Simms wins main event in Housteau fight show

October 1, 2017 at 12:00a.m.

Lights Out Management hosted Housteau card

YOUNGSTOWN

Not even a last-minute change of opponents could keep Youngstown’s Brian Simms from displaying his talents.

Originally scheduled to meet Akron’s Brian McElrath during Saturday’s Lights Out Management 12-bout amateur boxing card, Simms (13-4) topped C.C. Clark in the main event at Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Banquet Center.

“To be honest, I really didn’t know much about either fighter and just prepared to do my best,” Simms said. “Moving around in the ring all three rounds and using my jab was the key.”

Youngstown’s Drew Smith, fighting out of Keith Burnside’s Athletic Club, moved to 10-9 with a unanimous decision over Charlie Clouston at 140 pounds.

“I’ve always had the stamina, now it’s time to use my skills,” Smith said. “The first round could have gone either way, but the second round is when I thought I created some distance. I used my left hand the entire fight, especially when he came at me.”

An all-Youngstown pairing had Kevin Philomena score a unanimous decision over Ryan Williams in his debut at 130 pounds.

“All I wanted to do was score as many points as I possibly could,” Philomena said. “My left jab helped me with my combinations and it seemed like everything I threw just worked out.”

Youngstown’s Isaac Chatman won a unanimous decision at 135 over Akron’s Zi Stalnaker.

At 130, Ontario’s Damien Van Luer — one of six Canadian fighters to make the journey to Youngstown — stopped Cleveland’s Chaz Rodriguez of Cleveland when referee George Mills stopped the fight midway through the opening round.

The first of two female pairings had Maria Antunez (Ellwood City) score a unanimous decision at 125 over Cleveland’s Asia Smith. Courtnei Harriston (140) of Cleveland scored a unanimous decision over Canada’s Melanie Richter.

It was the second time that Antunez (21-1) defeated Smith as she earned her 18th straight victory.

“We fought once before so I know her style,” Antunez said. “I just wanted to be more aggressive and use both my angles and combos.”

Paul Palumbo of Pittsburgh posted a unanimous decision over Cameron Doherty of Ontario at 170. Pittsburgh’s Xavier Rodriguez beat Devon Ruttinger of Ontario at 135.

Also at 135, referee Tom Miller stopped the fight midway through the second as Canada’s Blake Loxton to beat Cleveland’s Frank Brown.

An NFL match-up featured Pittsburgh’s Anthony Zigerella earning a unanimous decision over Matthew Tyler of Cleveland at 160 pounds.

The theme “Housteau Nation, United We Stand, helped generate funds for Gary Housteau, a Vindicator sports correspondent who is battling cancer.