17-card fight show to benefit Friars

By Greg Gulas

sports@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Brian Sims (21-9) of Downtown Boxing Club will meet Pittsburgh’s Eric Quarles in the 160-pound main event of Saturday’s 17-bout amateur boxing card at St. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Banquet Center, 1025 North Belle Vista Ave.

Presented by Lights Out Management and titled “Fighting for the Friars,” the event will raise dollars and awareness for St. Dominic Church.

Two co-main fights include Isaac Chatman of Downtown Boxing Club against Nico Froch of New Castle, Pa., in a 135-pound scrap. Pittsburgh’s Jerome Baxter takes on Armond Richard of Cleveland in a 140 pairing.

The show will feature nine local fighters. Four hail from Struthers’ Burnside Athletic Club, three represent South Side Boxing Club and two train at Downtown B.C.

Boxers from Canton, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Lorain, Pittsburgh and Cortland, N.Y., round out the card.

“We have a nice blend of local fighters and boxers from outside the area that are set and ready to mix it up in the ring,” matchmaker Tom Cordell said. “The pairings and matchups are some of the best that we have ever assembled.”

Co-hosted by Banner Supply and City Printing, the night also will honor area sports notables and Curbstone Coaches hall of fame members Mike Butch, Joe Maxin and Craig Snyder.

Sims’ most recent fight came at the Cleveland Golden Gloves in April when he fell by 3-2 decision to Brian McElrath for the 152-pound title.

Trained by Sam Calderon, the Euclid native says that his fight with McElrath is a fading memory and he is ready to get back on track.

“This isn’t my first rodeo and I know what it is going to take in order get a win,” Sims said. “I really don’t know much about Eric, but Sammy has me prepared.”

Trainer Keith Burnside of Struthers will oversee four fighters with Drew Smith meeting Pittsburgh’s Gary Jackson at 155 pounds and Nate Cordova taking on righthander Brian Torres of Lorain in a 145-pound matchup.

For Cordova (5-3), his last fight also was at the Cleveland Golden Gloves.

“I’ve been running and hitting the gym religiously in preparation for this fight, so I am set and ready to go,” Cordova said.

Also representing Burnside A.C., Courtney Price goes up against Isaiah Bady of Cleveland in a 135-pound pairing and Joe Goodman will meet Christian Perez, also of Lorain, at 110 pounds.

Jack Loew’s South Side Boxing Club features Jabrill Scott, who meets Justin Bermudez of Pittsburgh in a 140 pairing, hard-punching Joey Nail takes on Hadi Almanhadi of Detroit in a 95-pound scrap and Ashton Owens against Pittsburgh’s Paul Palumbo in a 175-pound matchup.

“This is just another fight on my way quest to become a world champion,” Owens said. “I have to take it fight by fight and I have worked really hard for Saturday night.”

Nail and Scott are both fighting their first fight under Loew tutelage.

“I’m very excited to have my first fight and get it out-of-the-way,” Nail said. “The first one is always the hardest one to prepare for, but I am ready.”

Scott said, ”I’ve been looking forward to this day since I started at the South Side Boxing Club about four months ago. I am absolutely ready to go and cannot wait.”

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

Doors open at 6 p.m. with the first fight hitting the bell at 7 p.m.

Further information can be obtained by calling Mike Cefalde at 330-610-2306 or Cordell at 330-717-4201.