Fighters ready for Saturday night
May 29, 2009
ECO Staff – Laure Cioffi, senior journalist
ELLWOOD CITY – It’s going to be a fight night in Ellwood City.
The annual Ellwood City Police Boxing Club Saturday Night Fights Tournament will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Sons of Italy Hall on Lawrence Avenue.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.
 Organizer Bob Boyle said they expect to have 10 to 12 fights and fighters will be traveling from as far away as Cleveland, Erie and Kittanning to compete.
He said they will likely have four open class fights – meaning the boxers are at least 17 years of age and have five or more bouts of experience.
The local boxing club, which is open to youngsters as young as 8-years-old, is scheduled to have three of its fighters compete in the match. One is a 9-year-old, he said. They may also have a female match.
He said all matches will depend on weigh ins before the event and its possible that boxers could be disqualified because they don’t meet weight class.
That’s what happened to one of Ellwood City’s boxing standouts, Ben Maine, who is now in Armenia and will miss Saturday’s fight night.
Maine, 16, traveled to the 2009 Junior World Championships in Yerevan, Armenia, representing the United States.
Boyle said Maine weighed in a half pound too light to fight and was disqualified from fighting.
Ben is expected back in the United States on Monday.
Admission to the Ellwood City boxing match is $15 for general admission and $20 for ringside.
Boyle said the Ellwood City Police Boxing Club is a nonprofit organization and donations are always being accepted to help defray the costs.
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