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Ring of Fire: Former Boxer joins Struthers fire department
By Sarah Lehr
STRUTHERS
Jake Giuriceo was sworn in as the newest Struthers firefighter while sporting a fading purple splotch under one eye.
The bruise was leftover from his final fight last month in Reno, Nev.
Giuriceo lost that match but still can boast of winning 20 of 27 bouts as a professional boxer.
The Campbell native, 32, still trains and spars at the gym but says he doesn’t plan to take on more professional fights.
“I’m going from fighting other athletes to fighting fires,” Giuriceo said. “It’s definitely a change – a change in opponents, a change in scenery, a change in life.”
Giuriceo started work this week as an engineer for the Struthers Fire Department, which involves maintaining equipment and responding to emergency calls.
He began working for the city two years ago as a maintenance supervisor and says his new career path will allow him to focus on his family.
He lives in Campbell with his wife and two daughters, age 1 and 2.
Giuriceo has been boxing since he was a 14-year-old student at Campbell Memorial High School.
His teacher noticed he was always getting into fights and suggested he try the sport as a more productive outlet.
“I think fighters are born,” he said. “I was born with a liking to punch people.”
He went pro in 2009 and competed as a welterweight, which is the division between light and middleweight. Giuriceo earned the nickname “The Bull” and has fond memories of traveling the country. He was greeted by cheering fans, who wore T-shirts that read, “Mess with the bull, you get the horns.”
Giuriceo counts retired boxer Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, a Youngstown native and lightweight world champion, among his mentors. He has only positive things to say about Mancini and admires him, especially, for his dedication to his hometown fans.
“He’s a good dude,” Giuriceo said. “Most people of his stature would blow people off.”
Giuriceo believes there are aspects of boxing that will translate to his new job.
Because of his training, the physical portion of the firefighting test wasn’t a problem for him. As a boxer in the ring, Giuriceo said, he tried to disassociate from his fear. But, as a firefighter, he thinks it will be healthy to have some fear of risky situations.
“From what I’ve heard from the other firefighters, it’s very dangerous and you have to know that and never forget that,” he said. “Never be too confident.”
Giuriceo said he doesn’t want to be one of those athletes who struggles to give up the world of professional boxing.
“That’s not me, though, thanks to the Lord,” he said, pointing upward at the ceiling of the fire department garage. “I’d be an idiot without him.”
He laughed and added, “Well, I’m an idiot with him.”