Sims wins decision during ‘Defend the Foundation’ fight show

October 14, 2018 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Downtown Boxing Club’s Brian Sims won a decision over Paul Palumbo of Pittsburgh in the main event of Saturday’s “Defend the Foundation” amateur fight card at St. Peter and Paul’s Ukrainian Orthodox Banquet Center.

“I have trouble with southpaws, but it all starts in the gym and the hard work paid off for me tonight,” said Sims (16-8). “It was my jab that was working, but it’s right back to the drawing board so I can get ready for my next fight.”

Palumbo fell to 12-6.

In the first of three matchups featuring local fighters, Jamar Bowman (11-13) of Cleveland scored a decision over Jacorain Dent (4-6) of Jack Loew’s South Side Boxing Club at 90 pounds.

“He was stronger and a better puncher,” said Dent, a freshman at Ursuline High School. “I need to get back in the gym, work harder and get stronger as in order to get ready for my next fight.”

Downtown Boxing Club’s Jake Lester fell in his debut to Teal Mathis of Akron at 170 pounds as Mathis remained undefeated in four fights.

“I felt tired even before we got started as I was taking medicine for my eye,” Lester noted. “No excuses, I just need to get back in the gym and train three times as hard.”

In the opening bout of the evening, Tyler Jaquay (5-3) of Pittsburgh defeated Ashtabula’s Guy Gonzales (1-3) at 125 pounds. Cleveland’s Isaiah Bady improving to 5-1 with a decision over Chris Hill (6-5) of New Castle at 125 pounds.

At 150, Jayden Honeycutt improved to 7-4 with a win over Farrell’s Tyree Odem (4-2) when referee Earl Jewell stopped the fight just 1:13 into the first round.

At 140 pounds, Brian Ortiz (8-0) of Berwick, Pa., remained undefeated when Jewell stopped his second fight in a row, this time at 2:42 of the third round when Cleveland’s Brandon McCullum (2-2) couldn’t continue.

Also at 140 pounds, Akron’s Kempe Tarver (17-12) drew blood in the first round, then battered Pittsburgh’s Bobby Helms (12-6) the next two rounds to score a decision.

Canton’s Travis Charles (5-1) score a decision at 160 pounds as he spoiled the debut of Berwick’s Christian Salgado and at 180 pounds, it was Berwick’s Jake Peccurelli (5-1) scoring a decision over Ashtabula’s Dartrell Miller (4-8).

The night honored four area sports notables, including Brian Danilov, Tom Repasky, Rusty Rosenberger and Wayne Zetts with a portion of the proceeds earmarked for the Joe “Red” Mazzocca Kidney Foundation.