Boxers Tune-Up For Tournament In Charleston  12-06-2008

            Zanesville PAL boxing team rolled into Charleston, West Virginia Saturday night for competition in preparation for upcoming tournaments despite a snowstorm.

            Akeem Mayle got the show rolling for PAL meeting Tyler Gerlach of Huntington in a Boy’s Bantam 90-pound division bout.  The two were well-matched and fired the crowd up with excellant skills and fast paced action that left the judges in disagreement on the decision in favor of Gerlach.   The close split decision was arguably a tie with both boxers giving great efforts.

            Jeshua Luckett then climbed into the ring with Shawn Gibson of Huntington in a Boy’s Junior 75-pound Junior division match.  Luckett used speed while Gibson used reach with the combination making a great bout and another even match.  Gibson was awarded the bout on another split with the judges over the outcome.

            Josh Blair met David Coleman of Charleston in Boy’s Senior 154-pound action.  Blair landed great shots but didn’t seize on the opportunity enough while Coleman with a reach advantage was forced inside by Blair.  Another close split decision by the judges left Blair out of a victory and the Zanesville team wondering.

            “Ten”-Gaige Walker then stepped in the ring with Cameron Williams of the Huntington Team to turn the tide in Boy’s Senior Light Heavyweights.  The southpaw Walker landed huge power shots on the more experienced Williams that took it all and fought back in short bursts.  Walker was not to be denied and powered into the third round catching Williams with several right hooks to clinch the decision on points.  Walker’s last competition was at the national Silver Gloves tournament in Kansas City in February.

              Elgin Mitchell remained undefeated in the Men’s Lightweight division finding Dion Cunningham of Ashland’s Ringside Brothers gym waiting in the ring.  Mitchell’s skills dominated leaving no question as to the outcome with Cunningham changing from his usual brawling style to a technical boxer.  With his sixth victory Mitchell is looking towards the 2009 Golden Gloves.

            Travis Jerig, Jacob Luckett and Brandon Alexander also made the trip to Charleston but their opponents failed to show.

            The 2009 National Silver Gloves -Ohio State qualifier will begin in Zanesville on Jan. 2.  Included on the team are Travis “Roadrunner” Jerig, “Ten”-Gaige Walker, Akeem Mayle, Michael Roark, Josh Blair, Jeshua Luckett, Jacob Luckett, Zac Gibson, Austin Rogers and Jessi Dunlap.