GULAS: Amateurs, professionals, celebrities to battle for charity

A 10-bout amateur fight card plus sparring sessions from local professionals and five celebrity match-ups highlight the June 11 Lights Out Management fight card at California Palms Hotel, 1051 North Canfield Road, Austintown.

Entitled “Fighting for Hope,” Lights Out Management has teamed with Banner Supply, the Original Jay’s Hot Dogs and Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley to raise funds and awareness in helping the lives of chronically and terminally ill area children.

“The is going to be one great evening with amateur fighters showing off their skills, local professional greats staging sparring sessions and local celebrities going at it, all for one great cause,” said Mike Cefalde of Lights Out Management.

Guest referees will include Craig Kikta, Sen. Joe Schiavoni, Lou O’Neill and Attorney Lou Schiavoni.

“It should be a really fun evening for everyone,” Cefalde said.

Youngstown boxers include Isaac Chatman, Colby Clayton, Austin Gibson, Mardell Halas, De’Aaron Mitchell, Drew Smith, Gabe Owens and Chris Young.

Tony Spano, executive director and founder of the Hope Foundation, called the event an excellent opportunity to help spread the word about his organization.

“We are honored to team up with Lights Out Management for a variety of reasons, one of which is an opportunity to educate the public in regards to what we are doing for children throughout our community,” Spano said. “Our foundation is completely volunteer and we just want to continue making a difference for those in need.”

Scheduled sparring sessions will come from: Jake “The Bull” Giuriceo, former UBO champion; Kikta, a former IBC champion; Sammy Calderon, the first local fighter to appear on HBO’s “Boxing Night;” Tommy “Machine Gun” Joseph; Roland “Irish Express” Cummings; Keith Burnside; Frankie Donnadio; and Terry Tortora.

Tom Cordell, a local trainer and promoter, will go up against Burnside. Tortora will take on Joseph. Cummings and Calderon will square off.

Jim “The Showboy” Loboy, local weatherman and Channel 33’s “Daybreak host,” will take on Spano.

“I’m in the prediction business and on June 11, I predict a downpour of pain for Tony Spano,” said Loboy, a former Campbell Memorial baseball standout. “He just better be ready for a war in the ring.

“I have the blood of Campbell steel running through my veins and those in attendance will see it on display that night, so get your popcorn ready because ‘Showtime’ is rapidly approaching.”

Other celebrity match-ups include Ray “The Amazing Race” Housteau taking on Phil “The Body” Albenze; John “Doc” Flauto going up against Jeremy “Red” Byers; Davis “The Pit Bull” Oracio, Jr. meeting David “Southside Skinny” Shaffer; and Tony “The Tiger” DiMuzio hosting “The Amazing“ Louie Stavato.

Stavato, who along with Housteau were “Amazing Race” participants, is a retired Rhode Island detective.

Zack Page, Billy “The Bounty Hunter” Greenwalt and Drew “The Chief” Rauzan also are expected to appear.

The event will honor the late Dan Sebastiani and Sam Traficanti with a standing 10-bell count.

VIP ringside seats cost $50. General admission tickets cost $15 and tables of eight range in price from $300 to $400.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with the first fight hitting the bell at 7 p.m.

Further information may be obtained by calling Cordell at 330-717-4201, Cefalde at 330-787-4228 or Spano 330-728-2669. Information is available at the website www.HopeMV.org/fight.

Greg Gulas covers boxing for The Vindicator. Email him at sports@vindy.com