Published: Thursday, May 3, 2007
Sons of former boxers set pace opening night
A last minute female replacement showed her stuff as well.
By GREG GULAS
YOUNGSTOWN — The 20th annual K.O. Drugs boxing tournament got underway Wednesday night at the ITAM Banquet Center with 34 bouts scheduled.
Of those 34 pairings, four bouts drew added attention as sons of former area boxers set out with the hopes of carrying on the tradition that their father's had set years earlier, while in the other event, a last minute replacement let it be known that she, too, can be a force.
Nick Schiavoni, valedictorian for Boardman High School this year, made father Lou proud with a unanimous decision over D'eAndre Brooks of Chaney, while Poland's Kenny Sigurani Jr., whose father Ken was a top area amateur and professional, held off Mel'Quan Patton of Campbell Memorial (his father, Shawn, was a standout running back for both the Red Devils and Youngstown State) in a hotly contested split decision.
Only female bout
Katelyn Moore of LaBrae was a last-minute replacement in the only Female Division bout of the night, readily entering the ring. She proceeded to defeat Megan Wright of the Life Skills Academy in a unanimous decision for her first boxing win.
Dan Rosenberger of Niles, whose brother competed in the tourney last year and whose father, Rusty, was a notable amateur and professional as well, was the only son who came up on the short end of the stick, dropping a hard- fought unanimous decision to Petro Koulianos of Campbell Memorial.
"I felt good out there tonight, but really had just one good week of training. This was a last minute decision for me in which to participate but I am glad that I decided to take part," Sigurani said.
"Patton goes to my church, Victory Christian Center, and he sure was one tough opponent. I'll step up training for my next fight, hoping to come back better and stronger the next time that I hit the ring," he added.
Appreciates hard work
Schiavoni can fully appreciate after entering the ring the hard work and effort that his father and three older brothers put forth while training for their bouts.
"This was harder than I had originally thought. He [D'eAndre Brooks] got me early and stunned me a couple of times, but I just kept concentrating; throwing straight punches that fortunately for me I was able to land. I felt tired at the end so I will need to step up my training regimen for my next fight," Schiavoni said.
Koulianos, one of five Red Devils on the night, was the one contender to successfully defeat his opponent whose family had a boxing pedigree.
"I've only been training for about three weeks and expected an opponent on my level. He [Rosenberger] was a tough opponent and while he gave me his best shot, I fell like I, in turn, gave him my best as well," he stated.
"I'll continue to train, running around both Roosevelt Park and my neighborhood while lifting weights so that I can be in the best shape for my next bout."
Needs to step up work
Moore, on the other hand, a last minute replacement admits that she needs to step up her game a notch for her next appearance in the ring.
"She [Wright] was a tough opponent who put up a great fight, but you could see that we were both tired at the end. I'll rest for now, but will kick it up a notch so that I am in better shape in two weeks," she added.
The tournament continues next Wednesday at 7 p.m. with 40 bouts on tap for the Lowerclass, Upperclass and Female divisions.
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