To the casual boxing fan the current two-match losing streak that Matt Conway finds himself on might be alarming but to those who follow the sport they know that the 25-year-old Pittsburgh fighter did nothing short of proving that he can fight with the best of them.
In his two trips out west to Nevada, first in October in 2019 in a fight telecasted on ESPN+, Conway picked himself off the canvas in the first round and went the distance in split decision loss to Francisco Esparza in a bout that could had gone either way as the judges final score reflected such with 76-75. 76-75, 75-76.
Conway's next bout found him in the ring with Gabriel Flores Jr. who is considered by many as one of the top prospects in all of boxing.
Like his bout against Esparza, Conway picked himself off the canvas and went the distance with the hard hitting Flores Jr. and earned the respect of many on the big stage as part of the Wilder-Fury II fight card in Las Vegas last February.
Now after nearly a year off from action as boxing was put on pause as the world finds itself in a fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Conway will look to build off his experiences out west and put on for the hometown fans when he headlines this evenings pro card at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Washington, PA.
Conway (17-2) will take on the always tough Vincent Jennings of Michigan in a scheduled 6-round super featherweight bout.
2020, for better or worse is a year that nobody will soon forget.
It's hard to believe that we are closing in on the one-year anniversary of our nation almost having to reach for the pause button and play the waiting game as the COVID-19 pandemic spread its way through our nation.
As life paused, the sports world did so right along with it as this website slowly faded away into obscurity with nothing to write about.
With life slowly treading in the right direction but not without many uphill battles remaining to conquer before our lives can go back to 100% normalcy, Alliance native Ryizeemion Ford is finally ready to climb back into the ring tomorrow night for the first time since right before the pandemic last year when he scored a TKO victory over Aaron Jamel Hollis on March 7th to improve his record to 4-0 with 3 KOs.
"I just stayed in the gym and told myself keep working something will come up!", said Ford with excitement when asked how he kept himself physically and mentally ready during these times of uncertainty.
Ford admitted however that at times he wondered if all the work he was putting was without purpose.
"I had few opportunities but they turned me down but now we’re here".
The "here" for the 27-year-old Ford is a date against undefeated Rosalindo Morales of Ellwood City, PA who will bring an unblemished 3-0 record into the ring alongside almost two-years of ring rust having last fought in February of 2019.
"I don’t really know anything about him, I’ll make my adjustments though", said Ford of his 27-year-old opponent.
While Ford has made it known that he fights for Alliance because of how they support him, he will also be fighting in memory of his cousin who he knows will be in the ring with him at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Washington, PA both spiritually and in tribute on Saturday night.
"My trunks are dedicated to my cousin Amy Lynn that passed last year", said Ford who is becoming known for his very original ring wear. "Her and I were very close".
While he remains focus on the task of hand, Ford admits that he like many people of all walks of life almost feels as if he has to make up for lost time and plans on staying as busy as possible but in no way is overlooking Morales.
"They say this guy is a tough fighter but feel like I’m the guy to beat right now so they better be ready".
During a period of time this Spring all gyms stood eerily silent as the uncertainty of the COVID-19 virus swept through our nation forcing a various amount of closures and causing the sports world to come to a sudden halt.
As we all find ourselves currently fighting through another rise in cases while still trying to find a way to go about our normal day-to-day lives, 11-year-old Western Reserve student Zion Hensley just keeps doing what she loves and as truth will have it, she never stopped as the 5th grader found ways to keep herself sharp and in shape.
Now that she's openly able to work out again, she's back with her trainer, the former undisputed middleweight champion of the world Kelly Pavlik.
As you walk through Pavlik's Mi Gym in Columbiana the first sounds you will hear is the sound of iron weights clanking as patrons put weights back on the racks but as you walk closer and closer to the back area there is a chance you might hear the sound of leather popping.
With each punch Hensley throws, she knows she is closer to a possible ring return with a trip to USA Boxing Nationals being held December 5th-12th in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Hensley, who will enter the ring for the first time since fighting in Kansas City in January and will fight at the 80-pound weight limit has been waiting for this moment.
"I stayed in shape running at the Western Reserve track and once I was able to get back into the gym I've worked on throwing way more punches and moving side to side with improve footwork" said Hensley.
When Hesnley did find some time away from the gym, she ventured into the entertainment business by starring in a music video for Koda Allen, a rising talent from Youngstown starring in the video for his song Elephant form his latest album, 4th of July which he released this past summer.
Along with the music video she also made a cameo alongside Pavlik on the Ohio's Finest Podcast by Savage MMG Presents in late September.
Though COVID-19 impacted many young fighters, Hensley used some of that time to give back and along with some of her friends raised $1,150 dollars by selling bracelets for the Mercy Health Foundation to purchase PPE.
Now with her return to action around the corner, Hensley is set to make the trip south with the help of some generous donations.
After months of uncertainty as the COVID pandemic kept New Castle native Dalton Rosta out of action, the unbeaten highly touted 24-year-old will be in action tonight for the second time in less than three months.
Rosta, who is 3-0 in his professional career after running the table with a perfect amateur MMA and boxing career looked dominating his last time out as he scored a first round victory over Mark Gardner as the referee was forced to stop the action after the opening round at Bellator 243.
Tonight, Rosta will step up the competition for his toughest challenge to date at Belletor 250 being held once again in Connecticut at the Mohegan Sun Casino Arena in Uncasville.
Standing in the way of Rosta and a 4-0 start will be 26-year-old Ty Gwerder of Hawaii who now fights out of Las Vegas.
Gwerder will bring a pro record of 5 wins and only one defeat into this evenings anticipated 185 pound bout scheduled for three rounds.
Though he has a blemish on his record, Gwerder is coming off an impressive stoppage of George Tokkos at Bellator 246 in September.
Rosta and Gwrder will be televised as the first fight on the main card tonight which will air on CBS Sports Network at 8:00 PM.
Dalton Rosta said he was going to win with a first round knockout and he did just that as the 24-year-old New Castle, PA native dominated the first round of the opening bout of tonight's Bellator card held at the Mohegan Sun Arena bubble in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Rosta, 24, wasted little time showing his opponent Mark Gardner his standup game as he shook Gardner with an uppercut early.
Gardner's best moments came in the middle of the opening round when he showed his jiu-jitsu skills and secured an armbar.
Rosta, who the commentators likened to a Greek God, was able to fight off the submission attempt of Gardner and landed a hard left before ending the round landing hard blow after hard blow on Gardner's battered face.
On the advice of the ringside Doctor, the bout was halted after the opening round giving Rosta a first round TKO victory and improving his professional record to 3-0.
Alejandro Popo Salinas will do battle tonight in Las Vegas on ESPN as he will take on 12-0 23-
year-old Andres Cortes of Las Vegas in a scheduled 8-round lightweight contest.
Salinas, 25, who has recently moved away from Youngstown in an attempt to revive his career after dropping two of his last three fights will enter the ring for the first time since dropping a controversial decision to Steven Ortiz in September.
This is a huge opportunity for Salinas to take on an undefeated fighter on the national stage and the first television appearance for Salinas since defeating Duran Vue in September of 2017 when he scored an unanimous decision victory on FS1.
As expected, the COVID-19 has added another KO to its resume as Jack Loew has been forced to push his golf outing to support his Southside Boxing Club until June 20th.
Originally slated for May 30th, the outing will be held at Mahoning Country Club in Girard.
Currently Loew has 14 teams to fill and spots are filling up fast so act quickly.
Individual golfers are able get in on the action which will include 18-holes of golf with unlimited beverages and a steak dinner afterwards for $75 while teams of four can get in on the action for $300 which will also include 18 holes of golf with a cart, unlimited beverages and a steak dinner to follow.
You can contact Loew for sponsorship opportunities, questions, or to reserve your spot for what promises to be a good time to support his gym and team of boxers at 330-501-5713.
