Michael Manna wins Battle of the North Side at Fall Fisticuffs VI

Five professional fights and one exhibition were a part of a competitive night of boxing at Fall Fisticuffs VI, presented by Integrity Fighter Management from the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows on Saturday.

The Battle of The Northside II was the match of the night. Michael “The Pittsburgh Bull” Manna (6-5-0, 4 KO) and Joey Turk (4-0-1, 1 KO) was a rematch of Turk’s victory in July.

The crowd packed into the Casino was at a fever pitch for the two Northsiders. A feeling-out process early through Round 1 gave a slight edge to Turk, who followed up with a strong Round 2. Turk had good combos, including a few jabs and a right hook through a Manna counter.

Through it all, Manna was setting up with the jab and managed to put shots on the body. His strategy from the July fight to this matchup in late October remained unchanged.

“It just didn’t work out for me (that night),” Manna said. “I threw some opportunities, and they were there.”

Round 3 was a much-needed round for Manna as he was urgent with his striking, throwing straight rights and his looping right hook. Round 4 looked to be on the road to a draw as Turk and Manna traded shots.

The shining moment came in the final 10 seconds of the round when Manna caught Turk with a right hook that put him on the mat.

“When I knocked him down, I got upset,” Manna said. “I didn’t want that. I hoped he was all right.”

Turk returned to his feet and was ready for more action, but the final bell sounded. The fight lived up to the billing, and Manna won the rematch by unanimous decision, 39-36, 38-37 and 39-36. Early thoughts for a third fight at The Priory are already blooming.

The performance of the night went to Teddy Mrkonja Jr. in his professional debut, taking on fellow Kevin Hicks of Virginia, also making his debut. Mrkonja, a decorated amateur, used his speed and movement and attacked the body of Hicks.

“All of the hard work over the past three months has paid off,” Mrkonja said. “It all came to fruition.”

The plan was to go to the body and use his speed. He overwhelmed Hicks, who did his best to quell the attack.

“We’re going for the body open upstairs,” Mrkonja said. “I figured I’d be quicker with the age advantage.”

He downed Hicks with another body shot, and referee Ernie Sharif called the fight at 2:24 of the first round.

Knockout of the night went to Devon Siegfried (2-0, 2 KO), who faced Christopher Crockett (1-2, 1 KO) of Cincinnati, Ohio. Siegfried, a police officer from Ellwood City, has shown knockout power.

It was an unorthodox start to the match, with Crockett attacking almost immediately, with some shots looking more like a street fight than an organized boxing match. At one point, he got clipped by an incidental punch to the back of the head.

Siegfried said he felt embarrassed about the “stanky leg” he went through and gave credit to his opponent.

“I remember looking down at my feet. My feet were kind of like doing that,” Siegfried said. “He came out super hot, and I’m a notoriously slow starter.”

After a talk with his trainer, Jack Maine, between rounds, Siegfried roared back to his regular form. He scored a knockdown with a right hook to Crockett.

His opponent returned to his feet, but Siegfried continued his work with a left hook that staggered the Ohio fighter and forced a TKO stoppage at 1:11 in the second round.

A three-round exhibition fight between CC Clark and Tommy Parker occurred before the main event. Parker, a member of Manna’s Northside Athletic Club, took the exhibition on 24 hour’s notice after Clark’s opponent had to withdraw. The two excited the crowd with their showmanship, asking the opposing fighter to hit them with all they had.

Dancha showcased power and skill with three knockdowns of Rutkowski, earning his first U.S. victory via TKO at 2:15 of the first round.

The lone fight that went past four rounds was a six-round heavyweight clash between Moses Johnson (9-1-2, 7 KO) of Huntington, N.Y., and Lemir Isom Riley (3-1, 1 KO) of New Cumberland.

The two fighters showed some strong skill, with the fight nearly exclusively fought head-to-head. Johnson won via unanimous decision, 58-55, 58-56 and 58-56.

The night opened with the U.S. debut of Ivan Dancha (1-0, 1 KO) from Lviv, Ukraine. He won gold at the 2015 Ukrainian national championships. He took on Anthony Rutkowski (0-1) of Grand Rapids, Mich..

Dancha, with fellow Ukrainians Lyubomyr Pinchuk, a cruiserweight contender and world No. 3-ranked WBA super-bantamweight contender in attendance, showed the Pittsburgh area crowd that the Ukraine to Pittsburgh fight pipeline is alive and well.

North Side natives make good friends, better opponents on boxing card at The Meadows

Boxing, at its core, is a sport built from differences.

Usually, two guys who grew up together and trained together never square off in the ring for more than sparring.

“We’re doing something that’s typically not being done,” said Michael Manna (6-5, 4 KO), 40. “I think 100% that it’s how it should be.”

Manna and fellow North Sider Joey Turk are in a rematch dubbed “The Battle for The North Side II” for Integrity Fighter Management’s sixth annual “Fall Fisticuffs” professional boxing event at Hollywood Casino at the Meadows on Saturday.

The first fight in the same venue this past July was a highly anticipated match between the two friends, where Turk picked up the victory in a four-round unanimous decision.

“It was an entertaining fight,” said Turk (4-0-1, 1 KO), also 40. “The referees didn’t break us up once. To be in there with another good boxer was a good experience.”

The rematch has even more anticipation, so it will headline the card.

“Both guys were in great shape. It was a quality first fight,” said Michael McSorley, the event promoter. “They wanted (to fight again). Putting it together wasn’t too tough.”

Both have similar career starts, deciding to go pro before it was “too late” and using their skills to teach people about the sweet science.

The two first met through mutual friends in the North Hills. They both started training at the Exercise Warehouse in Bloomfield with Mark Machi, a trainer and the president of the Allegheny Mountain Association of USA Boxing.

“I’ve known them both for a long time,” Machi said. “I knew Joey’s father and Mike’s grandfather.”

One of the memorable moments of their friendship came when Manna was jumped at Denny Park. Turk came to his aid and told him to get out of there. A quintessential fighter, he refused to leave.

“He always was there,” Manna said. “Any time he needed something, he called me.”

When Manna decided to make his pro debut in 2018, it was Turk he called for sparring. When Turk debuted in 2022, Manna wrapped his hands and was in his corner.

The first match meant a lot to Manna, who was returning to boxing in Pennsylvania for the first time since a “retirement” fight against Ryan Covert in November 2019 at Printscape Arena at Southpointe.

He fought four times in West Virginia before fighting in the area again. Coming to the ring with “All My Life” by Lil Durk and J. Cole was more than an entrance song.

“I had some things in my life that were a mess,” said Manna. “God showed me who was for me and who wasn’t. After a while I thought, ‘Why did I retire?’”

He went beyond the round limits of four to eight and even 10 rounds and showed he wasn’t done yet with a 2-2 record.

He found another purpose in boxing by starting his nonprofit boxing gym, the Northside Athletic Club, in 2021. All the money he gets from this fight and every fight goes towards teaching people the craft and allowing them to compete as amateurs.

“I fight for my guys here,” said Manna. “They’ve become my family, and it’s a supportive place.”

Turk is a personal trainer and boxing coach at the Exercise Warehouse, where he started boxing. He says the best part of professional boxing is the influence he has on people.

“I’m 40 years old and in the best shape of my life,” said Turk. “It’s never too late to pursue a dream or get in the best shape of your life.”

His class has people of all ages with a mix of strength, conditioning and boxing, and a soundtrack of gloves hitting pads and throwback R&B jams. Every once in a while, he shows his skills for eager volunteers.

“After my second session here, Joey had me box,” said Joey McManus, one of his biggest hypemen. “I had on the body protector, and he threw a straight right to the chest that vibrated through the pad.”

Both men are interested in continuing their professional boxing journeys after this match. We could see the third fight in a familiar area if the interest is there.

“The North Side, I would love for it to be at The Priory,” said Turk. “I’m not opposed to it. As long as there’s a demand, I’ll supply.”

Peters Township shuts down Upper St. Clair in Class 5A clash of top-ranked teams

No. 1 Peters Township and No. 2 Upper St. Clair have built a rivalry on tough play and defense, and through one quarter Friday night, it looked like that trend would continue.

However, the Indians struck first and continued to strike on their way to a 31-0 victory over their Route 19 rivals in a matchup of the top two teams in the Trib HSSN Class 5A rankings.

Peters Township coach T.J Plack gave credit to his players on the defensive side of the ball.

“We have a couple of great guys that run our defense,” Plack said. “We have the type of players that can play fast and physical.”

Senior defensive back Elliot Schratz had a game to remember, recording the first two interceptions of his life, including a 51-yard pick-six that gave his team a 7-0 lead in the second quarter.

“I saw him run a comeback and his break was slow, so I knew I could make a break on it,” Schratz said.

On the next drive for Peters Township (5-0, 2-0 in the Allegheny Six Conference), a big completion from Nolan DiLucia to Nick McCullough for 45 yards set up a 24-yard field goal by Carter Shanafelt to make it 10-0.

One of the turning points of the game came late in the second quarter. On a fourth down play, after Peters Township didn’t bite on a hard count, Upper St. Clair (4-1, 1-1) looked like it would take a delay of game penalty and try to pin the Indians deep in their own territory for the second time in the half.

But Upper St. Clair coach Mike Junko elected to keep his offense out to try to pick up a first down. Quarterback Ethan Hellman’s number was called on a run play and the Indians stopped him and took over at midfield with 2:22 left in the half.

After advancing further thanks to a defensive pass interference, DeLucia rifled a bullet to Shanafelt on a 15-yard touchdown pass with 32 seconds remaining in the first half to take a 17-0 halftime lead.

The Panthers got the ball first in the second half. Evan Taylor helped out the USC cause with a few good runs and a 22-yard catch to put the Panthers in the red zone.

Nearing the goal line, Upper St. Clair running back Mason Chambers fumbled just before he broke the plane. The ball wobbled out of the end zone for a touchback.

DiLucia and the Indians added to their lead with a 53-yard catch and run for Nick Mcullough, making it 24-0 in the third quarter. On a fantastic night for the sophomore slinger, DiLucia went 21 of 28 for 258 yards and two touchdowns.

The lone downer for DiLucia was an interception by Niko D’Orazio for USC in the second half.

It continues a great run for DiLucia over the past three games, starting with a conversation with his coach after the Trinity game.

“I understood after that game, I had to work on some things,” said DiLucia. “All my guys helped me on that journey and we did our work.”

McCullough was the beneficiary of his performance, earning five catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. Vinny Sarconne capped the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Peters Township will face Baldwin in conference play next week, while Upper St. Clair will take on Class 6A Mt. Lebanon in another South Hills clash.

Pitt wrestler runs MMA record to 3-0 with submission win at Brawl in the Burgh 17

Nine of the 12 fights ended by knockout or submission at the 247 Fighting Championships’ Brawl in The Burgh 17 on Saturday night at the Monroeville Convention Center.

The submission of the night was a highly contested honor, but the nod went to Pitt wrestler James “Las Vegas” Lledo (3-0), who trains with Stout PGH. He ended his novice amateur MMA career with a bang, stopping Manuel Bell (0-2) in 29 seconds of the first round with two crushing slams, followed by an arm triangle to get the finish.

The knockout of the night was contested as well, but it went to a fighter who handled business in the first round. Chase “The Croatian Crowbar” Boyde (6-3) took on a formidable challenger in Dez Ford (5-4). There could have been an exciting fight, but Boyde hits like his nickname suggests. One punch stunned his opponent, then a series of crowbar-like strikes on his downed foe led to a stoppage 20 seconds into the first round.

The performance of the night went to Edgar “Cowboy” Parilla (2-0), a favorite of the convention center crowd. He wanted for the choke all night, but his opponent, Colton Musgrove (1-1), managed to ward him off to end the first round. Parilla would not be denied in the second. Parilla got a takedown and managed to sneak in a slick rear naked choke that took Musgrove out 28 seconds into the round.

The fight of the night saw Lucas “Sniper” Seibert (5-0) face Cameron “Molerat” Allgeier (6-2). Seibert, a former West Virginia walk-on wrestler, kept a picture on his phone of Allgeier’s 247 bantamweight championship since he decided to commit himself to mixed martial arts.

It seemed like Allgeier would show that he was cut above through the first round. Seibert got to striking with his jab to set up his takedowns on the more experienced fighter. Every minute that passed brought out more confidence in the young fighter, and a Superman punch leading to a takedown was one of the many shining moments for him.

He scored the victory and the 247 amateur featherweight title by unanimous decision.

Stout PGH fighters went 4-1 on the night. In addition to Lledo, fellow Pitt wrestler Geoff “Juice” Magin (4-1) also picked up a title victory, capturing the 247 amateur light heavyweight title by split decision over Ohio’s top MMA prospect, Nick “Nasty” Nash (5-1).

“Goat” James Padmore (3-0) picked up a TKO victory 18 seconds into the second round over Adam Caldwell (2-1). All of Padmore’s victories are by knockout. The lone loss was Miguel Francisco (4-3) via TKO to Jacob Wiggins (4-2) at 2:22 of the first round.

Only one of the 12 fights was a professional matchup. Justin “The General” Patton (4-3) seemed to be on his way toward picking up a victory over his opponent, Kyle Zimmick (1-1). He had managed to cut his opponent on his hairline in the first round and ran out of time on a possible submission in the second. But Zimmick caught Patton in a guillotine and stopped him at 3:06 in the third round.

In other fights:

• Demar Mathis (1-2) defeated James Stevenson (0-2) via TKO at the end of Round 2. Doctor stoppage due to an issue with Stevenson’s eye.

• Noah Gaudello (1-0) defeated Falco Teti (0-2) via TKO at 1:53 in Round 2.

• Caprice Hall (0-1-1) and Glenn Christner (1-2-1) fought to a majority draw. Judges scored it 29-27 for Hall, 29-27 for Christner and 28-28.

• Logan Fink (3-1) defeated Drew Landefeld (2-3) by rear naked choke at 2:13 in Round 2.

Pitt wrestlers, WVU grad headline MMA fight card at 'Brawl in The Burgh 17'

From Left to Right, James Lledo, Geoff Magin, Lucas Seibert, and Mke Wilkins at Stout PGH in the Strip District.

Wrestling is a huge part of a mixed martial artist’s repertoire. If fighters don’t grow up on the mats, they invest time to enhance this part of their game.

“The two pathways in wrestling post-college are coaching or competing, looking to make an Olympic and World team,” said Mike Wilkins, a professional MMA fighter and trainer at Stout PGH. “Mixed martial arts provide a great avenue for them to continue to use their craft.”

Three fighters from Stout — James Lledo, Geoff Magin and Lucas Seibert — represent a new guard of wrestlers who simultaneously trained or competed in both disciplines.

On Saturday, the trio of wrestlers from local colleges will compete at Monroeville Convention Center for 247 Fighting Championships’ “Brawl in The Burgh 17.”

“It’s huge for us to be able to get these amazing athletes who have dedicated themselves in crafting a new outlet to putting their skills on display,” said Hunter Homistek, general manager of 247 Fighting Championships.

Lledo (2-0) and Magin (3-1) are redshirt sophomores at Pitt. They both took a fight before competing in the USA Wrestling Nationals U23 trials in May.

With some downtime in their schedule before the wrestling season restarts, their day consists of lifting weights in the morning, class in between, wrestling practice in the afternoon and working at Stout PGH in the Strip District at night.

“I think for any other college athlete or college student, they do summer internships for their future career after sports,” said Lledo, a Lower Merion native. “We’re setting ourselves up for the future and getting a jump start on what we want to do when wrestling’s over.”

Lledo is excited about continuing to the next level of his career. His final fight at the novice level of amateur MMA is against Manuel Bell (0-1). Novice fights consist of three two-minute rounds with restrictions on ground-and-pound fighting.

“It’s weird taking someone down and not being allowed to punch them,” said Lledo. “My last fight would have been over quickly. Now (the novice stage) will be over. I’m excited.”

His teammates are in the advanced stage, where fights have three 3-minute rounds.

Magin, a Quaker Valley graduate, did a year of college wrestling at Franklin & Marshall before the covid-19 pandemic. He took a year away from school, opting against online classes.

“I started here at Stout, did three fights,” Magin said. “I lost my last one because I was not good at wrestling.”

He returned to school to improve his wrestling and transferred to Pitt.

“The wrestling program is really good, especially since the upper weights are tough,” Magin said. “We had a national champion at 197 (Nino Bonaccorsi), and the room was full of savages. You can’t help but get better at wrestling.”

Magin will take on Ohio’s top MMA prospect, Nick Nash (5-0), for the vacant light heavyweight championship.

From Westerville, Ohio, Seibert (4-0) walked on at West Virginia. He couldn’t get the amateur fights while competing in college wrestling, but he did begin his training during that time and aims for the highest level of his new career.

“I always shoot for the stars,” said Seibert. “I shot for Division 1, and I’m gonna shoot for the UFC.”

He graduated in May and moved to Pittsburgh three days later, committing full-time to MMA. His next fight, against former 247 bantamweight champion Cameron Allgeier (6-1) for the vacant featherweight championship, will be a year after his debut.

“My whole MMA career has been developing under Stout, and it’s coming full circle,” said Seibert. “I had a picture of Cam’s belt on my phone when I decided to fight in MMA.”

Of the 15 scheduled fights Saturday, 14 will be amateur bouts. And 247 Fighting Championships will hold a grappling supercard the night before, featuring some of the world’s best Brazilian jiujitsu competitors.

Wilkins, a Woodland Hills and Waynesburg graduate, will be in the corner for five MMA matches and 10 grappling contests over the two days. He’s confident he will go undefeated as the corner man Saturday.

“I just really love training these guys,” Wilkins said. “They come in with a good base and attitude to work and want to get better.”

With eye toward MMA career, Greensburg native Mataeo Garner makes pro boxing debut

When Mataeo “Top Ape” Garner, 26, of Greensburg, competed in his first jiu-jitsu tournament at 21, he knew his future would be in combat sports.

“My favorite part of the process was just learning, I guess I would say, like learning about my game,” Garner said. “Knowing that I have the potential to do this.”

He’s continuing that process as a professional fighter and just competed in his first professional fight, a boxing match at The Grand Hall at The Priory on March 17.

Garner competed in amateur boxing and mixed martial arts for four years, winning two MMA titles and a boxing championship.

Living with his mother, a paramedic, she worked long hours. To keep him busy, she got him a mentor who would take Garner to The Power Center gym when he was younger. He sparred there until the gym closed permanently.

“All I can remember is wanting to spar and fight kids,” Garner said. “I didn’t take it too seriously.”

Garner had dreams of making the NFL. He played football and was part of the wrestling team at Southmoreland High School and, after graduating, played football at Valley Forge Military Academy and College before transferring to Alabama A&M.

After college, he pivoted to combat sports, and after competing in the jiu-jitsu tournament, he scheduled his first amateur MMA fight. What he loved the most about the career change was the spectacle.

“They promote it like a pro show,” Garner said. “They make you feel like you’re there, but you’re not (a professional yet).”

As an amateur, Garner went 5-3, with first-round victories and fight of the night awards, and his losses came by decision.

“He was pretty hard-nosed right away,” said Gary Young, owner and head trainer at Demolition Fight Team in Findlay, Ohio, where Garner trains. “He took a boxing match against the more experienced and bigger guy and got a draw.”

He planned on going pro in November, and after his final amateur fight this past January, Garner and his team quickly found his first opportunity: a boxing match.

It’s no secret Garner plans on a career in mixed martial arts, but they took the opportunity for the boxing match before focusing entirely on the former.

“Every MMA fighter should have some boxing experience because every fight starts on the feet,” Garner said. “If you can’t take your opponent down, you must learn to fight on the feet.”

The plans were finalized in February for him to take a cruiserweight fight against fellow debuting fighter Devon Siegfried of Ellwood City.

He trained at the 3rd Avenue Boxing Gym in Downtown Pittsburgh and Boyce Boxing Gym in Monroeville, working with striking coach Hiawatha “Boo” Hudson, who has trained up-and-coming talents in the area such as Johnny Spell, who is 8-0.

Hudson had known Garner since he was a baby, but he lost contact after moving away from Greensburg. Garner’s dad knew he was a boxing coach and reintroduced him.

“Boo really knows his stuff,” Young said. “We knew he was in good hands.”

Listed at 5-foot-9, Garner gave up 5 inches to the 6-2 Siegfried. It was a turbulent first round for Garner, as he withstood several flurries from Siegfried and hung in there against a more experienced fighter.

Garner’s second round showed more promise as he flashed his potential.

It all crashed in the next round against the former Golden Gloves champion. Siegfried caught him with a right cross, and Garner could not answer the 10-count, ending the fight at 1 minute, 5 seconds in the third.

“A couple of my boxers fought Devon,” Hudson said. “He had the game plan, but when you get hurt, you revert to what you truly know.”

Despite the loss, Garner is optimistic about his career and future. He plans to make his professional MMA debut between late April and June.

“Now I know what it feels like to finish,” Garner sad. “Now I can just go out there and be a free spirit and fight my (butt) off.”

At age 35, Springdale's Jordan Zlacki making strides in professional boxing career

As the middle child in a family of nine brothers and sisters, Jordan “The Croatian Warrior” Zlacki, 35, of Springdale always needed to be tough. Whether in Springdale or Florida, where he moved before high school, he would always get into scraps.

“I got into my fair share of street fights,” Zlacki said. “I went into the gym, and (boxing) helped mature me.”

He’s now a full-fledged professional boxer, competing in eight fights and going 3-5 since turning pro in 2018.

Zlacki tried but never really got involved with sports in high school. He thought of boxing earlier in life, but the journey didn’t begin until he was 20.

One of his co-workers at his contracting job liked his work ethic and asked him if he was interested in boxing. He went to James 5:16 Center in Tarentum, about 10 minutes from his house.

“I went to the gym. I started sparring the same day,” Zlacki said.

His first boxing coach was Jim Kobert, the owner of James 5:16 Center, who started training young fighters in 1998.

“He had real talent and ability and wanted to learn,” Kobert said. “I never let anybody in a ring I didn’t feel comfortable with.”

Even with the closing of James 5:16 in late 2022, Kobert remains in Zlacki’s corner at fights. He’s been Zlacki’s coach since he was an amateur.

“Each one of his fights was very close,” Kobert said. “Though he should have been a state champion (as an amateur).”

As an amateur, Zlacki often would square off against fighters under the direction of Bill Wolfe, trainer at Butler Cubs Boxing Gym.

Wolfe has known Zlacki for 10 years. In addition to his fighters competing against him, he occasionally would come up to the gym and spar against the amateurs and professionals.

“We always knew when we trained against Jordan, you had to be in shape,” Wolfe said. “You had to be tough, and we had a lot of good fights against him.”

After the closing of James 5:16, Zlacki decided to train at Butler Cubs for his next professional fight. It was a new start for Zlacki. His opponent was Eric Palmer, a veteran with over 10 years and 35 professional bouts.

Zlacki was on a four-fight losing streak. Three of the losses went to decisions, and one was a TKO that resulted from a cut above his eye.

He was ready for the St. Patrick’s Day clash.

“I felt like a million bucks,” Zlacki said. “He was feeding me good positive energy all camp.”

The two battled in a jam-packed Grand Hall at The Priory on March 17. Zlacki went the scheduled four rounds with a renewed vigor against his opponent from Uniontown.

His game plan regularly includes punishing shots to the body, peppering opponents with his signature right hook to the body.

With his fianceé, Amber, watching from the left of the blue corner he was assigned to, he picked up a split decision victory, ending his losing streak.

“It was my favorite fight in his career. It was a big win for him,” Wolfe said. “He just needs to be disciplined and (keep) in control, and he can play with anybody.”

At 35, his professional boxing future is still up in the air. A possible rematch with Palmer would give him the first six-round fight of his career in the spring or summer.

He’s confident he can get another win against Palmer, but he has a big decision in his career.

“At this point, you’re in or out, I could fight till I’m 40,” Zlacki said. “As I’m getting older, I know that I can’t be taking (long) breaks.”

South Fayette celebrates 1st Pennsylvania Cup championship

On a special day for hockey all across the Commonwealth, special teams were extra special in the Class 2A Pennsylvania Cup championship game between Penguins Cup champion South Fayette and Flyers Cup champion Pennsbury.

The teams combined for three power-play goals and three short-handed goals through two periods.

South Fayette scored two goals, 1 minute, 13 seconds apart, then added an empty netter for a 7-4 victory and its first state hockey championship.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen it before,” South Fayette coach Matt Schwartz said of the special teams impact.

Both teams were searching for a first in this championship game. The Falcons (18-7-0) were seeking their first Pennsylvania Cup since 1985 as a member of Class 2A.

The Lions (19-3-2) won their first Penguins Cup five days ago and were looking to double up with their first state championship.

The game started with Pennsbury getting the first chances against Lions goaltender Allen Schraeder. Brendan MacAnish capitalized on a rebound from a shot by Logan Doyle to get the game’s first goal 13:40 into the first period.

South Fayette returned the favor with a few chances, and drew two penalties on Pennsbury for a 5-on-3.

Much like their semifinal of the Penguins Cup playoffs, the Lions gave up a short-handed opportunity in that situation. Justin Marlin and Macanish combined on a 2-on-1 to make it 2-0 for the eastern Pa. champions.

The Lions countered back on the same power-play with goals less than a minute apart by Nolan Murphy and Tyler Brandebura to even the score at 2-2.

“We stuck to the process,” Schwartz said. “We saw an opportunity to get one back.”

Soon after, South Fayette answered with its own short-handed goal as a blocked shot by Dylan Walsh sprung Jackson Brandebura and Braydon Reighard for a 2-on-1 that Reighard finished for the Lions’ first lead of the game with 2:31 left in the first.

South Fayette then got a goal off a turnover from one of its top scorers, Wes Schwarzmiller, to take a 4-2 lead.

“Our game plan was to get as many pucks on the net as possible,” Schwarzmiller said.

The Falcons would not go away. While on the power-play, Marlin picked up the puck after his initial shot hit off teammate Logan Doyle and dispatched a backhander that found a way past Schraeder at 9:40 of the second.

MacAnish picked up his second assist of the game, and then he scored Pennsbury’s second short-handed goal and his second. The senior blocked Brayden Imler’s shot and had a breakaway from his defensive blueline to tie the score once more at 4-4 at 1:01 in the second.

“He’s showed why he’s the guy,” Pennsbury coach Ryan Daley said. “He will go down as one of the best players to come through the program.”

He had two goals and four points in the game and finished his season with 75 points.

Going into the third period, both teams knew only blatant penalties would be called. All six infractions were called before intermission.

“We were expecting 5-on-5 play,” Schwarz said. “We got pucks deep and stuck to the process.”

There was a little weathering of the storm for the Lions as Schraeder made a big save on a clean opportunity in the slot. Last year’s third-stringer quelled most Pennsbury threats as he saved 29 on 33 shots.

“Coach trusted me the whole way through the end of the season,” Schraeder said. “We had a little rough streak, but once the playoffs kicked in, so did I.”

His counterpart on the other side, Aaron McDaniel was able to make big stops, too, with 29 saves on 35 shots.

The game-winning goal was just too tough to stop. Schwartzmiller, after hitting the crossbar on a faceoff earlier in the third, took a wrist shot from just below the left circle on a sharp angle and buried it high over the glove to give South Fayette a 5-4 lead with 2:57 remaining.

“I had that shot twice throughout the game, and I thought I’ll give it another go,” Schwartzmiller said. “It was the most exciting moment of the game for me. I wasn’t expecting it to go in.”

Then, Murphy scored 1:26 later from the left dot to the same high glove for the insurance marker for the Lions.

“That fifth one was unstoppable,” Daley said. “We started pressing, it’s tough, but it’s the kind of risk you take when you’re down.”

Brayden Imler secured the championship with an empty-netter for South Fayette with a minute remaining.

“Just couldn’t be prouder of our guys and how they’ve competed,” Schwartz said. “They bought in and did everything we asked. I couldn’t be prouder.”

South Fayette Advances to Penguins Cup Final

Everyone was asking if sixth-seeded Latrobe could capitalize on the most significant rebound in PIHL history after its first-round loss turned into a win when Bishop McCourt was forced to forfeit a 2-1 overtime victory.

Early shots and hits belonged to Latrobe, which looked to make things different for a No. 2 South Fayette team that had beaten them twice in one-goal games in the regular season.

“That first period was exactly what we wanted,” said Latrobe coach Josh Werner.

Behind 23 saves from Allen Schraeder, the Lions slammed the door shut.

After surrendering the first goal, South Fayette (17-3-2) scored four consecutive times to take a 4-1 victory and advance to the PIHL’s Class 2A Penguins Cup championship game.

“We knew we’re going to play a good, difficult team,” said Lions head coach Matt Schwartz. “Given the circumstances of what happened and how they got a new lease on life.”

South Fayette had three chances on the power play early in the first period and couldn’t capitalize. Peyton Myers for Latrobe got the best opportunity on a breakaway but couldn’t gather the puck for a shot.

“They’ve got a good power play. It was a lot of game planning,” Werner said. “We saw some things on film we could take advantage of, which definitely paid off.”

In the second, Latrobe got its first power play, and it was a good one with multiple deflection tries. South Fayette’s Tyler Brandebura had a big blocked shot.

Latrobe struck first with a wrist shot from Jacob Hannah, assisted by Fletcher Harvey and Nik Manolakos, to open the scoring at 5:32 in the second period.

“Getting that first one was important as well,” Werner said.

South Fayette continued working and managed to strike with two goals in the second period. Wes Schwarzmiller slammed home a rebound off a Brady Fleck shot from the point at 9:19 to tie the score and a Trevor Dalessandro scored, assisted by Robert Chiappetta and Dylan Walsh, with 17 seconds remaining in the period.

“We knew we were coming back no matter what,” said Schwarzmiller, who scored two goals.

In the third period, Latrobe got some chances but could not capitalize as South Fayette continued its dominance in the second half of the game.

After Reid West was called for hooking, South Fayette went on the power play for the fourth time. The Lions finally converted. Dalessandro got his second of the night off a rebound from Brayden Imler’s shot off of J.M Krajc’s chest protector.

“We tried to control (on earlier power plays) and wait for our shot,” said Dalessandro. “We knew we had to get shots on the net and pepper the goalie.”

Latrobe pulled their goaltender Krajc, who made 28 saves, with four minutes left, but Schwarzmiller potted his second into the open net a minute later to seal it.

“We have the opportunity that no team from South Fayette has done before,” said Schwartz. “It’s one step closer and 51 minutes to accomplish our goal.”

Tribune-Review contributing writer Tyler Polk contributed.

Union comes alive in 4th quarter, tops Aquinas Academy for 1st WPIAL title

The old adage says it’s tough to beat a team three times in the same season, and coming into the WPIAL Class A girls basketball championship game, No. 1 Union had defeated No. 3 Aquinas Academy twice this year.

Aquinas Academy looked like it was going to prove the saying true, taking a one-point halftime lead and leaving Scotties leading scorer Kelly Cleaver frustrated with only three points in the first half.

But the Scotties came to life with a dominant fourth quarter, winning their first WPIAL championship with a 52-35 victory Saturday at Pitt’s Petersen Events Center.

With the score knotted at 29, Union scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter as part of a 26-5 run to pull away.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Union coach Rob Nogay said. “The hard work these girls put in the summertime, fall and winter — I couldn’t be more excited for our team.”

Cleaver returned the compliment to her coach, giving him credit for a second-half change in strategy that led to Union’s fourth-quarter surge.

“They played a triangle-and-two and compressed the post,” Cleaver said. “Coach made an adjustment and had me bring the ball up and it freed me up.”

The first quarter had a lot of early stage fright for both offenses as the teams struggled to 6-4 first frame with Union (18-6) in the lead.

Even more frightening for Aquinas Academy (16-9) was the loss of senior guard Bella Hite, who suffered an apparent knee injury when she was bumped with 35 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Hite, who sang the national anthem before the game, was carried off the court.

Most teams would feel down with one of their best players unable to return, but it lit a spark under the Crusaders. Stepping up in her place was freshman guard Ellie Junker, who scored 11 points in the second quarter for Aquinas.

“We were already playing for Bella,” said Junker, who finished with 14 points. “But after that, everything we did on the court on offense and defense had to be for her.”

Aquinas Academy continued an inspired effort with the team’s leading scorer, freshman guard Tess Doer, taking over the slack when the Scotties ran a box-and-one on Junker. She scored 11 of her 15 points in the second half to help keep the score even at 29 points to begin the fourth.

“We were looking to continue to do what we did in the first half and move the ball,” said Crusaders coach Chris Lebakken. “I thought our shots were open. They were decent. They just weren’t falling in that fourth quarter.”

Union’s defense is the second best in the classification at 34.1 points allowed per game, and the Scotties showcased that sparkling number, holding Aquinas to 1-of-12 shooting from the field in the final frame.

“We just needed to calm down, close out and get back to our game,” Nogay said.

With Cleaver firmly entrenched at point forward, it allowed sophomore guard Kylie Fruehstorfer to come alive in a big way in the second half.

“I was feeling hot and we needed to make shots,” said Fruehstorfer, who scored 15 of her 20 points in the second half. “I just kept shooting and they were going in.”

Cleaver, who finished with 14 points, also managed to get fellow senior forward Zoe Lepri involved as she had all 10 of her points in the second half.

“It’s just the way we play basketball and the way we practice,” Nogay said. “We don’t play for ourselves. We’re out there representing Union and we’re representing Lawrence County.”

Union will play Clarion, the fifth-place team in District 9, and Aquinas Academy will face Juniata Valley, which placed third in District 6, in the first round of the PIAA playoffs next Saturday.

Watch an archived video stream broadcast of this game on Trib HSSN.

Upper St. Clair wins slugfest with Bethel Park, making 1st WPIAL finals in 11 years

When rain is the forecast, old-school football is on the horizon.

No. 5 Upper St. Clair certainly brought that to the table in a 17-7 victory over No. 1 Bethel Park in the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals Friday night, but frankly, these two teams might have played just as hard-charging a game even in perfect fall weather.

“I think we probably would have been more balanced if the weather didn’t do what it did,” Upper St. Clair coach Mike Junko. “But in the end, it worked out for us, so we’ll take it.”

The Panthers advanced to the WPIAL championship game for the first time since 2011. They will meet Pine-Richland next Saturday at Norwin.

The teams combined for 16 straight runs to begin the game through the pouring rain at Big Macs Stadium in Canonsburg.

In the end, the passing game made the most significant difference, and once again, it was another hero of the day for Upper St Clair (10-2)

Ethan Hellmann, the freshman quarterback replaced on the final drive by Julian Dahlem in last week’s thriller against Gateway, caught lightning in a bottle.

He connected with Cody Marn, who did the rest of the business in a 74-yard catch and run on the Panthers’ first drive of the second half. Hellmann went 3 for 5 for 135 yards.

“We knew we weren’t gonna throw a lot,” Hellmann said. “We ensured we got consistent passes and ones we can make.”

Both teams used their workhorse backs early. Jamaal Brown for USC and Austin Caye for Bethel Park (10-2) caused a quick-moving first quarter.

In the second quarter, USC senior receiver Aidan Besselman scored on a reverse for the game’s first touchdown.

The biggest story of the game might have been Caye’s injury in the first quarter.

Caye was on crutches for the rest of the game and did not return. It was another crushing blow to the Black Hawks, who were already without Ryan Petras, who has been out since the final game of the season against Peters Township.

Caye being out led to extended touches for Gavin Moul and Blake Striegel, who had some success, but it felt like too much for the Bethel Park offense to overcome.

Sophomore quarterback Tanner Pfeuffer tried to make things happen with his arm, but the rain affected him throughout the game as four attempts were nearly intercepted.

“It affected us, but both teams dealt with injuries and rain,” Bethel Park coach Brian DeLallo said. “Their kids played hard, and their coaching staff did a great job.”

Similar to their game on Oct. 7, Bethel Park did have a long drive in this game, taking nearly eight minutes off the clock when Pfeuffer punched in a sneak for the Black Hawks’ only score.

Going into the second half, the Hawks owned time of possession until Brown took over. He had 87 of his 129 yards after halftime, and along with Aiden Conn’s 61 yards in the second half, they helped USC take back an edge in time of possession, which finished 25:52 to 22:08.

“We knew they were a physical team, and we wanted to match their physicality and better it,” Brown said. “The line did a great job the whole day.”

Bennett Henderson hit a 19-yard field to extend Upper St. Clair’s lead early in the fourth quarter.

“We’ve got 25 (seniors),” Junko said. “To see them get to this point, it means the world to me.”

High-end Pittsburgh summer basketball league features fierce competition, fun trash talk

Chaz McCrommon, who played for Robert Morris, warms up before a DREAM PRO-AM game this summer.

Every Monday through Thursday afternoon during the summer, Gilmore Cummings comes to A Giving Heart Community Center, a small, gritty gym located on Climax Street in Allentown, to prepare for the night’s basketball games.

“I want to build a culture for the pros and college kids here in Pittsburgh,” Cummings said. “There aren’t many big leagues for the pros and college kids to play.”

He founded the DREAM Pro-Am in 2018 along with Averill “Ace” Pippens, his head coach for the Steel City Yellow Jackets, a semi-professional basketball team in the American Basketball Association.

The pro-am’s acronym stands for Discipline, Realize, Excellence, Achieve, Motivation.

The league’s players range in stages of their basketball careers, from overseas professionals to those out of pro basketball but still wanting to lace up.

“(The league is) reach out or invitation only, and it’s as far as I’m going to go,” Cummings said. “I want the best league and the best of the best competing.”

Some of the best to compete on Western Pennsylvania’s high school and college teams — such as Ashton Gibbs, DeJuan Blair, DeAndre Kane, Matty McConnell, Mike Young Jr. and Lance Jeter — have played in the league.

“My favorite year of the pro-am was 2020,” Cummings said. “It’s messed up to say because of covid, but the gym was packed, and everyone, even guys from Pitt, were playing. It was everybody’s entertainment.”

Fans can come down to A Giving Heart for $5 and see some of the best basketball in any city’s summer leagues. Games are played at 7, 8, and 9 p.m. with a mashup of NBA, ABA and FIBA rules in two 20-minute halves.

Most players in the DREAM Pro-Am have played since the league’s inception, such as Gerald “Scoot” Warrick III, a member of 2004 PIAA champion Penn Hills.

“I’m enjoying every moment, being 35 years old, still able to run up and down the court and compete and have a good time,” said Warrick, who plays for the Harlem Wizards and has played overseas. “Let the kids see how the pros do it.”

Warrick brings his son, Gerald IV, to every game he plays. Like father like son, basketball is in his blood as well.

“He loves basketball and works hard every day, ” Warrick said. “He’s why I stay in shape and keep my head on this court.”

Warrick played for Cummings’ team, Bo-Gang, for the previous three seasons. This season, Cummings plays for the Heatmakers alongside a rising senior at Penn Hills, Daemar Kelly.

Warrick has enjoyed the opportunity for the past and present of the Indians to play together.

“I showed him the right way so he doesn’t make some of the same mistakes I made,” Warrick said. “He’s going to go a long way.”

Kelly’s coach at Penn Hills, Chris Giles, played in the DREAM Pro-Am in 2020.

High school players are rare in the league. Cummings limited entry to players in the summer before their senior year.

It was just in time for his cousin, Keandre Bowles, the second all-time scorer at Woodland Hills with 1,240 points, to join the league.

“It made me a lot better just as far as the competition level, the grown-man strength and the height with the pros in here,” said Bowles, who recently finished his redshirt sophomore season with Dodge City Community College (Kan.).

The proof is in his outstanding senior season with Woodland Hills. According to the school’s record books, he scored the most points by a Wolverine in a season (693), including a program-high 43 points against McKeesport in January 2019.

Bowles is on RNDRT with the league’s other rising senior, Brandon Davis of the defending WPIAL champion Laurel Highlands.

“I’ve played against Keandre and “Scrap” (Amante Britt), the twins (Tim and James Jackson) and all the pros like Mike Young since I was a kid,” Davis said. “It’s nothing new to me.”

The league’s culture is summed up as go hard or go home. Every player gives effort like they’re fighting for their basketball respect in front of their peers.

Other teams would come down on nights they aren’t scheduled to play just to see the games in person.

“We’ve got good teams coming out and playing good teams. It makes other teams come out to watch the great games,” Cummings said. “We got the fans, the video and the bragging rights.”

One of Cummings’ teammates on Bo-Gang and the Yellow Jackets, Jason Arrington, dove for a loose ball near the spectator side of the court in a Monday game against the Bridge City Jazz.

He risked possible injury right in front of the broadcast table and fans like he was still playing for the ABA national championship this past April.

It was one of the many plays discussed at the night’s end after Bo-Gang picked up the victory over Bridge City. A big group of players was standing in the alleyway on Climax Street, discussing the hotly contested game after the final match finished at 10 p.m.

Some players played in the game. Others either stuck around after their games or only showed up to watch this game.

“(Bridge City does) do this every time they lose,” said Finesse Harris, who runs the mini-concession and paid entry to the pro-am’s games.

Brandon Johnson, one of Cummings’ teammates on the Yellow Jackets, was a part of the losing team and led the massive discussion about the Jazz’s third loss this season.

“I kept telling Gil, don’t let that loss fool y’all, everybody 0-0 when the playoffs start, ” said Johnson, a part of the last graduating class from Schenley High School. “We were talking (trash) for two hours after the game, the whole time going crazy.”

One of the featured parts of the league’s culture is the opportunity to trash talk after a victory. The DREAM Pro-Am’s Instagram is filled with game highlights, but the most significant part is the postgame interviews.

The winning team gets to talk about its victory in an uncensored video that shows their personality.

“That’s where you can see some of the players’ humor,” Cummings said. “After you won a big victory and fought hard, you get to talk trash.”

Cummings said his goal for the DREAM Pro-Am is to show the world that Pittsburgh has players and share Western Pennsylvania basketball culture worldwide. He’s excited about the playoffs starting this week in the league’s most competitive year yet.

“It’s a fun atmosphere, fun that you could bring your family down. We’ve got food and snacks,” Cummings said. “If you want to see good basketball, come down to A Giving Heart.”

Professional, Amateur Fights Scheduled for Boxing at Washington County Fairgrounds

A red-hot summer for Pittsburgh Boxing continues with Gionta Management's return to the Washington County Fairgrounds for Battle at The Fairgrounds III on July 2nd. Doors open at 5 PM, and the first bell is at 6 PM.

The card allows the amateur competitors to fight alongside their professional peers, as the card will feature the amateurs in the undercard before moving to the pros.

“I think it's good to have it all mixed,” said Derek Gionta of Monroeville, the promoter for the card. “It excites the amateurs to fight on the undercard of some of these pros.”

The amateur fights feature talent competing in the National Golden Gloves tournament in Ellwood City’s Devon Siegfried and Stanley Davis of Akron.

“At 185 [pounds], it’s a little harder to find opponents, especially at the open level,” said Gionta. “They decided to fight, neither hesitated, and they know they’ll come out of it better.”

Another amateur bout is a women’s match between Pittsburgh’s Ashley Harner and Lauren Michaels of Altoona. Harner fought Donya Shodja at Integrity Fighter Promotion’s Spring Slugfest V in March.

The professional side of the card will also feature a women’s super-middleweight match between Mary Casamassa of Wexford (1-0) and LeAnn O’Malley of Las Vegas (1-2).

Casamassa won in her first professional fight against Jozette Cotton in May at the Murraysville SportZone.

The Pitt engineering student said the most important thing she learned from her first professional match was to relax.

“When I got [in the ring], it was still a fight,” said Casamassa. “It felt quite similar. You’d say a little bit more excited.”

Pittsburgh boxing has been on the rise, and over the last year, women’s boxing is well on its way here. Casamassa hopes to show the kids, especially the girls in attendance, that they can also be a fighter.

“It’s one of the reasons why I love my gym is we have so many kids there and honestly motivates me more,” said Casamassa. “I take it as an honor to show kids that side of boxing.”

Also representing Pittsburgh on the card is Washington PA’s “Sweet Child” Matt Conway (20-3 9 KO), looking to bounce back from a tough loss in January to Avery Sparrow for IBA Super Featherweight World Championship and the PA Super Featherweight Championship.

He will take on Brazil’s Eduardo Pereira Dos Reis (24-8 19 KO) in a lightweight clash.

The loss came via a standing TKO in the 10th round, giving him his first-ever loss in the Pittsburgh area, his previous defeats happening in Nevada.

Gionta said Sparrow was his best opponent in his career, and both were engaged in a classic. Since that loss, he continued his training with little time off.

“Avery's a really good fighter, and Matt stayed on his feet the entire fight,” said Gionta. He’s gonna carry that same mentality in this next fight. He’s blue-collar.”

Gionta highlighted the third scheduled pro fight between Willie Shaw (13-3 9 KO) of Oakland, CA, and Philadelphia’s Tyrone Crawley (7-1).

Both fighters are from out of the area, so it’s for the hardcore boxing fan or the casual fan interested in learning about more pros. Something he always tries to bring to his shows for the hometown crowd.

“It's a good matchup, and it will allow the fans to see neutral fighters go out here in Pittsburgh,” said Gionta. “Those have turned out to be some of our best matchups since I started [promoting].”

Tickets are $40 at the door. For more information on tickets, call 412-759-0407.

Parts of this article was used for a piece in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

KSWA and Blue Dust Bring Wrestling Under The Bridge

Promotional Poster for Brawl Under The Bridge VI. Submitted by Frank Cunniff.

Professional Wrestling has an uncanny ability to unite people from all backgrounds. That’s no different when the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (KSWA) makes its annual trip under the Homestead Grays Bridge.

“We always get a huge buzz when Blue Dust announces the event,” said Bob “Bobby-O” Orkwis, the owner of the KSWA. “The buzz still surprises me after all this time.”

KSWA Brawl Under The Bridge VI returns under the Homestead Grays Bridge on Saturday, July 17th. The first bell is at 7 PM, and general admission tickets are $5.

The event has been known as a celebration of wrestling history. In the past, wrestling legends like the Rock and Roll Express, Bill “Demolition Ax” Eadie, and J.J. Dillion have made appearances at the event. They served as a bridge to wrestling history for fans, both young and old.

“The Gavel” David Lawless (left) takes a shot from a briefcase by T-Rantula (right) during Brawl Under The Bridge IV on July 21, 2018

The KSWA’s old school feel has granted the owner and other members of KSWA the chance to meet and work with some of the favorite wrestlers and managers of the NWA, WWF, and studio wrestling days.

“I got to introduce the Rock and Roll Express while 1000 people chant their name,” said “Trapper” Tom Leturgey, KSWA Ring Announcer and writer for KSWA Digest. “It brought me back to the 1980s when myself and Bob were watching them on television in college”, said

They are excited to be back doing shows with KSWA. The promotion was halted for 14 months until this May. In that time, their fans, the KSWA Krazies, would tell them how much they can’t wait for them to come back.

“It was like we didn’t miss a beat with the first few shows we’ve done,” said Orkwis. They have been very well attended.

It’s been thanks to sponsors like Blue Dust, the key organizers of the event, and their support for keeping them going.

“The Face of Pittsburgh” Lou Martin laying on the concrete after being thrown out from the ring during a match against The Rock and Roll Express at Brawl Under The Bridge IV on July 18, 2018. Photo by Ty Polk.

Frank Cunniff, the events manager at Blue Dust, wanted to give a different feel for the events they held under the Homestead Grays Bridge. A new event alongside their Pumpkinfest and Oysterfest events that feature live music, beer, and food.

The idea for Brawl Under The Bridge was based on a pro wrestling comic book he was working on and his interest in pro wrestling.

“I had gone to some of their events at the Spirit Hall in Lawrenceville and was very entertained,” said Cunniff. “I wanted to draw on some authentic experience, and the first event was great.”

It’s now a part of Homestead and has made some of his favorite memories as a wrestling fan. During the 2016 event, ABC News reporter Michael Koenigs biked across the country for the “Election Cycle” between the political conventions.

“It was election coverage, and they got good shots of the crowd [and atmosphere],” said Cunniff. ” It was really good to get a television package.

He also says Mayor Esper and T-Rantula taking on Mayor Mystery in the Mayor vs. Mayor match in 2017 and watching and commentating a game with Bill Eadie as other great moments.

“Their style of professional wrestling is Pittsburgh’s cultural heritage,” said Cunniff. “It’s a great day to see it in this community, and you could bring the whole family.

J.J Dillon (left) legendary manager for the Four Horsemen pokes Justin Sane (right) in the eyes at Brawl Under The Bridge V on July 20, 2019 Photo by Ty Polk.

Anthony Alexander is defending the proclaimed “most prestigious title in the Commonwealth,” the KSWA Championship, in an open challenge match.

The Brawl Under The Bridge Champion, “The Face of Pittsburgh” Lou Martin, will defend against King Del Douglas in a dog collar match. Martin’s former tag partner Shawn Blanchard will be in Douglas’s corner.

Former KSWA Tag Team champions Mitch Napier and The BROhemoth will square off in a kendo stick on a pole match.

“We honor wrestling in Pittsburgh our way,” said Leturgey. This event rivals Fan Fest, our year-end show in December, and it’s great to be involved with.

This article was also published in The Valley Mirror.

Battle at The Fairgrounds II Starts Summer of Boxing in Pittsburgh

Promotional Poster for The Battle at The Fairgrounds II. Submitted by Derek Gionta.

With around 30 percent capacity, Derek Gionta managed to do what was impossible for almost 11 months this past February, bring a professional boxing card to Western Pennsylvania.

“It was a logistics thing for us just to get all of that setup,” said Gionta. “It was worth it at the end of the day because we're able to do a show and people were there to enjoy it.”

On June 4th, he will host Battle at The Fairgrounds II at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Doors open at 6 PM, and the first bell is at 7. There are no capacity restrictions. The event will follow CDC guidelines will be followed.

“I think [holding the boxing events] helps everybody's just their mental state with everything,” said Gionta. “People may have been a little nervous [at the show in February]. I think this time around, it's going to help a lot.”

The card’s main event will feature the International Boxing Association (IBA) Intercontinental Super Featherweight Title. Washington, PA native Matt “Sweet Child” Conway(18-2, 7 KO) will take on Colombia’s Johnathan “Popeye” Perez (38-26, 30 KO).

Conway is coming off a victory in January against a formidable opponent in Vincent Jennings after losses by decision in the undercards of Shakur Stevenson-Joel Gonzalez and the highly anticipated Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder fight.

Rich Cantolina (right center) and Derek Gionta (far right) talking to Referee Tim Shipley (far left) and Chris Willimas (left center) before his fight against Brock Willis on November 2nd, 2019 at Printscape Arena. Photo by Tyler Polk.

Deon Goodlow (left) Sparring with Jordan Zlacki (right) in preperations for their fights on May 8th, 2021. Photo by Ty Polk.

Dave Tomaso (left) and Richie Cantolina (right) battle at the Shriners Hall in Cheswick PA on March 7th, 2020. Photo by Daniel Cork.

Gionta has known Conway since his time in amateur boxing. He’s seen his growth as a fighter and a man.

“Seeing Matt in training and sparring, you can see his confidence growing,” said Gionta. “He’s only 25 and has been in the ring with some higher-level competition, especially against [Gabriel] Flores.”

His opponent, Perez, is described as a typical fighter from Latin America. Tough and rugged. With 30 of 36 wins coming by way of knockout, this is someone not to look past.

Deon Goodlow, another member of Gionta’s management team, will take on Ivan Hernandez. It was an easy fight to schedule for the event, and both fighters are confident they can get the victory.

“I just got a fighter’s spirit no matter who I face,” said Goodlow. “I feel like always have that chance to win, no matter what is this on the fight.

Goodlow’s fights are action-packed, like his last fight against Jordan Zlacki in Canonsburg. The two fighters were sparring in preparation for their fights over the previous month.

“You’re gonna see a lot of punches,” said Goodlow. “Watch the sparks fly, and we’re gonna get another dub for Pittsburgh.”
If we’re talking about drama, the last three fights for “Pretty” Richie Cantolina (6-0-1, 2 KO) did not lack any at all.

The first of those three fights took place after the passing of his father in September 2019.

The second fight was a wrestling match inside a sanctioned boxing fight that put him through the middle rope.

The final fight of the trilogy was a controversial draw after a punch seconds after a referee break due to a clinch.

When he talks about his last fight in March 2020, he believes a fight he needed to have in his career.

“I let talent get me to 6-0, and that fight made me realize I may have more talent, but these guys are working harder than you,” said Cantolina. “This isn't the amateurs anymore. You need to treat this as a true professional.”

He decided to walk away from his salaried position as a safety consultant and opened a boxing gym, The Sanctuary Boxing Club.

"Now that I'm training full time and coaching full time. I'm so much happier, and I'm in a better place," said Cantolina. “Not a lot of people get to wake up and love what they do.”

Cantolina is excited to get back in the ring. Before the pandemic, he was planning on four or five fights in 2020. He’ll face Darryl “Dreamking” Bunting (4-9-2, 2 KO) in the co-main event of the evening at super-middleweight.

Cantolina is excited to face Bunting, a veteran of 16 professional fights, as it will showcase his technical abilities that fit his nickname.

“'I’m excited for finally a guy that's going to stand in their box. He’s a solid technical fighter,” said Cantolina. “I'm pretty well known for my angles and my footwork. So it’s going to be a technical showcase for six rounds. hopefully, only one or two, but I'm in shape for six.”

Other fights featured on the card are a light-heavyweight matchup between Joel La Paz (10-1, 6 KO) and Latiss Norman (4-6, 2 KO).

Ryziemmion Ford (4-1, 3 KO) takes on Christopher Nelson (3-18, 1 KO) in a super featherweight clash, and Shawn Rall (0-4) takes on Brandon Grimmett (0-2 in super-featherweight action.

“These guys put a lot into boxing,” said Gionta. “They deserve the recognition and the opportunity to compete.”

Tickets are still available, $30 for General Admission and $50 for Reserved Seating. For ticket info, call 412-759-0407.

Pandemic Pugilism Brings Pay-Per-View Boxing to Pittsburgh

Basyzbek "Baz" Baratov training in prepartation for his return fight on May 15th at the Sokol Club on the South Side. Photo by Ty Polk.

The COVID-19 pandemic halted some of Pittsburgh boxing's up-and-comers opportunities from fighters to promoters last March. 

More than a year later, the local professional scene is picking itself off the canvas.

“There's a lot of unknowns, and it's not easy organizing a show right now,” said J.J. Richardson, manager for Integrity Fighter Management. “We're excited to be back in business, and our fighters are excited to have a platform again to fight on.”

Lyubomyr Pinchuk training for his fight on May 15th from the Sokol Club on the South Side. Photo by Ty Polk.

Integrity Fighter Management and Conn-Greb Boxing Gym will host "Old School Fight Series: Pandemic Pugilism" from the Sokol Club on the South Side, Saturday, May 15th.

This is the third night of boxing to take place in the area since the shutdown last March.

Gionta Management's fight night at the Washington County Fairgrounds was the first professional action the city held since the bouts they scheduled in Cheswick in March 2020. 

The USS Fight Academy in North Versailles brought amateur boxing back on March 13th, a year to the shutdown that canceled the returning Pittsburgh vs. Ireland Donnybrook.

McSorley and Integrity initially were hesitant to run a show during the pandemic, but a friend in Ohio did a few pay-per-view shows that gave them ideas.

Michael McSorley (left) talking with Jordan Zlacki (left) in between a sparring session with Deon Goodlow. Photo by Tyler Polk.

“It was the only way we could cover our expenses was a pay-per-view,” said McSorley in between a training session at Conn-Greb Boxing Gym. “And we thought this would be, you know, a good time to try it.”

Due to Allegheny County’s restrictions, the event will have a paid attendance of 96 people, and it has already sold out. The low attendance figures gave them the idea to stream the pay per view online for $26

.It will be the first opportunity for some to get back in the ring, but for most, this is their first chance on pay-per-view.

It’s both for Jordan Zlacki (2-2) of Cheswick. His last fight was in December 2019, and he’s been itching to get back into the ring.

“I’m focused on the fight, the game plan, and what I got to do, said Zlacki before his training session. “I’ve never felt better working with Mike [McSorley], and I’m happy to get back on track.”

The event takes place two weeks before Pennsylvania goes back to allowing 100 percent capacity for all occasions. Despite a baptism by fire in their entry into the PPV business, they still have plans to continue.

“We're looking forward to [a show with full capacity and a pay-per-view] maybe late summer, early fall, getting back to full capacity shows,” said Richardson.

The Pay-Per-View will cost 26 dollars to catch all the fights, and the commentary duo for the night is Matt “The Lyrical Gangster” Antonucci and the Pittsburgh Luchador. They have been frequent attendees at training sessions and producing a series of promos for bouts on the card.

“There will be a difference with us, the direct knowledge and passion [of the fighters],” said Luchador in a conference call. “We're bringing some real energy to this, and you’ll feel it.

Antonucci was already in for play-by-play because he was already scheduled to be the ring announcer. The luchador wasn’t the first choice to provide color commentary, but Antonucci hoped that he would be the eventual pick.

“I had my fingers crossed waiting for [the luchador to be officially named his broadcast partner],” said Antonucci. “It’s a huge opportunity for us, just like for the fighters on the card.”

“The Lyrical Gangster” Matt Antonucci in between fights at Spring Slugfest hosted by Integrity Fighter Management March 2nd, 2019. Antonucci will be the ring announcer and broadcaster alongside the Pittsburgh Luchador for the pay-per-view on May 15th. Photo by Ty Polk.

The luchador will be a first-time commentator at the event, and many would typically be nervous compared to his broadcast partner, who boasts 14 years of experience. 

A fan of sports growing up as a kid in the ’70s, and his experiences being in the corner for fighters has him thinking age and savviness will overcome any nerves.

“I'm too old and savvy to be nervous about this, and my life has always been about sports,” said the Luchador. “I’m preparing and working my ass off. I think it’s gonna go really well.”

The card features regulars to cards around Pittsburgh like Lyubomyr Pinchuk, Johnny Spell, Zlacki, Rosalindo Morales, Michael Manna, and Ryan Covert.

The newest combatant and Pittsburgh will be well worth the price of admission.

Mike McSorley (left) and Basyzbek “Baz” Baratov (right) training for the Pandemic Pugilism event on May 15th. Photo by Ty Polk

Basyzbek “Baz” Baratov (2-1-2), from Philadelphia by way of Kyrgyzstan, will be making his return to the ring a little over to his last fight four years ago. He’s already gunning for some of boxing’s top prizes.

“I’m ready for this fight. It’s been a long time waiting for this moment”, said Baratov. “I’m coming back as soon as possible for a title.”

This is his first fight after what he described as a “vacation.” He’ll fight at 125 lbs, but he’s typically fighting at 122-118 lbs. This will also be his second pay-per-view fight. He made a previous appearance on a Top Rank Boxing card in Nevada.

McSorley described Baz as very entertaining and could dazzle the crowd both in person and on pay-per-view.

“It's an interesting matchup because a much taller guy who’s a big puncher against a smaller guy who has a lot of amateur experience,” said McSorley.

A few of the 96 attending in person and watching the pay-per-view will be from Kyrzgstan. Living in Pittsburgh for the past three years, he’s already made the city his home.

“This is my second home,” said Baratov. “I will do my best and do everything for a title and show the people Kyrzgstan boxing.”

A combination of local fighters and international flavor will come to the South Side with eight fights scheduled to take place.

“Just wait until May 15th”, said Antonucci. “We’ll be like Public Enemy and bring the noise,”

You can pay and stream the pay-per-view here. Referrals from the fighters also give full access as well.

USS Fight Academy Welcomes Back Amateur Boxing in Pittsburgh with their First Fight Night

Steve "USS" Cjunningham standing in the ring at the USS Fight Academy in North Versailles. Photo by Ty Polk.

Steve “USS” Cunningham, a former two-time IBF Cruiserweight Champion, has been in many big fights in his career, but the biggest was with his daughter Kennedy and her treatment for hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Along with his wife Livvy, they moved their family from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh in 2015 and have ingrained themselves into the area’s boxing community.

“All the fighters show us respect because of my career accomplishments and my daughter’s story,” said Cunningham. “They’ve made us feel like we are at home here.”

Livvy Cunningham overseeing a fitness class at the USS Fight Academy in North Versailles. Photo by Ty Polk.

After Kennedy’s successful heart transplant in 2015, they’ve remained in Pittsburgh, opening a boxing gym in 2018 with plans to host fight nights for amateur boxers from around the city and the world.

The USS Fight Academy will hold its first-ever Amateur Fight Night on March 13th. The event will take place inside their spacious gym in North Versailles.

“It’s something we saw from the minute we walked in the gym,” said Livvy Cunningham, Steve’s wife. “It got pushed back a year, but we’re excited that it’s finally happening.”

The event will take place exactly one year to the date of the last scheduled and sanctioned amateur boxing event in the Pittsburgh area. The 2020 Pittsburgh vs. Ireland Donnybrook at Priory Grand Hall in the Northside was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of Pittsburgh’s best young pugilists were supposed to go toe-to-toe with opponents from the Drimaugh Boxing Club in Dublin, Ireland.

Steve Cunningham watching the kids boxing class. Photo by Ty Polk.

His son Steve “Tugboat” Cunningham Jr, the fourth-ranked amateur nationally at 141 pounds and plans to turn pro after high school, was scheduled to fight his second international opponent, Evan Kirwan, an Irish amateur boxing champion.

His first opportunity was the Pittsburgh vs. Cuba Boxing on the Bridge event in 2016. His second international opponent was an opportunity for people from Gateway High School to see him fight in person.

“Teachers, the principal, and vice-principal of the school were coming to see him fight,” said Cunningham. “It was very disappointing. To us, this was his coming-out party. Pittsburgh is a beautiful place, and the fans love good fighters and will get behind you.

The pandemic, as it was for many businesses, was rough for the gym. After celebrating the gym’s third anniversary this past January, they feel like they’re coming out of it stronger than ever. 

“It takes three to five years for a business to become profitable,” said Livvy.

“You’d never think that going into that third year, and you would face a pandemic. We still have some building and growing to do, but we’re on our way.”

They’ve had talented fighters come spar and train. They’ve also honed talent to compete in the USA Boxing National Championships.

In addition to Steve Jr., his younger Cruz “Missile” Cunningham and Maximus “The Gladiator Ruiz each have two national championships.

On Saturday, the USS Fight Academy will look to start the amateur career of another boxing talent.

Steve Cunningham (left) watching Abigail Neubauer (right) in a training session. Photo by Ty Polk.

Abigail Neubauer from North Hunnington started her training a year and a half ago. She started going to USS Fight Academy because her cousin started training there.

In those three days a week kids’ classes, she fell in love with boxing. When she graduated from the kids’ boxing classes last May, she began training to become an amateur combatant, which upped her training from three days to six days a week.

“OnceI stepped up from the kids’ class and never thought about going back,” said Neubauer. I’ve been waiting to do this for a while now.”

It was hard to find a competitor her weight and age class, and she was willing to whatever it takes to prepare for her first fight.

Steve Sr. always wanted to train a female fighter from scratch since opening up his gym three years ago.

Abigail Neubauer jumping rope. Photo by Ty Polk.

“Women are more fierce than men. They’re more vicious, you know, they go for the blood., It’s just different with women’s boxing,” said Cunningham. “I’m amped. We’re all amped to see how she does on her first fight.”

She says Cunningham has pushed her further than she ever thought she could go and would have never picturing boxing being the most significant part of her life.

“If you would have asked me two years ago, would I be in a boxing gym like training six days a week? I would have said no”, said Neubauer. “Once I found this place, Steve kind of took me under his wing and started training me as one of his own.”

She said her biggest challenge in boxing is the sport’s mental aspect, but she’s ready for her first challenge.

“If you manifest you’re gonna win, then you’re, it’s all about what you put your mind to,” said Neubauer. “It depends on how bad you want it, and I want it bad. So I’m going to give it my all and leave everything out on the mat.”

The Cunninghams plan to make Pittsburgh an amateur boxing hub with the USS Fight Academy as the home for future tournaments and amateur showcases.

“We want to try to do a show once every other month or show which is good for us good for the gym and keeping our athletes active before national tournaments,” said Cunningham. “I want to build-up to the point of even either doing invitationals and tournaments with other gyms.”

Tickets are available at the USS Fight Academy 1712 Lincoln Hwy, North Versailles, PA. First Bell at 6 PM. Adult Tickets $20, Children Tickets $10. All State Protocols will be followed and face coverings will be required.

Reilsono hopes to Use Lessons from Baseball to Create Better Leaders

“I always wanted to coach baseball, scout professionally, and do all these other things, said Reilsono. “I never wanted to put my eggs in one basket.”

He’s achieved those first two goals and more. Currently, Claudio is the General Manager of the Global Scouting Bureau and head coach of the Carnegie Mellon Varsity baseball team.

He hosts talk shows like Steel City Sports World and Pittsburgh Ring Talk with his friends Luther Dupree and "Smokin" Jim Frazier. He hosts a podcast with sports legends from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, holds baseball clinics, and wrote for boxing outlets.

In October, he published his first book, “Lead From The Heart Up, Not The Neck Up.” He wrote the book to give people leadership advice from his 38-year coaching career.

His parents, Olindo & Ida, came here from Italy and were very into boxing and soccer. Claudio’s first love is baseball. In August 1973, his uncle took him to Three Rivers Stadium for the first time in his life, early in the morning before a game.

Claudio Reilsono leading one of his baseball camps. Photo from claudioreilsono.com

His uncle worked at the Allegheny Club in the stadium, so he was able to show Claudio around and introduce him to the players in the locker room.

When he stepped onto the AstroTurf at Three Rivers, staring at the scoreboard and the 60,000 or so seats around him. He realized that he wanted to become a professional baseball player.

“I told my dad what I wanted to do in my life,” said Reilsono. “He told me, if that's what you want to do, me and your mother will do all we can, do everything we can to give you every opportunity in the world to make your dreams come true.”

At age 22, Reilsono was a volunteer assistant high school baseball coach at Quaker Valley High School after graduating there. After three tryouts with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles, his professional baseball career was over before it began.

Claudio Reilsono’s parents, Olindo and Ida Reilsono. Submitted by Claudio Reilsono.

“I remember sitting in the outfield with my legs crossed, smiling, but I wasn’t happy, said Reilsono. “How can I go home and tell my parents that my dream is done?”

He decided to continue his career in baseball as a coach. Rich Woznicki, his coach in high school, asked him to stay on as an assistant coach. When Woznicki got into a car accident in 1988, he took over as head coach at 23.

In his first practice as head coach, he set the precedent that he based his entire career on.

The practice was scheduled to be indoors, but it was a nice day, so Reilsono wanted to take it outside. One player complained somewhat loudly about not going outside, and Claudio felt disrespected and responded.

“I said then don’t go, I don’t care if you stay, go home or quit, we’re going outside,” said Reilsono. “The only time I get on a player is not when they make a physical error, but when they disrespect me,  the team or just don’t try, but that is very, very rare.”

Front Cover of Lead From The Heart Up, Not The Neck Up. Submitted by Claudio Reilsono.

The biggest thing he stresses in the book is having good people around you. 

You are going to do great things on the field and in the office, really in life if you have great people around you”, said Reilsono. “When you have that kind of person, man, it makes your job so much easier.”

He explains that sometimes good guys can unintentionally have bad leadership moments. He references one player who was a good player, but he was very hard on some who didn’t get as much playing time as he did.

“Being mad and hollering at somebody and degrading them isn't going to do anything,” said Reilsono. “A good leader motivates others to another level, not make them disappear.”

Claudio (left) with his daughter Ida (center) and wife Lynda (right). Photo submitted by Claudio Reilsono.

His goal in life was to impact people, and he hopes that his book can make that impact.

“I wrote this book to prove you don’t have to be a hard-ass,” said Reilsono. “I'm using baseball as a metaphor, a vehicle for leadership.”

Listen to the Claudio Reilsono show on claudioreilsono.com. Purchase Lead From The Heart Up, Not The Neck Up here.

Lady Wolverines Outlast Gateway, Remain in Hunt for 2nd Straight Section Championship

Used interview from 2:05:41 to write this article.

Senior recognition day is an opportunity to give thanks for four years of hard work and look forward to the future.

Woodland Hills held their ceremony giving thanks to Seniors from the boys’ basketball team, cheerleading squad, and saving their best for last, Peyton Pinkney, the lone senior representative on the girls’ basketball team.

“My journey here has been a ride,” said Pinkney after the game. “One not to forget. You live, and you learn. It’s a great experience to go through, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.

With the WPIAL girls basketball tournaments hosting games in the higher seed’s gym for all matchups and one more home regular-season game against Franklin Regional. There will be more chances for the Lady Wolverines (9-4, 8-1) to dazzle in front of a home crowd as they did in a 49-40 win to Gateway last Saturday.

The game was a back and forth affair as the biggest lead both teams could muster was six, and they headed into the fourth quarter deadlocked at 32.

After Gateway went up 36 to 32, Woodland Hills went on an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter, that was sparked primarily by the play of Pinkney, who had 17 points in the game.

For the fourth game in a row this week, both Pinkney and Hope Hawkins (10 points) were in double figures and were vital towards the run.  

With the senior in the high post and the freshman operating in the low post knowing well, they can’t guard both of them.

“Every freshman has a senior,” said Pinkney. “Hope’s my freshman this year. I try to walk her through things I had trouble with as a freshman year. Make sure she doesn’t get mad at the game or herself.”

Kayla Walter had 8 points, added with Jasmyn Fisher scoring 6. Carmen Vasquez had 5, and Jazmine Dunn had 3 points.

Gateway’s (6-10, 2-7)  Alexis Margolis had 16, and Dynasty Shegog had 13 points.

Woodland Hills remains in a deadlock with Latrobe for the 5A-Section 4 title and will take on Franklin Regional at home on Monday. Gateway will travel to Greensburg Salem, on Monday.

Authors Document Pittsburgh’s Boxing Past

The Author of "Jack McClelland: The Pride of Pittsburg", Vincent Ciaramella holding a photo of Jack McClelland from 1900-1904, the only known copy of his signature anywhere. Used with permission by the Estate of Dr. William McClelland and Lisa McClelland. Photo by Ty Polk.

The past of the sport’s history in Pittsburgh is storied, but the history was scattered compared to other boxing hotbeds. Pittsburgh boxing’s history and legacy were lost to time in the archives of newspapers in Pittsburgh and other cities that covered those fighters.

Douglas Cavanaugh and Vincent Ciaramella captured the history of boxing in Pittsburgh in their books, “Pittsburgh Boxing: A Pictorial History” and “Jack McClelland: The Pride of Pittsburg.”

Cavanaugh from Burbank, Calif., has written about the historical figures of boxing since the ’90s. His articles received publication in boxing magazines like The Ring, British Boxing Monthly, World Boxing, and Boxing Illustrated.

He’s covered boxers from all over the world and noticed a trend in some of his favorite fighters.

“A rather disproportionate number of boxers that I liked happened to be from Pittsburgh, said Cavanaugh, so I thought okay, let’s go find a book on the subject.”

Major fight towns like Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles documented boxing history through arcadia picture books. Pittsburgh despite the legendary history of guys like Billy Conn, Harry Greb, Fritzy Zivic, and Charley Burley.

“There was just so much information that had not been documented in Arcadia book wouldn’t have done it justice,” said Cavanaugh. “So, what I thought would be a six month to a year-long journey turned into something that took a decade.

Douglas Cavanaugh (2nd from Left), with Tim Conn (Left), Art Rooney Jr. (2nd from Right) and Roy McHugh (Right) at Atrias Restaurant. Photo submitted by Douglas Cavanaugh.

He started research in 2009 by posting his findings on a Facebook page. Over time, it started picking up steam in the years that followed. The late Roy McHugh, his friend, mentor, and a longtime sports columnist for the Pittsburgh Press and Post-Gazette, likened his efforts to find a lost civilization.

“It was worth the effort,” said Cavanaugh, who wrote the introduction and copy edited the post-humous release of McHugh’s “When Pittsburgh Was a Fight Town.” “It’s fun, the families enjoy it, I enjoy it, and it’s been a great journey.”

Vincent Ciaramella’s journey towards writing his book about Jack McClelland, his great-great-grandfather, wasn’t about finding a lost civilization. It’s more about finding out about a little known family member, like people who asked about their family’s boxing past on Cavanaugh’s Facebook page.

“Only thing I knew about him was I had a boxer in my family who fought on barges,” said Ciaramella of Bethel Park. “There was a lot of curiosity on my part. Who was this guy?”

A picture from a Newspaper from January 29,1904. It says “Herman wins Decision from McClelland”. Photo by Tyler Polk.

He would search for information about McClelland from time to time. He even won an eBay auction for a collection of articles on Jack in 2013 for 13 dollars.

He did not start actively searching for information about the former fighter until 2015 while waiting for his wife, Erica, to give birth to Enzo, his son.

“I found an article Doug wrote about him on his page, and I decided to start gathering information,” said Ciaramella.

He managed to piece together details about McClelland’s career through newspaper archives and talks with family members like his aunt and a chance meeting with Shirley Quaquarucci, the granddaughter of McClelland.

“The book was to serve two purposes,” said Ciaramella. “Highlight his career and a family that had been forgotten.”

The book covers all of Jack’s life and career. From his days as an amateur to fighting 35 round fighting around the city during his heyday. Many of the places he fought were unconventional in today’s arenas and grand halls.

McClelland would fight in places like opera halls. To this day, only one building in Pittsburgh is still standing from his days of fighting, Maennerchor Hall in McKees Rocks.

A piece of Maennerchor Hall in McKee’s Rock. The last place still standing from Jack McClelland’s fighting days. It’s currently abandoned and slated for demolition. Photo by Ty Polk.

Sometimes he would fight in tents, basements, and on a few occasions, barges that would float down the river. Fighting in the late 1890s to 1910s, it was an era where boxing was considered a brutal and illegal sport.

“They would fight with lanterns all around the rings in some places just to avoid the law,” said Cavanaugh. “I found a story about one fight that Jack held near a river, and the cops busted it. His opponent, Squirrel Finnerty, escaped by jumping out of a barge and swimming to Youngstown.”

Ciaramella covered the highs and lows of McClelland’s life both in and out of the ring. From defeating Abe Atell for the world featherweight championship at the 1904 Saint Louis World’s fair to having the title stripped away due to a technicality.

Checkered family life and questionable incidents with the law gave him some reservations about researching the book.

“I came to the part where he had a second family, and they were like starving, and the children were in rags in Allentown,” said Ciaramella. “As his career went on, he got a little weird.”

His run-ins with the law included child support issues, and some were altercations involving men of color. The latter issues were strange because fighting and training with boxers of color was no problem for Jack. Ciaramella has a theory that it was alcohol-related. Still, he can’t pin down what went wrong with “The Pride of Pittsburg.”

Jack McClelland (Middle) with his nephew Willam D. McClelland, Former Chairman of the Allegheny County Board of Commissioners (left), and Heavyweight Boxing Champion Jack Dempsey (right). Photo submitted by Douglas Cavanaugh. Used with permission by the Estate of Dr. William McClelland and Lisa McClelland.

“He wasn’t the nicest guy in the world, nor the meanest,” said Ciaramella. “Shirley said she had never heard him utter any disparaging remarks against races or drink alcohol in his later years. It seems he shook whatever problem he had.”

Through their processes in writing their books, Cavanaugh and Ciaramella have become good friends. Erika helped with the formatting of Douglas’s text. In exchange, he would send Vincent received a couple of pieces on McClelland that he’d find during his research.

He calls their great bond with boxing in this city akin to two kids trading baseball cards in the schoolyard.

“He loves it as much [as anyone else around here],” said Cavanaugh. “You don’t meet people like that too often who are ingrained [with history] as much as you are.”

The two authors are already making plans for their next books. Douglas says a second pictorial book is in the works.

Vincent has finished another book, “Greats in The Graveyard: A Guide to All Baseball Players and Personalities Buried in Allegheny County. It will be released in December 2020 or January 2021.