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St. Lucy to host boxing show Saturday
By Greg Gulas
CAMPBELL
A 14-bout amateur boxing card featuring area veterans Brian Sims, Drew Smith and Mardell Halas is set for Saturday at St. Lucy Palermo Banquet Center, 394 Tenney Ave.
Presented by Chuck Nelson and Chuck Haskell and titled “All-Star Boxing Show 3,” the event will pit Cleveland Golden Gloves champion Johnny Ford against New York City-Metro Golden Gloves champion Ofascio Falcon in the main event at 132 pounds.
The pairing is a rematch of All-Star Boxing Show 2 scrap, which was won by Ford by split decision as Falcon looks to even the score with the fighter he has self-proclaimed his new Ohio rival.
“I am really eager to see how the fights on this card play out,” Nelson said. “I have taken quite a bit of time and done my research in order to make sure that all match-ups make are the best that we have assembled. Those unable to make it to the Palermo Center will be missing out on some hard-hitting action while viewing some of the very best talent this area has to offer.”
The co-main will pit Sims of Downtown Boxing Club as he goes up against Casey Austin of Cleveland at 160 pounds.
“Brian [Sims] has been training very hard, is in great shape and focused on his fight with Casey Austin,” trainer Tom Cordell said. “He’s gotten in some great sparring and has been conditioning three to five days a week in order to build up his strength and stamina.”
Also at 160 pounds, the multiple KO Drugs champion Halas represents Salem Boxing Club when he goes against Russell Scout of Cleveland.
Burnside A.C. is well-represented with Smith, a current Youngstown State student, who meets Mixed Martial Arts standout Chaka Worthy at 145 pounds.
Also trained by Keith Burnside is Nate Cordova, who goes up against Cleveland native Brandon McCulla at 145 pounds while Waldemar Candalaria is also set for action against an opponent yet to be determined.
Erie’s Chuck Bizarro will take on Justin Patton of Pittsburgh in a welterweight matchup while another welterweight clash has Chris Hill of New Castle set to meet Alexander Heywood of Alliance.
“Chuck Bizzaro comes from a great boxing family while Justin Patton is a tremendous MMA artist trying assert himself as a boxing standout,” added Haskell of Steel Valley Promotions. “I, too, am excited to see how the MMA fighters will fare against some of the best boxing talent this area has to offer.”
Female bouts include undefeated Maria Antunez of Pittsburgh as she squares off against Cleveland’s Asia Smith at 125 pounds, while at 130 pounds, Salem’s Alexa Gossett goes up against Hannah Smith of Toronto.
Rounding out the card will be Ben Meese of Cleveland as he takes on Chuck Smith, also of Cleveland with Aliquippa’s Kevin Sigfried meeting Brad Leggitt of Mansfield. Both are 190-pound pairings.
Greg Weilander, a teammate of Sims with Downtown B.C. will go up against Cleveland’s Chad Robinson at 168 pounds.
Advance tickets are $20 for general admission, $25 at the door the night of the show with VIP tables still available.
Further information can be obtained by calling Chuck Haskell and Steel Valley Promotions at 724-699-1725.