Tate steals show as boxing fans pack the Metroplex in boxing's return to Youngstown

Devon Tate

The city of Youngstown has a special connection to boxing and last night the fans proved that as the Metroplex found itself packed with a standing-room-only crowd in boxings return to the city since the pandemic started for the 12-bout night of amateur boxing.

The night got started in the female division as Lateesha Mohlof Harrisburg, PA outpointed Tomasia Pierce in a fight that saw both females fighting forward from bell to bell.

Youngstown took center stage in the second night as Aidan St. Clair trained by Darnell Boone of the Deezol Boxing Academy won a back and forth fight with Isaac Johnson of Southside Boxing Club.

Boone and St. Clair

Both fighters landed good combos in the opening round but St. Clair started pulling away in the second round while earning the stoppage in the third round.

Devon Tate of Youngstown stole the show in what was more than likely the fight of the night in the fourth bout.

Tate found himself in a huge hole early in the fight with Tyler Martin of Columbus in the 165 Lb weight limit as Martin dominated the opening round picking his shots while Tate swung for the fences with every punch.

The fight changed roughly a minute into the second round when Tate settled down and picked his spots and began to land at will as Martin began to slow down from the onslaught.

Tate would eventually earn a stoppage late in the third round.

In what will possibly be his last fight before heading off to the Navy, recent Boardman graduate Jackson Behun outworked his opponent and took advantage of any mistake his opponent made over the course of the three rounds with his boxing skills in the 165 lb. fight against Nick Rezek of Cleveland.

Youngstown found itself back in the ring for the 7th bout of the evening as Aaron Douglas fell to Jordan Carr of Pittsburgh in the super heavyweight division.

Carr stayed very active for a super heavyweight en route to the victory on the scorecards.  

In the co-feature of the evening, Antwone Peeples did enough in the eyes of the three judging the fight to score a close but unanimous victory over Alion Diassi of Butler, PA.

In the main event, Jason Cosa scored a close split decision victory over Tony Scandy in the heavyweight division of the master's division. 

Both fighters came out slugging early with Scandy almost earning a stoppage in the opening round as Cosa received two standing eight counts but survived the round and followed it up with a gritty performance the rest of the fight to earn the decision which left many in the crowd to boo.