Heavyweight Nolfi’s ring return ends in split draw
By Greg Gulas
sports@vindy.com
GIRARD
A split draw after a 13-year lay-off is rather disappointing to heavyweight Rocco Nolfi.
But the outcome won’t be enough to keep him out of the ring.
Nolfi made his professional debut before a packed house against Davmond Carter (1-1-1) of Buffalo, N.Y., in Saturday’s Battle of Belmont pro-am card.
Presented by Jack Loew and held at Girard’s Metroplex Expo Center, it was a fight that Nolfi felt he clearly won despite the judge’s decision.
“I’m disappointed because I felt like I beat him, 3-1,” Nolfi said. “I should have been busier but he ran the whole time. It’s hard to fight a runner. I’ll just take it one day at a time. It’s back to the drawing board, but I do want to fight again.”
In the first of three professional bouts, Samuel Wildenhaus of Dayton scored a unanimous decision over Youngstown’s Jon Gregory (2-2) for a successful debut at 160 pounds.
All three judges scored the fight 39-37 in favor of Wildenhaus. Gregory felt his opponent was stronger than he anticipated.
“He head-butted me a couple times in the first round,” Gregory said. “I hit him a couple times in the chin and he must have a strong chin because he wasn’t going anywhere. I need to get more fights under my belt.”
At 147, Niles welterweight Danny Rosenberger (5-7-4) scored a unanimous decision over Kevin Shacks (3-3-3) of Lansing, Mich.
In the opening bout of the evening at 165 pounds, amateur Drew Smith (13-13) of Struthers Burnside Boxing Club scored a unanimous decision over Marlon Johnson (9-5) of Toledo.
“I’m getting used to three-minute rounds,” Smith said. “It’s starting to get easier to go that distance. The goal tonight was to win and get back to .500 and for me right now, it’s more about getting experience. I’d like to turn pro so I want as many fights as I can get.
“I was more relaxed than normal and concentrated on going to the body more than I ordinarily would.”
At 165, Youngstown’s Abraham Becerril made his debut with a unanimous decision over Leo Chaves of Naples, Fla.
Pittsburgh heavyweight Ian Zuber (1-0) won after referee Tim Shiplay stopped his fight with Youngstown’s James Roller at 1:23 of the third round.
Youngstown heavyweight Andre Henderson (2-0) earned a split-decision over Pittsburgh’s Alex Harrison (2-4).
“I wanted to box, not get into a slugfest,” Henderson said. “I felt like I could have done better, but I’m definitely happy with the outcome.”
Youngstown’s Tyrell Richards (2-0) remained undefeated after scoring a unanimous decision over Florida’s Brian Garcia (0-3) at 131 pounds.
At 109, Joe Rojas (4-1) of Naples, Fla. — trained by former Niles fighter Billy Lyell — scored a unanimous decision over Youngstown’s Jacorian Dent, who fell to 2-5.
In the lone female bout of the evening, Heather Chilcote (2-0) of Columbus remained undefeated after Shiplay stopped her fight with Youngstown’s Jennifer Sharp (0-1) at 1:59 of the second round.
Sharp made her boxing debut at age 42.
AMATEUR RESULTS
165 — Drew Smith (13-13, Struthers Burnside Boxing Club) def. Marlon Johnson (9-5, Toledo), unanimous decision.
165 — Abraham Becerril (1-0, Youngstown) def. Leo Chaves (1-2, Naples, Florida), unanimous decision.
Heavyweight — Ian Zuber (1-0, Pittsburgh) def. James Roller (0-1, Youngstown), referee stopped fight (1:23, third round).
141 — Heather Chilcote (2-0, Columbus) def. Jennifer Sharp (0-1, Youngstown), referee stopped fight (1:59, second round).
Heavyweight — Andre Henderson (2-0, Youngstown) def. Alex Harrison (2-4, Pittsburgh), split decision.
131 — Tyrell Richards (2-0, Youngstown) def. Brian Garcia (0-3, Naples, Florida).
109 — Joe Rojas (4-1, Naples, Florida) def. Jacorian Dent (2-5, Youngstown), unanimous decision).
PROFESSIONAL RSULTS
160 — Samuel Wildenhaus (1-0, Dayton) def. Jon Gregory (2-2, Youngstown), unanimous decision.
Heavyweight — Rocco Nolfi (Debut, Youngstown) vs. Davmond Carter (1-1-1, Buffalo), split draw.
147 — Danny Rosenberger (5-7-4, Niles) def. Kevin Shacks (3-3-3, Lansing, Michigan).