2008 OHIO STATE FAIR RESULTS

The 2008 Ohio State Fair National Boxing Tournament concluded Saturday night with Zanesville well represented.

The tournament began on the Fair's opening day and ran through Saturday attracting contestants from all over the United States and from Canada.  There were 178 contestants in all battling it out for one of the oldest and most coveted titles in amateur boxing.

Zanesville's Ken Todd Jr. won his Saturday final against Yahman Phelps of Cincinnati in the Senior Boy's Lightweight division.  He bested Anthony Walls of Akron in the semifinals and scored a stunning first round TKO of Cody Allen of Columbus in a quarterfinal match on his way to the title.  Todd won the title in 2007 making a successful defense of it and becoming a two-time national champion.

Akeem Mayle beat Louie Zele of Akron in Bantam Boy's 90-pound division winning his first tournament and national championship.  The 10 year old Mayle powered up in the finals backing his opponent into the ropes for three straight rounds and a unanimous decision for the victory.

Travis Jerig, Coleman Jackson, Ethan Casanova and Michael Roark all won in their respective divisions unopposed to bring the team's total of national championships to six for the tournament.

Justin Williams defeated Angel Mendiola of Columbus in his 138-pound Boy's Senior division quarterfinal match only to meet face-to-face with the national champion in the semis.  Williams scored points in his first round with Zaddie Adams of Cleveland but was unable to contain him for very long losing his bid into the finals.

Avery Kline traded with Damere Boddie of Akron in the finals of Boy's Intermediate 95-pound division but came up short on points in his first career tournament bout.

Clayton Jackson met Aarkeyse Higdon of Lansing, Michigan in his Boy's Junior 80-pound division final only to find Higdon's experience overpowering.  With Jackson in only his second bout ever, he was unable to slow down or stop Higdon's hard-charging advance and losing the match.

When all the dust settled, Zanesville PAL boxers had won six of ten entered in the tournament to the delight of thousands of spectators.