Wednesday, June 21, 2017
By Greg Gulas
YOUNGSTOWN
Brian Sims of Downtown Boxing Club will meet Cody Orahoske of Cleveland in the main event of Saturday’s outdoor amateur boxing show St.’s Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Banquet Center, 1025 North Belle Vista Avenue, Youngstown.
Titled “Punching for Paws,” the 15 bout card will feature boxers from Youngstown, Salem, New Castle and Ellwood City locally, as well as Akron, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Toledo.
Proceeds generated are earmarked for the area’s Friends of Fido organization.
“All boxers are definitely ready to go with all 15 bouts equally paired,” matchmaker Tom Cordell said.
“It’s an outdoor show — weather permitting — benefitting a great cause and we expect an exciting evening of non-stop action. The Ukrainian Hall is a perfect setting for this show.”
Co-sponsored by Brandy Lynn and Michael Simon, in conjunction with J.L. Ellis Construction Company and Lights Out Management, the night will feature presenters Kate and Raquel Abel, Felia Busk and Stephanie Rivera and will honor Mahoning Valley political leaders Ken Carano, Jim Davis, David Ditzler, John McNally, Carol Rimedio-Righetti and Anthony Traficanti.
“I met with Mike Cefalde and his Lights Out Management team when they were originally getting together. When they told me about their idea to donate the proceeds after expenses to local charities and fundraising organizations. I was in right from the jump,” Rimedio-Righetti said.
“Their shows have helped multiple groups and when they told me that this one would benefit our new dog shelter, I was absolutely excited.”
Area gyms that are represented include Downtown Boxing Club, Burnside Athletic Club, Jack Loew’s South Side Boxing Club and Ron Jackson’s Salem Boxing Club.
The lone female match-up has Jane Quinlan of Pittsburgh taking on Ellwood City’s Maria Antunez.
“Brian Sims and Cody Orahoske are both hard punchers and know their way around the ring,” Cordell said.
“In addition, the other fighters have been training hard and cannot wait to go at it in the ring.”
In a 195-pound scrap, Delante Brady of Akron will meet Dalton Rosta of Downtown Boxing Club while two 190 pound pairings find Carrington Bell of New Castle taking on Taurus Wolfe and Cleveland’s Larry Davis meeting Rodell Franklin.
Wolfe and Franklin also hail from Downtown Boxing Club.
At 160 pounds, R.J. Dolwick of Downtown B.C. takes on Carl Polk of Cleveland while Mike Sullivan of Keith Burnside’s Athletic Club goes up against Joshua Perkins of Akron.
A 150 pound pairing features Salem’s James Keas meeting Xavier Rodriguez of Pittsburgh while at 140 pounds, Nate Willingham (Downtown B.C.) meets and Eric Lann of Akron.
In two local Ohio versus Pennsylvania match-ups, New Castle’s Nico Froch goes up against Kemp Tarver of Akron at 135 pounds while Ellwood City’s Tyler Jaquay is set to meet Jordan Suarez of Cleveland in a 120 pound pairing.
Another 135 pound fight has Zi Stalnaker of Akron meeting Isaac Chatman of Downtown Boxing Club.
Completing the card is a 70 pound scrap between Cleveland’s Jhameer Montgomery and Leo Rodriguez of Pittsburgh, an 80 pound pairing that sends Gregory Brazil (Cleveland) against Matt D’Amore (Pittsburgh) and at 90 pounds, South Side Boxing Club’s Jacorian Dent takes on Kevin Roche of Cleveland.
Doors open at 6 p.m. with the first fight hitting the bell at 7 p.m.
Further information can be obtained by calling either Cordell at 330-717-4201 or Cefalde at 330-787-4228.