Fight show set for June 30

June 19, 2018 at 12:05a.m.

Amateur card will

benefit St. Dominic

on city’s South Side

YOUNGSTOWN

A 15-bout amateur boxing card to raise dollars and awareness for St. Dominic Church on the City’s South Side is set for June 30 at Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Banquet Center, 1025 North Belle Vista Avenue.

Presented by Lights Out Management and titled “Fighting for the Friars,” seven local boxers hailing from Downtown Boxing Club, Burnside Athletic Club and South Side B.C. have currently committed to the card.

Co-hosted by Banner Supply and City Printing, the night will honor area sports notables and Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame members Mike Butch, Joe Maxin (current organization president) and Craig Snyder.

“We’ve distributed in excess of $75,000 over the years to area non-profits and organizations in need and St. Dominic’s Church, a church that has been a staple on the city’s South Side is just another to which we want to lend a helping hand,” Lights Out Management’s Mike Cefalde Jr. said.

“Our last show benefitted the local Class B baseball league and at the end of this current season, they will distribute much needed scholarship dollars to several deserving players who will be attending college in the fall.”

Matchmaker Tom Cordell calls the bouts some of the best he has ever been able to assemble.

“When you look at just the local fighters who have already committed to fight, you have the distinct feeling that they are just chomping at the bit and are ready to get going,” Cordell said. “We have some pairings yet to finalize, but everything is coming together and for a very special cause.”

Boxers already committed include Brian Sims and Isaac Chatman of Downtown Boxing Club, Jabrel Scott, Joey Nail and Ashton Owens of South Side Boxing Club and Drew Smith and Austin Gibson of Burnside Athletic Club.

Sims will meet Eric Quarles of Pittsburgh’s Third Avenue Boxing Club in a 155-pound fight while stablemate Isaac Chatman gets prepared to meet New Castle’s Niko Froch in a 135-pound pairing.

Scott will take on Justin Bermudez of Third Avenue B.C. at 140 pounds. Nail goes up against Hadi Almanhhadi of Detroit’s Dark Side Boxing Club in a 100-pound pairing while Owens will meet Cleveland’s Ben Cottrell at 175 pounds.

Smith goes up against Hussein Billal of Dark Side Boxing at 155 pounds and Gibson meets Braeden Liggett of Cleveland’s Tri-County Boxing Club at 165.

Rich Abel, owner of Banner Supply and a lifelong member of St. Dominic Church, is elated that Lights Out Management has chosen to assist his church.

“Over the years, St. Dom’s has always been a church that has been willing to help others so we are pleased that Lights Out Management wants to assist us with their upcoming fight card,” Abel said.

“Multiple area non-profits and needy organizations have already benefitted from their generosity and I cannot reiterate how pleased I am that my church will now benefit from the graciousness of that group.”

General admission tickets are $15, VIP tickets $25 and tables of eight range from $300-$400.

Sponsors include California Palms, Giannios Candy Company, One Stop Shop, Vista Lounge, Cornersburg Cuts, Mobile Bail Bonds, Schiavoni, Schiavoni, Bush and Muldowney Co., LPA, Jensen Lock and Alarm, First Choice Sales and Rentals, Concrete by Design and Jay’s Famous Hot Dogs.

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 Cefalde at 330-610-2306 or Cordell at 330-717-4201.