Boxing show to take place on Saturday

March 2, 2017 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

No stranger to area boxing fans, Akron’s David Rodriguez will headline Saturday’s “March Badness” boxing card at Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Banquet Center, 1025 North Belle Vista Road, Youngstown.

Sponsored by Lights Out Management, the J.L. Ellis Commercial, Industrial and Residential Construction, Barry Dyngles and Upstairs Lounge, Rodriguez will take on Hussein Bilal in a 152 pound match-up that will assist with fundraising efforts for the area’s Rescue Mission and the Frank Kaydo Sr. athletic scholarship at Youngstown State.

Kaydo’s son, Frank Jr., is an Austintown native who played football for the Penguins from 1996-99 and was a member of their 1997 Division I-AA national championship and 1999 runner-up squads.

“This is shaping up to be one of the very best cards we’ve ever been able to assemble,” said Lights Out matchmaker Tom Cordell. “Our three area gyms are well represented with several fighters from Akron, Detroit and Toronto, Ohio’s Bord Boxing Club also committed. Plus, pairings featuring fighters from Pittsburgh and Cleveland and Pittsburgh always seem to be memorable.”

The night will also feature two co-main events, the first of which pits Brian Sims of Downtown Boxing Club against Cody Orahoske of Cleveland in a 160 pound scrap, followed by a heavyweight match-up between Chris Young, also of Downtown B.C. who will take on Isaiah Brewer of Cleveland Fight Factory.

“The card is very competitive and benefits two very good causes,” Cordell said.

Two 100-pound fights will get the night started, the first featuring Rick Stull (Bord Boxing Club) and Ivan Rodriguez of South Side B.C. and the second showcasing Jesse Mook of Pittsburgh and Detroit’s Keonte Johnson.

At 125 pounds, Uriel Huerta (Cleveland) will meet Basil Nasser (Detroit) and Shakbell Torres (Cleveland) will take on Jackson Behun of Jack Loew’s South Side Boxing Club while at 130 pounds, Cleveland’s Frank Brown goes up against Teddy Mrjanja, Jr. of Pittsburgh.

There are three 135-pound pairings and also two 140-pound bouts slated.

Nate Cordova of Keith Burnside’s Boxing Club in Struthers meets Kevin Lopez of Cleveland, Isaac Chatman of Downtown B.C. goes up against Zi Stalnacker of Akron and Mook’s brother, Josh, takes on Johnny Ford of Alliance at 135 pounds.

Div Kaddah (Cleveland) is paired with Mohammed Fardi (Detroit) and Brian Torres of Cleveland set to entertain Pittsburgh’s Brody White at 140 pounds.

A 155-pound bout features Nate Young (Bord Boxing Club) and R.J. Collins of Downtown B.C. and at 160 pounds, Mike Sullivan of Burnside A.C. meets Hector Chirinos of Cleveland.

The final two fights will send Larry Wayne Davis of Cleveland to the canvas against Rhodell Franklin (Downtown B.C.) at 190 pounds and heavyweight Brian Gideon of Cleveland taking on Josh Barbee of Pittsburgh.

The event will also honor four area boxing notables including Sam Calderon, Lou O’Neil, Bobby Plegge and Craig Snyder.

Calderon (12-7-1, 4 KO’s) is a longtime boxing trainer for Downtown B.C. who won his first 10 professional fights and also appeared on HBO Boxing.

O’Neil is a longtime contributor and ex-amateur champion while Plegge (24-23-1 10, KO’s), nicknamed the “Salem Bomber,” was a welterweight who fought former WBA, NABF and Ohio State lightweight champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini.

Snyder (18-8, 10 KO’s) is a boxing historian and author who fought Adrian Dodson for the WBO Inter-Continental super welterweight title in 1995.

The final fight of the evening is an exhibition featuring former Chaney High School athlete Tony “The Legend” DiMuzio.

Other sponsors include M&C Construction, Comfort Keepers, California Palms, City Printing, Banner Supply and Mobile Bail Bonds.

VIP ringside seats are $50, general admission tickets are $15 with tables of eight ranging from $400 for prime tables and $300, also for tables of eight.

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 Mike Cefalde at 330-610-2306.