at 330-610-2306.

A follow-up celebrity boxing event is scheduled for California Palms on June 12.

Correspondent Greg Gulas covers boxing for The Vindicator.