"War at the Armory" in Brook Park Showcased the Best Amateurs in Cleveland

Last night’s “War At The Armory” event proved to be a very exciting one, as boxing fans throughout Cleveland packed the Brook Park Armory to root on the area’s best amateur boxers.  There were many exciting, competitive fights and fans seemed to go home happy.

Opening the night were three high school bouts.  The first was between Brandon Burkhardt of Twinsburg High School and Christian Colon of Lincoln West High School.  In a hard fought and competitive fight, Colon won a three round decision.  In the second fight of the night, high school champion Michael Lamoreux of Lakewood high school defeated Devin Schaar in a 165 pound bout. Lamareux was very impressive on his way to a three round decision victory.  He showed great skill and conditioning, controlling most of the fight with his heavy hands.  The third high school bout was for a 178 pound championship.  The fight was between Darren Rivera of Youngstown high school and Trey Hughley of Euclid high school.  In a dominating performance Hughley was victorious.  Hughley, of John Avon Boxing, was in great condition and controlled the fight with his fast paced action style.  He is a great puncher who could have a promising future.

The fourth bout of the night pinned Romiro Hernendez of the Empire Boxing Club against Chris Minor, in a battle between 125 pound fighters. Hernendez went on to win a close decision.  The next fight at Super Heavyweight was probably the most lopsided fight of the night. In it, the heavy handed Jeremy Patty, a teacher who fights for the Against the Ropes Boxing Club, dominated an overmatched Chris Prewitt. From the opening bell Patty was the aggressor, eventually scoring a second round knockout victory.

After a short intermission, the Main Card bouts began with a great opening fight. Angel Figueroa, of Freddy’s Boxing Gym, defeated Kevin Walker by a three round decision.  Figueroa and Walker fought a competitive fight, which was very close.  Both fighters threw a lot of punches and neither backed down. The result could have gone either way.  In the seventh fight of the night, Golden Glove champion Derrick Moss of the West Side Boxing Club defeated Lucien Clinkscale of Youngstown.  Moss was dominating, as his skill level was too much for Clinkscale.  Moss has a tremendous reach and is a very busy fighter. He is definitely an amateur worth keeping your eye on.

In the first of the final two Main Card bouts, Shavar Campbell defeated Jimmy Bland in a matchup of 165 pounders.  It was another close and competitive fight, which Campbell won by decision.  Closing out the main bouts card was Super Heavyweight Jason Chisar, a very poised and skilled puncher, with a second round TKO victory over Mike Gorny.

The “War at the Armory” ended the night with three Feature Bouts.  In the first, two-time Golden Glove champ Greg Gilbert dominated Jack Winterich on his way to a three round decision victory.  Gilbert was relentless in his pursuit of Winterich, landing a lot of big combinations.  The second feature, like the first, showed a dominating performance. Ray Halasz of Strongstyle MMA, and a Brook Park native, made short work of Matthew Fox in a 201 pound bout.  Halasz, who also fights in MMA events, overwhelmed Fox with his brute strength and punching power.  Halasz is definitely a local guy to look out for. He is a very exciting fighter.

In the final bout of the night the packed house at the armory was able to see perhaps the best amateur fighter in all of Ohio.  In a 178 pound bout Terrell Gausha defeated Ryan Forbes of the Empire Boxing Club. Gausha, the number one ranked amateur at his weight in the nation according to USA Boxing and a three-time Golden Glove champion, proved to be very impressive.  From the opening bell he controlled the pace of the fight with his jab and unbelievable right hand.  Gausha, who fights for the MLK Premier Boxing Club, looks polished enough to move up to the pro ranks right now.  Rumor is this was the last amateur fight for the 22 year old.  If so, Gausha looks poised enough to be a very successful pro fighter.