Fight Week: Southside Boxing Club Brings Amateur Boxing Back to the Youngstown Saxon Club

Southside Boxing Club's Jack Loew has been a busy man in recent weeks, doubling as a trainer as Alejandro "Popo" Salinas has resumed workouts and a matchmaker attempting to put together the most competitive card he can for his annual Season's Beatings event.

With the final preparations being made, I can tell you that from what I've seen, Youngstown will be in for a treat this upcoming Friday night at the Youngstown Saxon Club.

Youngstown Boxing News will have you covered this week with the matchups as they become available and interviews.

Tickets for the scheduled 15 bout card will be available at the door for $15.00.

The doors at the Youngstown Saxon Club located at 710 South Meridian Road will open at 6:00 PM with the first bell slated for 7:30 PM.

Stay tuned for more information and check back on Friday night for a full recap and post-fight interviews.

Brian Sims Ready for YSU Graduation; Eyes the Future

Sometimes people end up somewhere they never thought in a million years they would be.  Such is probably the case for Cleveland native Brian Sims who now finds himself living in Youngstown attending Youngstown State University.

Sims, 24, has gone from a young man trying to adjust to the college life to becoming a fixture on the Youngstown amateur boxing scene in a short period of time.

Those who have seen Sims box would think he's been doing so since he was a teenager. That's the furthest from the truth, however.

"I picked it up in Youngstown," said Sims of boxing. "I've been doing it for about three years now".

So how did Sims end up in Youngstown at Youngstown State University upon graduation from Euclid High School?

"Honestly it was the only school that accepted me," Sims said with laughter.  

Luckily for Simms, everything has worked out well with Youngstown State University, as the now senior is on pace to graduate with a degree in communications.  

"I want to go into broadcasting, but I got a year left giving me enough time to figure it out," said Simms of his post-college plans.

A career in broadcasting is not the only thing on the mind of Sims, however.

"I plan to turn pro a couple years after I graduate," Sims said of his boxing career.  "I'm still a young buck in the game and need some time to perfect my craft and in about two or three years I should be a pro" Sims continued. 

And after living the past four years in Youngstown, what does Sims think of the city?

"It's a city on the rise, I've seen a lot of stuff from when I first got here four years ago".

Simms, who trains at Downtown Boxing Club under trainer Tom Cordell, is slated to be in action on December 15th at Jack Loew's South Side Boxing Club Seasons

Beatings show at the Saxon Club in Youngstown.

Though nothing is finalized yet, Sims is slated to take on Julian Salinas who will be making his return to the ring for the first time in three years it what could be an interesting and fun match.

Tickets for the show are $15 and can be purchased at the door.

                                     

Rosenberger Scores Victory in Pittsburgh

Rosenberger (black trunks) takes on Osterrieder (red trunks)

Danny Rosenberger of Niles has taken his share of lumps early in his career including being on the wrong end of controversial decisions to taking a fight on less than a weeks notice. 

This past Saturday however, Rosenberger put everything in the past and let his fists go for his four-round bout at the 152-pound weight limit against Bobby Osterrieder of Butler, PA.

The opening round was a pretty even until Rosenberger caught Osterrieder with a hard right in the rounds closing moments, a punch that set the tone for the next round.

Rosenberger applied the pressure in the second round knocking Osterrieder down twice, first with a nice combination upstairs after an initial hard right staggered Osterrieder and second with a brutal right to the body that caused a delayed knockdown.

"It felt amazing.  When you come to somebody's hometown you can't let the judges make the fight you have to take the fight to them" said Rosenberger of his impressive second round.

Despite appearing hurt, Osterrieder kept pressing and showed heart in the final two rounds of what turned out to be an entertaining fight.

"I did not want to be stupid and put myself in jeopardy," said Rosenberger of not finishing off an injured Osterrieder "I just wanted to pick my shots and be more active".

Rosenberger, 27, who won by a score of 39-35 on all three judges scorecards has now won his last two fights and improved his record to 2-3-2.

With the loss, Osterrieder, 28, fell to 1-1.

                          

Throwback Thursday: Remembering Tony Janiro

Tony Janiro

Sometimes you don't have to be born in Youngstown, Ohio to take on the tough, blue-collar persona that is associated with the city, such is the case of Tony Janiro.

Born right outside of Pittsburgh in Springdale, Pennsylvania in 1927, Janiro moved to Youngstown with his family when he was four years old. 

Janiro showed promise at a young age with an outstanding amateur career which included winning the featherweight division of the Chicago Golden Gloves and the Intercity Golden Gloves, which pitted the winners from the Chicago and New York City Golden Gloves tournaments in 1943.

Following his success in the Golden Gloves, Janiro left for New York City at the age of 16 to begin a professional career.

Janiro made his pro debut on December 8, 1943 scoring a victory on points over Charlie Jefferies at Scott Hall, a tiny fight club located in the heart of Elizabeth New Jersey.

Like many fighters of his time, Janiro stayed busy fighting 29 times in his first year as a pro, going 28-1 in those contests.

Janiro, who was known as much for his good looks as he was his quick hands and good footwork, was on the fast track at a young age and was considered a top 10 welterweight for most of the mid to late 1940's however he never fought for a world title despite taking on some of the best fighters in the history of the sport.

Some of the top opponents Janiro fought against included Hall of Famers Rocky Graziano, Jake LaMotta, and Kid Gavilan.

The highlights of his career both came at Madison Square Garden.

In February of 1947 at the historical arena located in New York City, he knocked out Beau Jack while in March of 1950  when he fought Graziano to a draw.

By June of 1952 at the age young of 24 Janiro's career was over following a match in which his corner threw in the towel early in the fifth round against Charles Humez in Paris, France. 

Many blame the fast life of woman and alcohol for the shortened career of Janiro, but his love for fun outside of the ring including the ladies and alcohol did not stop him from compiling a very impressive 80-15-2 record according to BoxRec.

In retirement, Janiro worked as a bartender at Neutral Corner, a bar that was located near the legendary Stillman Boxing Gym in New York City.

During his later years, Janiro returned to Youngstown where he was employed at the Mahoning County Courthouse.

Janiro, who was inducted into the Youngstown Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame in 1984 suffered a heart attack in 1985 which caused the kidney failure that led to his death at the age of 57.


Sources:
BoxRec
The Boxing Glove
Wikipedia